ARCATA, Calif. – No lead is safe for opposing teams in Lumberjack Arena, and Cal State Los Angeles learned that lesson Saturday night. Humboldt State men's basketball rallied from a 16-point deficit to defeat the Golden Eagles 74-64 and earn the Lumberjacks first conference win.
 
The Green and Gold improved to 5-1 and 1-1 in California Collegiate Athletic Association action. HSU also added its fifth win at home. Saturday's loss moved Cal State LA to 0-8 overall and 0-2 against conference foes.
 
HSU scored the game's first points, but it was Cal State LA that led by 16, 27-11, with 10 minutes to play in the half. Golden Eagles senior guard Duce Zaid led the team's first-half scoring effort with 11 points.
 
A 24-12 run by the Jacks in the final 9:47 trimmed the Golden Eagle advantage to just three points. Sophomore Malik Morgan poured in nine of HSU's points during the stretch, and he led the home team with 11 first-half points. Cal State LA led 39-36 at the half.
 
The second half was all Humboldt. Senior Thomas Witzel sank a 3-pointer to start the half and knot the game at 39-39 a little more than a minute into the action. The Arcata product finished the game with 14 points and four rebounds. He was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
 
A trey from freshman Jack Kaub with 14:51 on the clock began a 7-1 run for the Jacks and helped the team build a game high 15-point lead with under two minutes to play.
 
Four HSU players scored 10 or more points in the win. Senior Rakim Brown led the way with 20 points, and he grabbed a team-high seven boards. Witzel and Morgan ended the game with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Senior Ethan Dillard reached double figures for the third time this season and finished with 10.
 
The Jacks remain home and play host to the Seawolves of Sonoma State on Friday, Dec. 11. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.