ARCATA — Kyle Baxter stepped up, driving and banking home a layup with 3.5 seconds remaining to lift Humboldt State over Cal Poly Pomona, 64-62 on Saturday. The victory over the defending national champions kept Humboldt State on top of the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings at 7-1, while they improved to 11-1 overall.

Boxscore

The Broncos, who shared the CCAA regular season title with HSU last year, rallied from a 13-point deficit in the second half, tying the game on Mark Rutledge's 3-pointer with 28-seconds remaining. But HSU ran the clock down on its ensuing possession before Baxter penetrated for the winning layup. Cal Poly Pomona had one more possession, but the Jacks' Brian Morris intercepted the inbounds pass to end the game.

“Kyle (Baxter) rises the occasion in big games,” HSU head coach Steve Kinder said. “He's a junior now, and has developed the maturity to be more consistent about it.”

Baxter finished with 14 points, three assists and two steals, including an 8-for-10 performance from the free throw line. Morris was the only other Lumberjack to hit double digits, scoring a team-high 19 points and also topping the Jacks in rebounding with seven boards.

Cal Poly Pomona was led by Dwane Fells, who came on strong in the second half to finish with 24 points and seven rebounds. Mitchel Anderson scored 11 points and Kevin Menner added 10 for the Broncos, who dropped to 4-6 overall and 1-5 in league.

“Cal Poly Pomona dictated the pace of play, and when we wanted to go fast they didn't allow it,” Kinder said. “We had no answer for Fells. He's one of the premier post players in the league, and he plays with great composure.”

It was the Lumberjacks who displayed the readiness for the vaunted CPP defense, gradually pulling away to a 37-24 halftime advantage. Morris worked the low post for 12 points in the first half, and DJ Broome bounced in a 3-pointer from the corner at the halftime buzzer to finish the period on a positive note.

In the second half, the Broncos began chipping away at the lead, cutting it to four points on a tip in by Terrence Drisdom with 11 minutes, 58 seconds remaining. Humboldt State maintained a 3- to 8-point lead until the 3:05 mark, when Fells scored over the top of Morris to cut HSU's lead to 57-55. Morris matched the move on the opposite end, but another layup by Fells pulled the Broncos within one with 1:11 left.

Baxter nailed a pair of free throws before Rutledge tied the score with his long bomb from the top of the key. Following a timeout, Baxter took the ball to the basket, laying it off the glass from the right side for the game-deciding shot.

Humboldt State remains home for its next two games, matching up with Cal State Monterey Bay at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and taking on San Francisco State at the same time Saturday in Lumberjack Arena.