Box Score

ARCATA -- Cal State L.A.'s men's basketball team fell painfully short of an opening-round victory in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament.

The Golden Eagles led for the first 39 minutes of the game, only to see Humboldt State hit a pair of go-ahead free throws with 11 seconds remaining and then hit a breakaway slam dunk at the buzzer for a 78-75 victory Tuesday in Arcata. Cal State L.A. (17-10) was outscored, 10-0, over the final three minutes with the 'Jacks scoring six of those points on free throws and four points on dunks, including the one at the buzzer.

Cal State L.A (17-10), the No. 6 seed, lost to Humboldt State, the No. 3 seed, for the second straight year in the conference tournament. The 'Jacks also beat the Golden Eagles twice in three meetings this season.

The Golden Eagles seemed poised for an upset victory. The Golden Eagles shot 52.7 percent (30-of-57) and limited Humboldt State to 46.8 percent shooting (29-of-62). Cal State L.A. knocked down nine of its 12 attempts frrom 3-point range (75 percent) to just 6-of-16 for the 'Jacks. Cal State L.A. was 6-of-8 from the free-throw line (75 percent), wihle Humboldt State was 14-of-19, including 6-of-6 in the final three minutes.

Cal State L.A. had a big 39-28 rebounding edge as well.

Two categories, though, proved decisive. Cal State L.A. committed 18 turnovers to only seven for the 'Jacks and the Golden Eagles were whistled for 20 fouls to just 11 for Humboldt State. The foul count was 12-5 in the first half and was 17-6 at one stage in the second half.

#Chris Robinson# had 19 points to lead four Golden Eagles in double figures. Carl Hoffman scored 17 points, Quinton Watkins had 13 points and #Bussey Ellis had 13 points. Jordan Richard,# the conference leader in blocked shots, was limited to 23 minutes before fouling out and Leland Jones also played for much of the game in foul trouble. Richard fouled out with a little more than three minutes remaining.

Brandon Sperling had 17 points to lead six Humboldt State players in double figures. D.J. Broome had 14 points and Kyle Baxter had 12 points, six rebounds, seven assists and four blocks.

Cal State L.A. took the lead on its opening possession and held it until the final agonizing minute. Robinson hit a 3-pointer to spark the Golden Eagles on a game-opening 9-2 run. Ellis hit a free throw, Robinson hit a 3-pointer and Watkins scored to give the Golden Eagles a quick lead. The advantage grew to 15-4 on a basket by Watkins and was at 14 points, 20-6, after a tip-in by Hoffman. A 3-pointer by Ryan Wetherell gave the Golden Eagles their biggest lead, 23-8, 10 minutes into the game.

A three-point play by Hoffman gave the Golden Eagles a 41-30 halftime lead.

Cal State L.A. took a 12-point lead at 57-45 after a Robinson layup and a three-point play by Hoffman gave the Golden Eagles a 63-51 lead with 11:58 to go. Jibreel Nasir made a layup to keep the lead at 10 points, 65-55, with 10:27 remaining.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Robinson and Watkins gave the Golden Eagles an 11-point cushion, 73-62, with 6:27 remaining, but Cal State L.A. managed just one basket the rest of the way. That basket, by Ellis, gave the Golden Eagles a 75-68 lead with 3:15 to go.

Cal State L.A. finished the regular season with 13 conference wins, its most since 2001.