HAYWARD -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team came up short Thursday in its bid for a season's split with Cal State East Bay.

The Golden Eagles struggled mightily in the second half and fell to the Pioneers for the second time this season, this time by an 82-59 decision in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game in Pioneer Gym. Cal State LA (11-14, 8-11 CCAA) is one of four teams currently tied for seventh in the conference, one-half game behind Cal State Monterery Bay. The Otters still have a makeup game with Cal State San Bernardino to play in addition to the three games remaining for the other conference teams. Cal State East Bay (10-15, 8-11 CCAA) is also among the four teams tied for seventh.

The top six teams will qualify for the CCAA Tournament and every team in the conference still has a chance to reach the tourney. Cal State LA and the other tied teams at 8-11 in conference play are still only two games out of third and one game out of fifth in the conference.

Alexander Sokol had 12 points for the Golden Eagles and hit one 3-pointer to set a new program single-season for 3-pointers with 78. Payton Moore also had 12 points, while Kyjuan Cannady had 11.

Payden White had 19 points for the Pioneers, while Grady Lewis and Dimitrios Klonaras had 18 points each. Lewis also had a game-high 14 rebounds.

Dominic Escobar had 10 points for the Golden Eagles, while Shane Bell had seven points.

Cal State LA shot 38.3 percent for the game (23-of-60) and was 6-of-21 from 3-point range. 

The Pioneers shot 53.3 percent for the game (32-of-60) and shot 65 percent in the second half while outscoring the Golden Eagles, 49-31.

Cal State LA was only 7-of-13 from the free-throw line, while Cal State East Bay was 10-of-19. Cal State East Bay had a big 46-27 rebounding edge. The Golden Eagles committed 16 turnovers to 17 for the Pioneers.

Cal State LA started well and held a 19-16 lead after a 3-pointer by Moore with 8:48 remaining in the first half. A 3-pointer by Jaden Lazo gave the Golden Eagles their last lead, 22-21, and a free throw by Deuce Walker tied it at 23-23 with 5:52 left in the half. 

Sokol broke the single-season 3-point record while cutting the deficit to 27-26 with 3:39 to go in the half, but the Pioneers closed out the half with a 33-28 lead.

The Pioneers opened the second half with a 9-2 run to open up a 12-point lead, 42-30. A 3-pointer by Lazo and baskets by Bell and Escobar cut the margin to 44-37, but another run by the Pioneers, this one a 16-5 spurt, opened up an 18-point lead.

Cal State LA trailed by double-digit margins the rest of the way.

Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with its final road game of the regular season, at Cal State Dominguez Hills, at 3 p.m.