ARCATA, Calif. – The Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks mounted an electrifying second-half rally, narrowing a double-digit deficit to a single possession, but ultimately fell short against Chico State in an 87-79 battle in front of a packed crowd of nearly 600 fans at Lumberjack Arena.
The Lumberjacks (3-2, 0-1 CCAA) trailed by seven at halftime after shooting an efficient 46.2% from the floor in the opening frame. The Wildcats (4-2, 1-0 CCAA) capitalized on free-throw opportunities and second-chance points to maintain their edge, converting 85.4% of their 41 attempts from the charity stripe.
Humboldt surged midway through the second half, ignited by standout performances from Josiah Sanders and Marsai Mason. Sanders led all scorers with 22 points, going 8-of-15 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line. Mason provided a spark off the bench, securing his first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Wildcats' balanced attack was led by Jojo Murphy's 20 points, with Trae Taylor adding a double-double of his own (19 points, 10 rebounds). Chico State's defense forced 21 turnovers, translating into 29 points.
Despite the Wildcats' dominance on second-chance opportunities (22 points) and fast breaks (15 points), the Lumberjacks showcased their resilience. Aidan Fowler contributed 14 points, including two crucial three-pointers during Humboldt's rally. Kalib LaCount chipped in 14 points, a game-high seven assists, and six steals.
"We are on the right path but still have some work to do," stated head coach Chris Tifft. "Proud of our guys for battling all the way to the end. We will work on cleaning up some execution and make sure we take care of the ball moving forward. It was great to see the support in the arena tonight and I know our guys appreciate the fans showing up for our first conference game of the season."
The Lumberjacks outperformed the Wildcats in field-goal percentage (46.3% to 34.3%) but were hindered by missed opportunities at the free-throw line, converting just 64.1% of their 39 attempts.
Humboldt will look to bounce back on Thursday, December 5, as they continue CCAA play at home against San Francisco State (3-4, 1-0 CCAA). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt Basketball, please visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app, and follow us on all social media platforms.
