LOS ANGELES -- After a splendid second-half performance sparked a big win over No. 5 Cal Poly Pomona on Friday night, Cal State LA men's basketball team came up short in the final 20 minutes of a California Collegiate Athletic Association loss to Humboldt State on Saturday.
The Golden Eagles, who rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Cal Poly Pomona on Friday, were outscored 40-26 in the second half on Saturday and fell to the 'Jacks, 70-60, in the Eagles Nest. Cal State LA (3-13, 2-7 CCAA) allowed only three second-half baskets on Friday, but the 'Jacks made 11 in the second half on Saturday and knocked down an impressive 15-of-19 from the free-throw line.
Andre McPhail had 16 points to lead four Cal State LA players in double figures.
Collin Johnson and
Duce Zaid had 12 points each, while
Joshua Munzon, the hero on Friday, had 11 points.
Malik Morgan had an outstanding game for Humboldt State (13-3, 7-3 CCAA). He poured in a game-high 22 points and also had eight rebounds and eight assists. Thomas Witzel had 17 points and seven rebounds, while Justin Everett and Ethan Dillard had 10 points each.
Cal State LA shot 38.9 percent for the game (21-of-54) and was just 6-of-25 (24 percent) from 3-point range. Humboldt State was 22-of-52 (42.3 percent) and won despite going only 4-of-22 from 3-point range. The 'Jacks were better at the free-throw line, hitting 22-of-28 attempts, while the Golden Eagles were only 12-of-20.
Humboldt State also enjoyed a 41-32 rebounding edge and both teams committed 14 turnovers.
Cal State LA led by as many as six points in the first half and had a 29-23 advantage after a basket by McPhail with 2:18 to play. Humboldt State cut the deficit to one point after a three-point play by Witzel late in the half, but the Golden Eagles ran a beautiful inbound play that resulted in a three-point play by
Collin Johnson with less than second remaining that made it 34-30 at halftime.
Humboldt State, though, opened the second half with a big run and took its first lead at 38-37 after a three-point play by Justin Everett with 17:54 to go. Johnson hit a basket to get the lead back for the Golden Eagles at 39-38, but Humboldt State scored the next eight points to take the lead for good. Witzel and Morgan hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Morgan drove in for a layup to make it 46-39.
A 3-pointer by Zaid got the Golden Eagles to within four, 54-50, with 8:55 to go, but that was as close as Cal State LA could get. A free throw by McPhail made it 60-55 with four minutes to play, but Humboldt State scored the next five points and put the game away.
Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with a road game at Cal State San Bernardino.Â