CARSON, Calif. – Despite trailing by just two points at halftime, Humboldt State men's basketball dropped the second game of its road trip 78-72 to Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday evening in the Torodome.

The loss moved HSU to 6-15 overall, 3-12 in California Collegiate Athletic Association action, and the Toros improved to 9-14, 6-10 CCAA. The result came on the back end of a SoCal trip in which the Jacks fell to Cal State LA, 81-77, Friday night.

"I thought down the stretch we were able to keep up a good effort," said Head Coach Steve Kinder.  "I was proud of how we were able to sub out and keep fresh legs on the court at the end of the game, which gave us a chance to have some hope for a win. We got down behind some poor shot attempts in the second half, and we need to show more patience in shot selection. The effort was there and you can't fault the Lumberjacks for how hard they play."

Dominguez Hills led 34-32 at intermission, but HSU saw the Toros expand their lead to 13 at 4:38 into the second half. A last-ditch push by the Jacks cut the deficit to 76-72, but despite scoring 15 points in the last 1:57, it was a case of too little too late for the visitors.

After the home squad built its 45-32 second-half lead, HSU steadily chipped away until they got back to within three on a Tyras Rattler Jr. trey with 9:27 remaining. Dominguez Hills then took a 57-47 advantage with 5:39 left and repeatedly held double-digit margins until the Jacks closed within the last minute. The Toros led 71-61 at the 1:00 mark before HSU was able to play the foul game and make the final score tighter, assisted by a Jack Kaub three-pointer at 58 seconds.

Kaub contributed 10 rebounds and notched his second double-double of the season as he and Davasyia Hagger led HSU with 17 points. Rattler finished with 11 points and Justin Everett  scored 10. Everett and Hagger both grabbed eight rebounds in the contest.

"The hustle and tenacity that Jack Kaub brings to the program every day, in practice and in the games, is constant," said Kinder. "He is warrior-like and I am proud of how he plays."

HSU attacked the offensive glass for 22 boards in the game, as second-chance opportunities allowed them to hoist 78 shots, 23 more than the Toros. The Jacks were sunk by their inability to hit from three in the game, as they knocked down just 3-of-22 treys.

HSU is now off until its contest next Thursday night against Cal State East Bay with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff in Lumberjack Arena.

"We told the team in the locker room after the game to keep their heads up, look your teammates in the eye and stay positive," said Kinder. "If we keep working hard, good things will happen to us."