LOS ANGELES -- For the first time in quite awhile, Cal State LA's men's basketball team is ranked nationally by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

The Golden Eagles, who have won six straight games including a pair of big California Collegiate Athletic Association home contests with Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino last week, are ranked No. 21 in the nation, the NABC announced on Tuesday. Cal State LA is ranked for the first time since Dec. 11, 2000 after an 11-2 start that includes a 6-1 beginning to CCAA play.

Cal State LA has equaled the best start in program history, matching the 11-2 start by the 1950-51 squad.

In a second poll released on Tuesday, Cal State LA is ranked 17th in the nation by the D2CSC media poll.

Also on Tuesday, Dominic Escobar was named the CCAA Men's Basketball Player of the Week for a second striaght week, joining teammate Shane Bell as a two-time winner already this season.

Cal State LA currently leads the CCAA in scoring with 80.4 points per game and are No. 3 in the nation in turnover margin at +10.0.

Bell and Escobar lead four Golden Eagles in double figure scoring average. Bell is averaging 14.0 points per game, Escobar is averaging 13.8, Corey Cofield is averaging 11.9 and Eche Okeke is averaging 11.0.

Cal State LA will play a pair of big road games this week, beginning with a contest at Cal State East Bay on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles and Pioneers share the CCAA lead heading into this week. Cal State LA will then face San Francisco State on Saturday afternoon.