Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team bounced back nicely from a disappointing conference loss last week at Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
The Golden Eagles used an outstanding second-half performance and pulled away down the stretch to post a big 68-48 win over Humboldt State Friday in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (9-2, 5-2 CCAA) outscored Humboldt State, 43-22, in the second half.
 
The Golden Eagles lost all three contests last season to the 'Jacks, who won the regular-season conference title.
 
Chris Robinson had 18 points, including a back-breaking 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down that gave the Golden Eagles a 55-44 lead with 3:40 remaining. The Golden Eagles stretched their advantage down the stretch at the free-throw line. Cal State L.A. was 21-of-37 from the line for the game, but was much more efficient in the second half by knocking down 14-of-21.
 
Cal State L.A. entered the game with the nation's No. 2 defense, allowing only 53.7 points per game. The Golden Eagles limited Humboldt State to just 24.5 percent shooting (13-of-53), including 3-of-17 from behind the 3-point arc. Humboldt State (7-4, 3-4 CCAA) made just six first-half baskets and only seven in the second half.
 
The Golden Eagles shot 45.8 percent for the game (22-of-48) and made half of their 26 attempts in the second half. The Golden Eagles also knocked down three 3-pointers in the second half, two by Ryan Wetherell and the one by Robinson.
 
Wetherell finished with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. Carl Hoffman had 13 points and eight rebounds.
 
Randy Hunter led Humboldt State with 10 points and four rebounds, while Scott Clark had nine points.
 
Leland Jones had a strong game for Cal State L.A., grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with nine points, four blocks and three steals. Jordan Richard had six points, five rebounds and two blocks.
 
Cal State L.A. also enjoyed a 47-35 rebounding edge.
 
The Golden Eagles led for most of the first half, but a late surge by the 'Jacks gave Humboldt State a 26-25 halftime lead despite the fact the 'Jacks had only six first-half baskets. A free throw by Jones gave the Golden Eagles a 22-17 lead, but the 'Jacks closed the half on a 9-3 run to take the halftime edge. A basket by Hoffman in the waning seconds pared the deficit to one.
 
Hoffman scored again to open the second half to give the Golden Eagles the lead for good. A layup by Wetherell pushed the lead to three points and, after a basket by Clark got the lead back to one point, the Golden Eagles scored the next eight points to take command. Wetherell hit a pair of three pointers in the run surrounding an offensive rebound and basket by Jones. Wetherell's second 3-pointer gave the Golden Eagles a 37-28 lead with 15 minutes to play.
 
The 'Jacks trimmed the lead to six points, 45-39, with 8:30 to play, but baskets by Hoffman and Robinson got the lead back to 10 points with seven minutes to go. A basket by Kyle Baxter made it 52-44 with 3:40 to go, but Robinson hit his big 3-pointer to start a game-breaking 10-0 run. Jones and Robinson hit two free throws each, while Wetherell hit three to put the game out of reach.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Sonoma State.