SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--- Marlon Ruffin scored a team high 20 points while Cam Timmons added 15 of his own as the Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks weathered a late game rally to earn a 82-79 victory over the Dominican Penguins at Conlan Center on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams got out to an even start, with Humboldt commanding a small lead throughout much of the first half. The Jacks would trail only twice in the game. It wasn't until less than three minutes remaining in the first half that Humboldt would expand their lead, as back to back jumpers by Alonzo Washington and Malek Davis expanded the Jacks lead to seven with 2:04 remaining. A layup by Thomas Nelson and a three pointer by Davis with under a minute to play would give the Jacks a 12 point lead, as the team closed out the first half on a 12-0 run to lead 39-27.

The Jacks carried their momentum from the end of the first half into the beginning of the second, outscoring the penguins 16-10 in the first four minutes to take an 18 point lead 55-37. Dominican cut the lead to 13, sparked by a fastbreak layup by Marcus McCutchen, but back to back trips to the freethrow line by Jaden Edwards and Ruffin, followed by a layup in the paint by Washington brought the Jacks lead up to 19, their highest of the afternoon. 

Humboldt nursed a double digit lead for much of the second frame until less than five minutes remaining, when another McCutchen layup put the Penguins within eight. Fouls by Ruffin and Kareem Clark with under two minutes remaining allowed Dominican to close the lead to just three with back-to-back free throws from PJ Volz and Garrett Siebels followed by a fastbreak layup by Jaayden Bush with 1:23 on the clock. Another foul by Edwards with 40 seconds remaining would send Seibels to the line again for three free throws. He buried all three to cut the Jacks lead to one, 80-79, with only 39 seconds left. The Jacks were able to nurse possession, as Edwards rebounded a missed three point attempt by Davis with 14 seconds to go, forcing Dominican to foul with only seven seconds remaining. Davis hit two free-throws to clinch the game, as the Jacks escaped with an 82-79 road victory.

Statistically, Humboldt shot 29-72 from the field and outrebounded Dominican 50-40. Free throws proved to be crucial, as the Jacks shot 73.9 % from the charity stripe compared to Dominican's 67.7 %. 

Marlin Ruffin and Cam Timmons led four Jacks in double digits. Both Ruffin and Timmons added nine rebounds to their statlines as well. Jaden Edwards scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds while Malek Davis chipped in 10 points and five rebounds while also dishing out three assists. Thomas Nelson pulled down six rebounds off the bench to go along with nine points. 

Humboldt (1-2, 0-0 CCAA) will have its home and conference opener on Tuesday, Nov. 22 when they play Sonoma State (0-4, 0-0 CCAA)  at 7:30pm in Lumberjack Arena. The game will also serve as the dedication ceremony for Tom Wood Court, with the ceremony to begin at halftime. More information regarding the ceremony can be found at this link.

For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt Men's Basketball, please visit humboldtathletics.com or follow us on all social media platforms.