ARCATA, Calif. – The Humboldt State men's basketball team overcame a 17-point deficit and defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills 68-67 Saturday night in Lumberjack Arena. HSU improved to 9-0 at home with the win.

The Lumberjacks missed their first seven shots of the game and found themselves in uncharted territory, trailing 12-0 in front of their home crowd. Dominguez Hills watched its lead balloon to a game-high 17 points with 5:56 left in the first half as HSU continued to come up empty on the offensive end. Trailing 32-15, the home team put together a 12-2 run and reduced the Toros' lead to single digits with a Calvin Young II dunk with 3:09 on the clock. The Toros sank a jumper in the final minute of the half to take a double-figure lead, 41-31, into the locker room.

HSU shot 37.1 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes and was 1-for-11 from long range. Young led Green and Gold scorers with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Dominguez Hills showed off a balanced offensive attack with five scorers contributing six or more points in the first half.

"Dominguez was ready to play, and they were prepared. I have to credit them for the opening barrage tonight," said Head Coach Steve Kinder. "Our coaches gave a vanilla speech at halftime, and we didn't overcoach them at the half."

Back-to-back jumpers courtesy of senior Justin Everett sparked the Jacks' second-half comeback. Everett's baskets started a 16-4 run for the home team that ended with a Jack Kaub layup and the game tied at 49-all with 9:15 to play. Jackson Strong drilled just his second basket of the game at a pivotal moment to put the Jacks in front 54-51 and HSU clung to the lead the rest of the way. Leading 68-67 with 14 seconds remaining, the Jacks committed a turnover and gave the Toros one last chance for the win. But Wonder Smith missed the game-winning jumper as time expired to clinch HSU's ninth consecutive home win.

Young led HSU scorers with 14 points, while Everett scored 12 points and collected a team-leading eight rebounds.

"We keep telling our guys this is going to be a grind and a dogfight every game," said Young. "They gave us their best punch early on. We just kept grinding and chipping away and that shows what we are made of."

The Jacks visit the Bay Area to take on the Pioneers of Cal State East Bay on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.