ARCATA, Calif. – The Cal Poly Humboldt men's basketball team delivered a thrilling 90-80 upset over first-place Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday afternoon, snapping the Toros' unbeaten streak in CCAA play. The Lumberjacks extended their winning streak to three games and surged into fourth place in the conference standings.
Freshman sensation Marsai Mason spearheaded the charge with a dominant performance, tallying 23 points, five rebounds, and five blocks. Mason's clutch shooting, including an 11-of-12 effort from the free-throw line, and his defensive presence set the tone for the Jacks.
Six Lumberjacks scored in double figures in the balanced offensive display. Rob Diaz III added 13 points and dished out four assists, while Kyle Frelow recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Josiah Sanders contributed 14 points off the bench, knocking down three triples, while Kalib LaCount and Aidan Fowler chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Trailing 37-33 at halftime, Humboldt came out firing in the second half, outscoring the Toros 57-43. The Jacks shot a scorching 55.2% from the field after the break and drained seven three-pointers to seize control.
"I am proud of our guys for staying focused and competing for the entire 40 minutes," said head coach Chris Tifft. "Our ability to battle back in the second half and close out the game versus the first place team in our conference shows great character and mental toughness. We need to find a way to build on this as we head out on the road to Pomona and San Bernardino."
The Toros were led by Jeremy Dent-Smith, who poured in a game-high 30 points, including four three-pointers. David Cheatom added 19 points off the bench for Dominguez Hills, but the Jacks' defense stifled their interior game, holding the visitors to just 45.9% shooting overall.
Humboldt capitalized on key opportunities, shooting 83.3% from the free-throw line and forcing 10 turnovers that led to nine points. With the win, Humboldt improves to 10-7 overall and 6-6 in CCAA play, while Dominguez Hills drops to 15-4 overall and 11-1 in the conference.
The Lumberjacks return to action on the road this Thursday, January 30, when they take on Cal Poly Pomona (10-8, 5-7 CCAA) at 7:30 PM in Pomona.
For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt men's basketball, please visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app, and follow us on all social media platforms.
