COLLEGE : Bakersfield Hands 85-74 Loss to CSLA

The Cal State Los Angeles men’s basketball team played a strong first half against Cal State Bakersfield.

Only problem is, they didn’t bother to show up for the second.

That mental lapse proved costly in an 85-74 loss Thursday night, as the Golden Eagles blew an opportunity to tie for first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. Conference.

Cal State L.A. led the entire first half, at one point by as many as 10 points.

But Bakersfield, the two-time defending NCAA Division II champion, tied the score at 43-43 five minutes into the second half before outscoring Cal State L.A. by 11 the rest of the game.

Four Bakersfield players, led by Andre McCollum with 24 points, reached double figures.

Aaron Lattimore, who made all five of his free throws and two of his four three-point attempts, finished with 21 points.

“If we play like this every night, we’re going to beat most teams,” he said.

Forward Tyrone Haylock scored 15 points and guard Rodney Harris had 12 points for Cal State L.A.