Box Score LOS ANGELES--- The visiting SF State Gators (13-8, 11-6 CCAA) lost a hard fought game to the Cal State L.A. Golden Eagles 62-58 this evening at the Eagles Nest in Los Angeles.  The Golden Eagles rallied back from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat the Gators and improve to 13-8 overall and 10-7 in the CCAA.
 
“We just did not respond well in the second half to the Golden Eagles' run,” said SF State head coach Paul Trevor.  “The game was called very tight in the second half and it pushed out limits with our depth.” “As a team, we need to respond tomorrow night and stay positive.”
 
Each team had a 6-0 run to begin the game.  William Overton, Jr's lay-up capped a 12-3 run by the Gators to give them a 18-9 lead at the 9:30 mark of the first half. 
 
Back to back three's by Robbie Herndon and Decensae White gave the Gators a 27-12 lead (their largest of the half) with a little over five minutes to go in the first stanza. 
 
An old-fashioned three-point play by Quinton Watkins cut the Gator lead to 31-21 heading into the locker rooms at halftime.
 
SF State scored the first here-point of the second stanza to take a 34-21 lead, but the Golden Eagles went on a 17-4 run capped by a Willie Trimble three to tie the game at 38-38 at the 13:20 mark.
 
White's two made free throws gave the Gators the lead back, 40-38.  They increased their lead to 46-43 on a Calvin Otiono lay-up with eight minutes to go in the game.
 
Cal State L.A.'s Solomon Singer gave the hosts a 47-46 lead a minute later.
 
SF State followed that with a mini 5-1 run capped by Otiono going 1-for-2 from the line to give the visitors a 51-48 lead with a little over five minutes left in the game. 
 
The Golden Eagles' Julian Camper and Watkins hit back to back lay-ups give the hosts a 52-51 lead with three minutes left on the clock.
 
James Albright's jumper put the Gators within one, which was the closest that they would get with 2:11 left in regulation.
 
Trimble made two free throws on the Golden Eagles' next possession and then Watkins hit a three off turnover by the Gators to increase their lead to 59-53 with just 29 ticks left on the clock.
 
Overton hit a three on SF State's next possession to cut the deficit to 59-56, but Cal State L.A. finished the game going 3-for-4 from the line as the Golden Eagles held on for the 62-58 win.
 
Trimble led the way for Cal State L.A. with a game high 16 points off the bench and Watkins added 13 points for the Golden Eagles.
 
Overton paced the Gators with 13 points while Albright finished with 12 points off the bench for the visitors.  Winston Demmin added 11 points and three steals for the Gators. 
 
With the loss, the Gators remain in third place only one game ahead of Cal State L.A., who is in fourth place.  They are also two games behind second place, Cal State San Bernardino. 
 
SF State returns to the court tomorrow evening at 7:30pm in Carson, Calif., for a rematch with Cal State Dominguez Hills.  The Toros defeated Sonoma State 74-72 this evening in Carson for their third straight win.  The Gators defeated the Toros 68-52 last month in San Francisco. 
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Box Score

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