Postgame Interview

STOCKTON -- Cal State LA's men's basketball team saw its season come to a tough end Friday in the semi-finals of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament.

The Golden Eagles were stunned by an early Humboldt State rush and never could recover in a 79-54 loss in Stockton Arena. Cal State LA (11-18), which stunned No. 1 seed Chico State at Chico on Tuesday in a first-round game, were never able to slow down the 'Jacks on Friday. Cal State LA had limited Chico State to just 37 points on Tuesday in a 54-37 victory, but Humboldt State (20-8), the No. 4 seed, had 45 points by halftime and never let up.

Cal State LA shot just 33.3 percent (19-of-57), while Humboldt State shot 46.9 percent (23-of-49). The 'Jacks also enjoyed a hefty 39-27 rebounding edge and shot 30 free throws, including 17 in the first half when they built leads as large as 23 points before settling for a 45-28 halftime lead. Humboldt State led by at least 18 points for the entire second half.

Duce Zaid, who had 26 points in the big win over Chico State on Tuesday, had 17 to lead the Golden Eagles on Friday. Dushon Carter had 11 points and Joshua Munzon had 10 points.

Rakim Brown had 24 points and seven rebounds to lead Humboldt State, while Tyras Rattler had 15 points and five rebounds and Nikhil Lizotte had 10 points. Thomas Witzel had nine points, including seven in the opening minutes of the game to help the 'Jacks to a quick 10-2 lead.

Cal State LA surrendered the first seven points of the game and never led. The 'Jacks took their first double-digit lead at 18-6 after a 3-pointer by Rattler. A layup by Geoffrey Frid cut the margin to 18-8 and Brandon Hitchman hit a pair of 3-pointers to made it 22-14. A free throw by Zaid - who surprisingly earned only two free throws in the game despite repeated drives to the basket - got the Golden Eagles to within 22-15 and a layup by Munzon kept the Golden Eagles within 32-21. Humboldt State, though, then went on a 12-0 run to take a 44-21 lead that was finally stopped by a 3-pointer by Zaid. A layup by Zaid and two free throws by Carter made it 45-28 at halftime.

Humboldt State opened the second half with a 3-pointer by Brown to take a 48-28 lead. A layup by Jonathan Davis made it 48-30 and a jumper by Zaid made it 50-32, but the 'Jacks then scored the next seven points and led by at least 20 the rest of the game.

Cal State LA will bid farewell to seniors Andre McPhail, Joshua Munzon, Duce Zaid, Dushon Carter, Collin Johnson and Joel Brokenbrough. Munzon, Cal State LA's lone four-year senior, finishes his career with 109 games played, which ties the program record held by Ronald Johnson.