LA JOLLA, Calif. – Nikhil Lizotte scored a team-high 24 points as Humboldt State men's basketball lost to UC San Diego 78-72 in Tuesday's California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament game at RIMAC Arena.
 
The Lumberjacks end the 2016-17 season with a 13-16 overall record.

"I am proud about how we battled back the first half and at the end. We showed a lot of toughness and courage to hang in there," said HSU Head Coach Steve Kinder. "I am extremely excited about this group and what we accomplished, not only in this game, but the whole season. We have great talent and very good depth on this team. We are very proud that we made the CCAA Tournament again and had the opportunity to represent Humboldt State basketball and Humboldt State University in the postseason."
 
Lizotte scored 20 of his 24 points in the second half and was one of only two HSU scorers to reach double figures. Tyras Rattler Jr. finished with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting to go with a team-best nine rebounds. Calvin Young II had eight points, six blocks and five rebounds.
 
The top-seeded Tritons opened the game with the hot hand, and the Jacks offense struggled to get going early on. UC San Diego led 12-2 three minutes in and used a 19-7 run midway through the half to take a 14-point, 46-32, lead at the break.
 
HSU scored the first four points of the second half, and the Green and Gold shooters found their rhythm. A Tyler Green layup with 13:04 to play trimmed the lead to three and wrapped a 10-1 run for the North Coast team. The Jacks kept the Tritons' lead to single digits for the remainder of the game, but were unable to get closer than two points, 57-55, with 8:55 left in regulation.
 
UC San Diego won the rebounding battle 39-34 and shot 50 percent from outside the arc. The Tritons' Adam Klie led all scorers with 29 points on 9-of-12 shooting and went 3-of-3 from 3-point range. Christian Oshita contributed a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds.