La Mirada, Calif. - Robert Taylor and Kayle Knuckles each scored 15 points and the Eagles built a 29-15 halftime advantage but Cal State San Marcos was able to pull off a crazy second half comeback and steal a 69-62 victory Saturday in the PacWest/CCAA Challenge.

Playing at Biola University for the second straight day, Concordia University Irvine came out on fire. Taylor and Brian Chambers combined to score 10 of CUI's first 12 points as the Green and Gold built an early 14 point lead.

A trey by Knuckles extended the margin to 17 in favor of Concordia at 27-10 before the Cougars closed the half with a couple of buckets.

Unfortunately for the Eagles it was definitely a tale of two halves. After holding the Cougars to zero three-pointers and just 27 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes, Cal State San Marcos exploded in the second half. The Cougars poured in 54 points after the break on 66 percent shooting and used an 18-1 run to erase an 11-point deficit.

Late threes by Austin Clarke and Knuckles were not enough to turn the tide back in favor of the Eagles and the Cougars ultimately prevailed by seven.

"We had our best 20 minutes of the year followed by our worst of the year," admitted Concordia head coach Ken Ammann. "We need to get better at handling tough moments of the game. We've got to get a whole lot tougher."

Concordia (1-4) returns to action on Friday, Nov. 16 at Sonoma State in the Ron Logsdon Basketball Classic at 7:30 p.m.

Concordia's first home men's basketball game will take place two days after Thanksgiving, when the Eagles host Antelope Valley on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m.