Box score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Pioneer men's basketball team failed to hold a five-point second half lead, losing to Cal State L.A., 78-71, on January 27.

The defeat leaves the Pioneers with a 5-7 record in the CCAA. Cal State East Bay is 7-9 for the season.

Cal State L.A. improves to 8-5 in the CCAA and 12-5 overall.

“I felt we played our tails off,” Pioneer coach Will Biggs said. “We had a couple of five-point leads in the second half, but couldn't off Cal State L.A. down the stretch. “They're a very good team.”

A layup by Roshun Wynne gave the Pioneers a 45-40 advantage with 16:18 left in the second half.

The Pioneers maintained a five-point lead, 49-44, with 13:13 remaining on a basket by Vincent Capellino.

The Golden Eagles went on a 13-0 run the next four minutes to take a 57-49 lead.

Cal State L.A. took its biggest lead of the half, 72-57, with 4:03 remaining.

The Pioneers made a late run, but fell short in the seven point setback.    

Capellino, making his first start of the season, scored five points while Wynne added a basket and a pair of free throws, to give the Pioneers a 9-7 lead in the opening three minutes of the first half.

The Golden Eagles went on a 9-4 run to lead by three points with 12:26 remaining.

The Pioneers regained the lead, 23-18, with 5:57 left on a Mark Samuels layup and a three-pointer by Jacari Whitfield.

A three-pointer by Wynne maintained a 32-30 Pioneer advantage with 58 seconds remaining.

The first half ended 32-32 as Cal State L.A. converted a pair of free throws.

For the game, the Pioneers shot 41 percent from the field and were outrebounded by a 41-29 margin.

Wynne led the Pioneers in scoring with 21 points. Capellino had a season-high 13 points while Whitfield added 11.

The Golden Eagles' Quinton Watkins had 21 points.

The Pioneers will play at Cal State Dominguez Hills on January 29.