SAN FRANCISCO – The SF State Gators finished a strong 2-0 weekend with a 69-60 win over the visiting Cal State L.A. Golden Eagles this evening at the Main Gym at the Don Nasser Family Plaza. With the win, the Gators improve to 8-8 overall and 6-6 in the CCAA and move into a four-way tie for fifth place.
"It was a great effort by our team this evening," said SF State head coach
Paul Trevor. "We got up early in the first half and that carried throughout the game."
Udun Osakue led the way for SF State with a game high 22 points, including 14 points in the second half. Sophomore
Derrick Brown added 20 points for the Gators of which he scored 15 of it in the first half.
Bren Haley dished out 9 assists while adding 7 points and two steals for the victors, who improve to 7-1 at home.
"This was another stop on our journey," added Trevor on the 69-60 win.
The Gators jumped out to an 11-0 lead led by Brown who scored five of his 20 points. Cal State L.A.'s David Hall stopped the Gator run with a lay-up at the 13:54 mark.
SF State increased its lead to 16-3 on a dunk by Brown with 10 minutes left in the half.
Cal State L.A. went on a 12-6 run to cut the Gator lead to 22-15 with 5:08 to go in the first stanza.
The hosts finished the half outscoring the Golden Eagles 12-6 capped by an Osakue lay-up off an assist from Haley to take a 34-21 lead into the half.
Cal State L.A. outscored the Gators 19-6 in the first 11 minutes of the second half to cut its deficit to 44-40.
Jon McMurry, who finished with 7 points, capped a 5-0 run by the Gators to increase their lead to 49-40.
SF State had a 58-50 with 5:05 to go, but Cal State L.A. went on a 6-2 run in the next two minutes to cut its deficit to 60-56 at the 3:32 mark.
A three by Brown capped another run by the Gators, which gave the Gators a 66-58 lead with just 1:40 to go in regulation.
Haley connected on three of his four free throws in the final 90 seconds as SF State took the 69-60 victory.
Joel Brokenbrough paced the Golden Eagles with 17 points as he was one of three player in double figures for Cal State L.A., who is now 7-9 overall and 5-7 in the CCAA.
The Gators will now go back on the road for a four-game road trip beginning this Thursday, January 29 in San Bernardino, Calif., for a 7:30pm scheduled tip-off with Cal State San Bernardino. SF State defeated the Coyotes 68-53 on December 6 in San Francisco. The Coyotes are one of the three other teams tied for fifth place with the Gators.
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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
