Box Score  SAN FRANCISCO – The SF State Gators rallied from an 18-point half-time deficit to defeat the visiting Cal State L.A. Golden Eagles 71-65 this evening at The Swamp.  The Gators outscored the Golden Eagles 50-26 in the second half with Calvin Otiono leading the way with a game high 20 points.  William Overton, Jr. added 13 points off the bench for the Gators, who are now in a tie for second place with Cal State San Bernardino in the conference.
 
“We showed great resiliency and high character while we stepped it up in the second half,” noted SF State head coach Paul Trevor.  “I am proud of our guys as we fight back as a team this evening to come away with the win.” 
 
The Gators (8-4, 6-2 CCAA) started the first half strong taking a 10-4 lead in the first four minutes, but Cal State L.A. came right back and outscored SF State 13-6 to take a 17-16 lead at the 11:08 mark of the first half. 
 
Cal State L.A. increased its lead to double digits, 31-20, on a Willie Trimble lay-up with just 3:40 to go in the first half. 
 
The Golden Eagles ended the half on an 8-1 run capped by Trimble's dunk to send the visitors into the locker room with a 39-21 lead.
 
SF State chipped away at the half-time deficit and cut it to 40-36 on an Andre Jones tip-in in the first seven minutes of the new stanza. 
 
Cal State L.A. (7-5, 4-4 CCAA) scored the next four-points to increase its lead back to 44-36. 

The Gators outscored their visitors 16-7 in the next five minutes to take a 52-51 (their first of the second half) on a three by James Albright. 
 
SF State increased that lead to 62-53 on a trey by Winston Demmin with just 4:06 on the clock. 
 
Joshua Munzon's lay-up capped a 10-1 run by the Golden Eagles as they cut the Gator lead to 66-61 with a little over a minute left in the game. 
 
The Gators' Calvin Otiono then made both of his free throws to increase the hosts lead to 68-63.  Trimble then made a jumper to cut the deficit back to three, 68-65, with 27 seconds left on the clock, but the Gators scored the final three points of the game to hang on for the 71-65 come-from-behind victory.
 
Jordan Richard led the way for Cal State L.A. with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks while Solomon Singer (12 points) and Willie Trimble (10 points) each scored in double figures for the Golden Eagles. 
 
Besides Otiono and Overton, Decensae White added 12 points and James Albright chipped in 10 points for the victors.
 
SF State will be back on the road this Thursday, January 17 for a 7:30pm conference game with Humboldt State in Arcata, Calif. 

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