ARCATA, Calif. -- On Thursday evening, the Cal Poly Humboldt men's basketball team hosted the Golden Eagles of Cal State Los Angeles inside of the Lumberjack Arena. The Jacks came out on top, defeating Cal State LA with a final score of 68-64. The squad has won three straight games and now reside one game out of the top spot of the CCAA standings. They currently hold a 9-6 overall record and continue to impress in conference play with a 7-2 CCAA record. Marlon Ruffin led all scorers in the contest with 21 points, while Bryce Mitchell grabbed 11 rebounds and added three blocks. 

GAME SUMMARY 
A slow start for the Lumberjacks saw Cal State LA jump out to an early 7-0 lead. A Timmons free throw to go along with three pointers from Mitchell and Ruffin gave the Jacks a boost as they responded with 7-0 run of their own to tie the game. Humboldt extended it's lead to six points a total of three times in the first half, but the Golden Eagles continuously found ways to claw back into the game, as the score was tied five times and consisted of three lead changes. The Jacks held a 33-30 advantage at the half. 

An 8-0 Humboldt run to open the second half gave the Jacks an 11 point lead after Bryce Mitchell threw down a thunderous dunk on the fast break assist from Marlon Ruffin. A 50 percent shooting effort in the second half allowed the Jacks to hold the lead for the remainder of the game. Five Humboldt turnovers down the stretch did allow for Cal State LA to creep back to within three points with under a minute to go, but the defense prevailed and Josh Berenbaum sealed the win with a two handed slam, lifting the Jacks to a 68-64 victory. 

POST GAME QUOTE 
"Sloppy but resilient. We were able to grind out a win," stated head coach Tae Norwood. "We held Cal State LA to 64 points, but we have to do a better job at closing games out. There are no nights off, as this is one of the best Division II conferences in the country. I'm just happy we showed resiliency and made our free throws down the stretch. We are going to celebrate this win and get ready for Cal State San Marcos on Saturday."

NOTABLE STATS
- Marlon Ruffin led all players with 21 points. He also had six rebounds.
- Bryce Mitchell grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds, added three blocks, and chipped in nine points.
- Both Cam Timmons and Josh Berenbaum had 11 points and seven rebounds.
- Guards: Malek Davis had five assists and two steals, while Amari Green posted seven points.
- The Jacks shot 47 percent and held Cal State LA to just 35 percent shooting. 

UP NEXT
Saturday, January 14, the Jacks will host Cal State San Marcos for a CCAA matchup and look for their fourth straight win. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM from Tom Wood Court inside of Lumberjack Arena.

For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt men's basketball, please visit humboldtathletics.com and follow us on all social media platforms. 

Be sure to check out our new beer garden and concessions on the first level of Lumberjack Arena while you enjoy the game!