LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team came up short Tuesday against a hot-shooting Northwest Nazarene team in a non-conference game in University Gym.

The Nighthawks knocked down 14 of 28 attempts from 3-point range and beat the Golden Eagles, 76-66. Cal State LA (4-5) struggled from the field in the first half and trailed by 18 points at the break. Northwest Nazarene (8-1) shot 54.2 percent for the game and made 50 percent from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were just 3-of-13 from behind the arc.

Raphael Gay had a season-high 20 points and seven rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Corey Cofield II had 17 points that included an 11-of-13 performance from the free-throw line.

Kye Dickson had a game-high 28 points for the Nighthawks to go along with eight rebounds and six assists. Sullivan Menard had 17 points and had five 3-pointers, while Easton Reagan had 10 points.

Shane Bell had nine points for the Golden Eagles, while Jaden Lazo and Devin Ringer had six points each.

Cal State LA shot 40.8 percent for the game (20-of-49), but was just 8-of-24 from the floor in the first half. The Golden Eagles were just 3-of-13 from 3-point range for the game, 2-of-9 in the first half and 1-of-4 in the second half. Cal State LA was 23-of-29 from the free-throw line. Northwest Nazarene shot 54.2 percent for the game (26-of-48) and shot 56 percent in the first half (14-of-25) while building a 43-25 halftime lead. The Nighthawks were 7-of-16 from 3-point range in the first half, 7-of-12 in the second half and 14-of-28 for the game. Northwest Nazarene was 10-of-15 from the free-throw line.

Cal State LA was out-rebounded, 34-21, and forced 19 turnovers while committing only 10.

The Golden Eagles scored the first five points of the game on a tip-in by Cofield and a 3-pointer by Bell and led, 17-15, after a basket by Ringer. The Nighthawks then scored the next four points and never looked back. Cal State LA trailed by just five points at 28-23 before Northwest Nazarene closed the half with a 15-2 run that broke the game open.

Cal State LA trailed by margins between 18 points and 10 points for the entire second half.

The Golden Eagles will return to action on Saturday with a California Collegiate Athletic Association game at Cal State Dominguez Hills at 3 p.m.