LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team enjoyed a strong first half in its California Collegiate Athletic Association opener against Cal State Dominguez Hills, but the second half was not nearly as enjoyable.

The Golden Eagles saw a five-point halftime lead disappear as the Toros shot 59 percent over the final 20 minutes in an 83-70 victory in University Gym. Cal State Dominguez Hills (4-3, 1-0 CCAA) rang up 55 points in the second half and won in Los Angeles for the first time since 2021.

Shane Bell had 17 points to lead four Golden Eagles (2-4, 0-1 CCAA) in double figures. He also had a team-high six assists. Kyjuan Cannady had 14 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Jeremy Dent-Smith led the Toros with a game-high 29 points, 27 of them coming in the second half when he took over the game. Jordan Hilstock had 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Corey Cofield II had 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Jaden Lazo had 10 points and four rebounds.

Cal State LA shot 40.9 percent for the game (27-of-66) and was just 8-of-29 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. Cal State Dominguez Hills shot 46.2 percent for the game (30-of-65) and was 6-of-19 from 3-point range. The Toros were 17-of-24 from the free-throw line.

Cal State LA only committed three turnovers while forcing 14, but Cal State Dominguez Hills had an overwhelming 56-19 rebounding edge.

The Golden Eagles started well and took a 12-4 lead in the first five minutes of the game. The Toros tied it at 19-19 before a layup by Damarion Pouncil and a jumper by Bell put the Golden Eagles back ahead. Cal State LA then led by as many as seven points late in the half before settled for a 33-28 halftime lead.

A three-point play by Bell pushed the lead to 40-34 with 16 minutes left, but the Toros fought back and took their first lead at 44-42 after a 3-pointer by Alex Garcia. Devin Ringer put the Golden Eagles back ahead with a 3-pointer and a 3-pointer by Connor Scales kept it tied at 52-52 with just under 11 minutes remaining.

A pair of free throws by Cofield II gave the Golden Eagles a 56-54 lead with nine minutes left, only for Garcia to hit another 3-pointer to put the Toros ahead. A jumper by Escobar tied it again at 59-59 with eight minutes to go, but the Toros went on a game-breaking 17-3 run over the next four minutes to take a 76-62 lead. 

Cal State LA will return to action on Thursday with a home game against Stanislaus State at 7:30 p.m.