LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team used a tremendous second-half surge to upend Humboldt State Friday night in its California Collegiate Athletic Association opener.
 
The Golden Eagles erased a 17-point halftime deficit and beat the 'Jacks, 85-82, in a thriller in University Gym. Cal State LA (4-4, 1-0 CCAA) trailed by as many as 18 points and never led until a layup by Travis Hammonds with 7:47 to go. The Golden Eagles still trailed by three points with 3:55 to go before a game-turning 6-0 run that put them ahead for good.
 
Jordan Wilson was the star of the game, erupting for 30 points and being virtually unstoppable down the stretch. Geoffrey Frid scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half and Hammonds had 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
 
Calvin Young II had 24 points and 16 rebounds to lead Humboldt State (6-2, 1-1 CCAA), which had a six-game winning streak snapped. Nikhil Lizotte had 23 points and five assists.
 
Roderick Evans-Taylor had eight points and seven rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Jonathan Davis had six points and six rebounds.
 
It was a sweet victory for the Golden Eagles, who lost three times to Humboldt State last year, including a 79-54 decision in the CCAA Championship Tournament semi-finals. Cal State LA outscored Humboldt State, 48-28, in the second half.
 
Wilson was outstanding on Friday as he went 10-of-21 from the floor, including 6-of-10 from 3-point range. He was also 4-of-6 from the free-throw line, including two key makes in the final few seconds.
 
Cal State LA shot 45.5 percent for the game (30-of-66) and shot 52.9 percent (18-of-34) in the second half. Humboldt State shot 43.7 percent for the game (31-of-71), but just 33.3 percent in the second half (10-of-30). Neither team shot well from the free-throw line with Cal State LA making only 16-of-29 and Humboldt State making just 13-of-26.
 
Cal State LA had a 47-43 rebounding edge and committed 10 turnovers to eight for the 'Jacks.
 
Humboldt State had things going its way in the first half and Cal State LA battled to stay in the game. The 'Jacks closed out the half with a 12-3 run to open up a 54-37 halftime lead.
 
In the second half, though, the game changed. The Golden Eagles still trailed by 18 points, 59-41, with 17 minutes to play before starting their big comeback. A jumper by Jordan Nelson-Brown got the Golden Eagles within 64-53 and a four-point play by Wilson energized the crowd and brought Cal State LA to within 64-57. Frid scored again before Wilson made a layup and then a 3-pointer to tie the game at 64-64 with nine minutes to go.
 
The teams exchanged leads until a three-point play by Frid was followed by a 3-pointer by Hammonds that gave the Golden Eagles a 78-75 lead with 2:45 to go. A pair of free throws by Evans-Taylor gave Cal State LA its biggest lead at 80-76 with 1:46 to go and the Golden Eagles led the rest of the way. A pair of free throws by Hammonds made it 83-80 with 26 seconds to go and two free throws by Wilson made it 85-82 with nine seconds to go.
 
Cal State LA survived a pair of game-tying 3-point attempts by the 'Jacks to secure the win.
 
Cal State LA will return to action on Saturday with a home game against Sonoma State.