Box Score CARSON — Brandon Sperling nailed a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining, allowing Humboldt State to hold off a hard-charging CSU Dominguez Hills and earn a 56-54 win over the Toros in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game played Saturday.

The victory snapped a two-game HSU losing streak, improving the Jacks' record to 8-4 overall and even-up at 4-4 in the CCAA. CSU Domiguez Hills fell to 6-4 and 5-3 in league games.

Challenged by the HSU coaching staff to reestablish the team's direction, the Jacks' seniors responded in unison. Kyle Baxter scored 11 points, and Randy Hunter and Sperling each added 10, while sophomore Austin Bryan topped the team with 13 points.

"We met this morning, the five seniors and the coaching staff," Baxter said. "We were really disappointed with last night's loss (vs. Cal State L.A.). The coaches put it on us to win the game, and we got it done tonight."

Despite the Jacks' efforts, the game came down to the final possession. Leading by three points, the Lumberjacks intentionally fouled Myron Green, who made the first free throw before intentionally missing the second in hopes of a CSUDH rebound. The Jacks' Darren Turpin responded to the strategy by tracking down the long board and thereby preserving the victory.

George McGrew led CSUDH's balanced scoring with 10 points. Green, Van Girard and Cornell Jenkins each added eight.

Early on, the Jacks struggled to find offensive punch following a pair of Baxter three-pointers to open the game. They fell behind by five at 11-6 on Ryan Jefferson's three-pointer, and free throws were all the Jacks could muster during the next six minutes.

Provided with a chance to open a gap, CSUDH couldn't capitalize, scoring only one field goal of its own during the stretch. The result was maintaining the status quo, the largest Toros' lead coming when Sheldon Allen hit a pair of free throws to make the score 15-9 in favor of CSUDH midway through the first half.

Ethan Dillard responded with a three-pointer for HSU, and Sperling followed a CSUDH turnover with the Jacks' first two-point jumper, pulling Humboldt State within one at 15-14. Hunter's strong move to the hoop to gave the Jacks their first lead at 16-15 with 8:13 remaining, but the Toros answered with George McGrew's three-pointer to move back ahead.

HSU pushed the pace, scoring the next 10 points to again take control. A three-pointer by Scott Clark continued the Jacks' perimeter prowess, giving them five three-pointers among their first seven field goals, and they added two-pointers by Clark and Hunter to take a 26-18 lead.

The Toros stormed back, cutting the lead to a single point on Jenkins' layup. Humboldt State missed shots on four straight possessions before finishing the first half with Bryan's layup, giving the Jacks a 30-27 lead at the break.

The early minutes of the second half continued the tight battle, CSUDH briefly taking a lead and trading it with the Jacks. Bryan broke a tie with a three-pointer, and after CSULA answered, Bryan took the ball to the hoop strong for a layup and a 46-43 HSU lead.

Humboldt State showed signs of pulling away, going back to its long-range game to fashion a 10-point lead. Clark's three-pointer gave the Jacks a 54-44 lead with 6:54 remaining before the Toros answered with a pair of jumpers to trim the cushion to six.

Both teams found it difficult to find offense for the next two minutes, with two strong defensive efforts that wound down the CSUDH shot clock helping HSU maintain its lead. But McGrew broke through with a tip-in to pull the Toros within four at 54-40 with 1:56 left on the clock.

HSU missed an opportunity when CSUDH answered with its own strong defense, a shot clock violation giving the Toros the ball back with 1:11 remaining. But Andrews missed an alley-oop back-door dunk to set up the game's final minutes.

Humboldt State briefly returns home this week, facing CCAA leader Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday and San Francisco State on Saturday. Both games tip off at 7:30 p.m. in Lumberjack Arena.