LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team picked up a crucial victory on Saturday as the California Collegiate Athletic Association race tightened once again.

The Golden Eagles outlasted Chico State, 83-80, in University Gym and climbed to within one game of fourth place in the conference. Cal State LA (7-13, 6-8 CCAA) is tied for seventh with Cal Poly Pomona and Stanislaus State with that trio now just one game back of Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal State San Marcos and Cal State San Bernardino with eight games remaining.

Michael Pearson Jr. led five Golden Eagles with a game-high 21 points, while Donovan Vickers had 18 points. The duo was a combined 10-of-10 from the free-throw line, including a 6-for-6 showing in the final 23 seconds to keep Chico State at bay. Deraje Agbaosi had 16 points, nine rebounds and five blocks.

Chris Holley led five Wildcats in double figures with 16 points and 10 assists, while Max Walters and Cortevious Taylor had 14 points each. 

Khemanni Davis had 12 points and four assists for the Golden Eagles, while Isaiah Fields had 11 points, two rebounds and two assists.

Cal State LA shot 46.6 percent for the game (27-of-58) and was 11-of-21 from 3-point range. The Golden Eagles were 18-of-20 from the free-throw line. Chico State (6-13, 4-10 CCAA) shot 49.2 percent (30-of-61) and was 9-of-18 from 3-point range. The Wildcats were 11-of-15 from the free-throw line. Chico State had a 38-26 rebounding edge and committed 15 turnovers to 12 for the Golden Eagles.

Cal State LA trailed by as many as 10 points in the opening half, 37-27, but a 3-pointer by Scales and back-to-back 3-pointers from Pearson Jr. closed the gap and a 3-pointer by Vickers put the Golden Eagles ahead, 43-42. Vickers hit a pair of free throws to make it 45-42 before a 3-pointer by Walters tied it at halftime, 45-45.

A go-ahead 3-pointer by Pearson Jr. and a tip-in by Vickers gave the Golden Eagles a 52-47 lead early in the second half, but the Wildcts were able to forge a 64-60 lead following a layup by Holley with 6:41 to go. A 3-pointer by Pearson Jr. and a jumper by Davis tied it at 65-65 with 5:19 to go. Another 3-pointer by Pearson Jr. and a layup by Davis gave the Golden Eagles a 70-65 lead with 3:37 to play. A 3-pointer by Vickers put the Golden Eagles ahead, 73-67, with 2:45 to go and a dunk by Agbaosi kept the margin at six points at 77-71 with 1:35 to go.

The Wildcats scored the next five points to get within one at 77-76 with 26 seconds to go, but Pearson Jr. and Vickers were able to hit all six of their free throws and Chico State was content to take quick baskets as opposed to trying a game-tying 3-pointer. After Vickers hit two free throws to make it 83-80 with five seconds left, the Golden Eagles fouled Holley before he could attempt a 3-pointer and they went on to close out the game.

Cal State LA will return to action on Thursday with a road game at unbeaten Cal State East Bay.