AZUSA, Calif. – Earlier this year, Azusa Pacific made an unforgettable "Cinderella" run, winning seven straight games to advance to the West Regional Championship. One of their biggest victories was a 60-59 upset over No. 1 Cal State LA in the first round of the West Regional tournament.

But after a season-ending loss to the Cougars in March, Cal State LA came out with a vengeance, defeating Azusa Pacific 70-49 on Thursday night.

How it Happened: The Cougars were slow to get started, taking nearly three minutes to score their first points of the game. Cal State LA, however, also struggled early, leading just 5-0 before Kaleb Taylor scored Azusa Pacific's first points.

The Golden Eagles maintained the lead for the entirety of the game, stretching it to a 12-point advantage by halftime.

The Cougars began to find their rhythm in the second half, with Maui Sze hitting a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 37-26. That shot later sparked a 7-0 run, capped by another triple from Sze, narrowing the gap to just six points.

From there, the Cougars scored 11 points in less than three minutes to bring their deficit to three and it seemed like Azusa Pacific was starting to heat up. However, the Golden Eagles scored 15 consecutive points, holding Azusa Pacific scoreless for nearly eight minutes as the game wound down.

With 2:44 left in the game and the Cougars trailing 64-46, Ethan Speaker and Jordan Hansen hit three free throws, but that would be the last time Azusa Pacific scored. Cal State LA closed out the game with a 70-49 win.

By the Numbers: Azusa Pacific struggled to maintain control of the ball, committing 25 turnovers—more than in their last two games combined. Cal State LA capitalized on these mistakes, scoring 26 points off turnovers, including 18 in the first half alone.

In the same night, the Cougars also struggled offensively, finishing the game 17-for-47 from the field, including a season-low 7-for-25 from three-point range. However, Azusa Pacific did finish with a season-best 36 rebounds. Maui Sze posted a double-double to lead the team, while Jordan Hansen added 14 points, three assists, and a block.

Up Next: Azusa Pacific will take a week off before returning to action on Nov. 26, when they travel south to face Cal State San Marcos. Tip-off time is to be determined.