Box Score
LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team put forth one of its best efforts of the season Saturday night, only to fall in agonizing fashion in the Eagles Nest.
The Golden Eagles roared back from a 21-point second-half deficit, but Humboldt State made the key plays down the stretch to beat Cal State L.A., 77-74, in overtime in a California Collegiate Athletic Association thriller. Cal State L.A. (11-8, 7-7 CCAA) managed to grab late leads in the second half and overtime, but Humboldt State (14-5, 11-3 CCAA) still managed to pull out the win.
Carl Hoffman had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while
Dwayne Jones also had 19 points.
Chris Robinson had 16 points, eight rebounds and three steals in his best performance this season.
Zac Tiedeman had 22 points to lead Humboldt State, while Brian Morris had 18 points before fouling out.
Cal State L.A. shot 51 percent for the game, including 63.2 percent (12-of-19) in the second half. Humboldt State shot an even 50 percent for the game, including 60 percent in the first half while opening up a nine-point lead. The Lumberjacks also hit half of their 18 attempts from behind the 3-point arc.
Cal State L.A. dominated the boards, 35-21.
The Golden Eagles made 18-fo-26 free throws, but were only 4-of-8 in the overtime period. Humboldt State was 16-of-19 for the game and 7-of-8 in the overtime, which provided the margin of victory.
It was a bitter defeat for the Golden Eagles, who looked down and out five minutes into second half before staging a dramatic comeback. Cal State L.A. trailed at halftime, 37-28, and then fell behind by 21 points, 53-32, with 15 minutes left.
The Golden Eagles unleashed a furious rally that brought them to the brink of victory. Cal State L.A. managed to close the gap to six points, 55-49, with 6:42 to go after a free throw by Robinson and then, after four free throws by Tiedeman pushed the lead back to 10 points, Cal State L.A. went on a stunning 10-0 run to tie it for the first time since the first half. Two free throws by Hoffman started the run, which really picked up steam after consecutive 3-pointers by Robinson that made it 59-57. Robinson was then fouled attempting a 3-pointer and made two of them to tie it at 59-59 with 3:09 to go.
After Ernie Spada hit a jumper to allow Humboldt State to regain the lead, a layup by Hoffman tied it again at 61-61 with 2:08 to go.
Dwayne Jones then converted a three-point play to give Cal State L.A. its first lead of the second half, 64-61, with 53 seconds left.
Humboldt State's Kevin Atkins tied it with a 3-pointer with 39 seconds left before Jones hit two free throws with 18 seconds left to give the Golden Eagles a 63-61 lead. Tiedeman tied it with 10 seconds to go with a jumper. The Lumberjacks then had a chance to win the game in regulation because Jones was stripped while driving the lane and Spada got off a chance before the buzzer that just bounced out.
The overtime was tight throughout. Humboldt State took a three-point lead, 72-69, with 1:37 to go, but two free throws by Hoffman and a steal and basket by Robinson gave the Golden Eagles their last lead, 73-72. Atkins then converted a layup with 50 seconds left to put Humboldt State ahead, 74-73. Robinson then missed two free throws with 14 seconds, but
Chris Fields got the rebound of the second miss and, while falling out of bounds, got the ball out to
Dwayne Jones, who just missed a 3-pointer.
Humboldt State's Kyle Baxter got the rebound, was fouled, and made two free throws with five seconds left to make it 76-73.
Dwayne Jones was fouled intentionally before he could shoot with two seconds left. He missed the first, made the second and then Spada made one of two free throws for Humboldt State to end it.
Trevor Hopkins hit a 3-pointer to help fuel the early second-half rally and finished with seven points.
Cal State L.A. will return to action next Thursday with a road game at Cal State East Bay.
