BOX SCORE HIGHLIGHTS COURTESY OF YSN365.com

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- Justin Herold dropped in a career-high 26 points, adding a double-double with 10 rebounds, but the Sonoma State men's basketball team couldn't overcome another 17-point, second half deficit, falling to visiting Cal State L.A., 79-73, on Thursday night in front of 1,266 fans in The Wolves' Den.  The Seawolves (12-9, 10-7 CCAA) see their five-game win streak snapped, losing for just the third time in their last 13 games.  The Golden Eagles move into a tie with SSU in the CCAA standings at 10-7 (14-7 overall).

With the loss and the Humboldt State victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills on Thursday up in Arcata, SSU falls to two games out of first place, but still remain in the seven-team logjam at the top of the CCAA standings.  Seven of the 12 conference teams are within just two games of each other, making the final five games of the regular season that much more interesting.

Lighting just wasn't going to strike twice for Sonoma State, despite spirited efforts in the final minutes of the contest.  The Seawolves knew they could come back; they did so down in Los Angeles on Jan. 7 when they overcame a 17-point deficit with 5:41 left in the game to force overtime -- SSU eventually earned the win in the extra period.  However, with that stunning letdown fresh in their minds, the Golden Eagles weren't going to let it happen again, even if they were faced with a strong-shooting SSU team that had its largest home crowd of the season on hand.  CSULA turned to its biggest guy on the court, the 6-foot-9, 277-pound Carl Hoffman, who scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half, eight of which came in the final six minutes of the contest.

The Seawolves made it close in the end, turning the Golden Eagles' largest lead of the night (17 with 17:49 to play in the game) to an eight-point lead with 16 seconds to go on the last of four three-pointers by Will Olsem on the night.  Sonoma State even held Cal State L.A. without a field goal in the last 3:47, but it would be too little, too late, even after a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Steven Pratt to put the period on SSU's 79-73 loss.

Cal State L.A. had four players score in double-figures, led by the 18 points of Quinton Watkins and 17 of Hoffman, who came off the bench and saw just 19 minutes of play.  In fact, the CSULA bench outscored the SSU bench 37-7.  The visitors also controlled the paint all night long, outpointing the hosts, 42-32, down low.  The Golden Eagles proved that they could get it done from inside, as the team hit only three long balls all night.

Both teams had an efficient night, shooting wise (CSULA hit 54.7 percent of its shots while SSU connected at a 49.0 clip), but Cal State L.A.'s perimeter defense was the key, holding Sonoma State to just 8 of 16 from long range, including just 4 of 7 out of the hands of sharpshooter Olsem (three of his four made three-pointers came in the final 4:18).

It was Herold who kept the Seawolves close all night, netting his aforementioned 26 points on 11 of 14 from the hardwood.  Pratt chipped in with 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds and Olsem scored 12, all on the three-ball.

Sonoma State will be back in action on Saturday when it hosts Cal State Dominguez Hills at 7:30 p.m. in The Wolves' Den. Both the Seawolves and Toros are in a three-way tie for fifth place, sharing the spot with CSULA.

Highlights courtesy of YSN365.com

Cal State LA vs Sonoma State University, 2-9-12 from ysn365 on Vimeo.