OCEANSIDE, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's basketball team led by as many as 16, but Cal State L.A. shut down Cal State San Marcos down the stretch to escape with a 59-55 victory in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play on Saturday night at MiraCosta College.

CSUSM drops to 12-8 overall and 9-5 in CCAA play.  CSULA improves to 6-15, 5-10 CCAA.

The Cougars went ahead 47-31 on Akachi Okugo's fifth 3-pointer of the game with 13:34 remaining. The Golden Eagles answered with a 19-0 run to take a 3-point lead until the Cougars snapped an 8-minute scoreless streak to tie the game 50-50.

Andrew Bournes made a left-handed layup at the 1:43 mark to put CSUSM up by two, but it'd be the last time the Cougars would score.

A pair of free throws from CSULA tied the game with 38 seconds left.

After a timeout by CSUSM, Bournes was pick-pocketed by Joshua Munzon at the top of the key and Bournes proceeded to foul Duce Zaid in the back court.

The CSULA guard promptly made his two free throws to put the Golden Eagles up by two.

Darnell Taylor then attempted to drive the lane to tie the game, but was fouled on the ground with seven seconds left. With a chance to tie the game, Taylor missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and the ball was rebounded by CSULA.

Zaid made his two attempts with five seconds remaining to ice the game.

Okugo led the Cougars with 20 points.

CSUSM shot 24.1-percent and turned the ball over 10 times in the second half.