ARCATA, Calif. – Cal Poly Humboldt men's basketball opened its final homestand of the season in dominant fashion, controlling Cal State San Marcos from start to finish in a huge 78-59 victory in front of a packed crowd at Lumberjack Arena. The Jacks (16-10, 12-9 CCAA) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, securing their ninth win of their last 12 games.
"It was great to be back home in Lumberjack Arena tonight after playing four straight road games," said head coach Chris Tifft. "I thought our guys fed off the crowd's energy and got us out to an early lead. We played with confidence on both ends of the floor and did a nice job job of getting open shots. I was excited that everyone had a chance to contribute tonight. We are looking forward to another great crowd on Saturday for senior night."
Humboldt set the tone early, jumping out to an 8-0 lead and outscoring the Cougars 39-30 in the first half before extending their advantage with another 39-point performance in the second half. The Jacks' balanced attack saw contributions from every active player on the roster.
Rob Diaz III led all scorers with 16 points, shooting 4-for-7 from beyond the arc while adding five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Marsai Mason provided a spark off the bench with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Josiah Sanders filled the stat sheet with 13 points, seven boards, and three assists. Kalib LaCount orchestrated the offense efficiently, dishing out a game-high five assists to go with his nine points.
Defensively, the Jacks stifled the Cougars (6-21, 6-15 CCAA), holding them to just 32.8% shooting from the field and 19.0% from three-point range. Humboldt's defensive pressure forced 10 turnovers, translating into 13 points on the other end. The Jacks also dominated the glass, out-rebounding San Marcos 38-29.
The energy inside Lumberjack Arena was electric as the home crowd fueled Humboldt's wire-to-wire performance. With all active players seeing game action and making an impact, the victory was truly a team effort.
The Jacks now turn their attention to their regular-season finale on Saturday, March 1, against Sonoma State (12-15, 8-13 CCAA) at 5 p.m. Humboldt will celebrate its three seniors—Kyle Frelow, Jamal Briscoe, and Cam Timmons—prior to tip-off. As a special promotion, general admission to the game is free with the promotional code JACKS2025 at this link.
Fans are encouraged to pack the arena once more as the Jacks look to cap off their regular season on a positive note before heading to San Marcos for the CCAA Tournament next week.
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.
