POMONA, Calif. – In a semifinal matchup that featured 15 lead changes and eight ties, No. 3 seed Cal Poly Humboldt outlasted No. 2 seed Cal State Dominguez Hills 76-75 in overtime Friday evening at Kellogg Arena, punching its ticket to the CCAA Tournament Championship.
With the win, the Lumberjacks improve to 17-13 overall (13-9 CCAA) and advance to Saturday's championship game at 8 p.m. in Kellogg Arena. Humboldt will face the winner of No. 1 seed Cal State East Bay and No. 5 seed Cal Poly Pomona.
"Another gutty performance by our squad," stated head coach DJ Broome. "Obviously Shak had a special night, but we continue to have so many guys make big plays down the stretch, which enabled us to come out on top over a really good Dominguez Hills team. Excited for the opportunity to finish the job tomorrow in the Championship game."
It was a game that came down to the wire — fitting for two teams battling for a spot in the conference title game and split against each other this season. After leading 28-26 at the half, Humboldt shot 50 percent from the field in the second half to force overtime and then held off the Toros in the extra period to secure the one-point victory.
At the center of it all was an unforgettable, career-high performance from Shakir Odunewu.
The senior delivered a dominant effort, pouring in 34 points on 9-of-15 shooting while going 16-for-20 at the free throw line. Odunewu also controlled the glass with 12 rebounds — including eight on the offensive end — to record a double-double in the biggest game of the season. He accounted for nearly half of Humboldt's points and was instrumental in the Lumberjacks' 19 second-chance points and 38 points in the paint.
Humboldt finished the night shooting 41.7 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Toros 48-35, including a 17-11 advantage on the offensive boards. The Lumberjacks' physicality inside proved pivotal, especially in a contest where every possession mattered.
Zaveion Bineyard added 10 points and matched Odunewu with 12 rebounds, anchoring the defensive effort. Rob Jenkins chipped in 10 points, six assists and two steals across 40 minutes, while Drew Ardouin contributed seven points. Brandon Bento-Jackson knocked down a pair of three-pointers and finished with six points and four rebounds in 43 minutes of action.
Off the bench, Tyriq McNeal provided a spark with six points and six rebounds in just 10 minutes, helping the Lumberjacks maintain their presence on the boards throughout the night.
Cal State Dominguez Hills (22-8, 17-5 CCAA) was led by DaSean Stevens' 22 points and 11 rebounds, while David Cheatom added 17 points. The Toros shot 39.4 percent from the field and tallied 16 points off turnovers, but Humboldt's rebounding edge and timely free throws proved decisive.
In overtime, the Lumberjacks battled through tense moments at both ends of the floor. Humboldt shot 3-for-8 in the extra session and converted key free throws down the stretch to maintain the slim advantage, ultimately sealing the 76-75 victory in front of 350 fans.
Friday's semifinal was a showcase of resilience and execution under pressure — and now the Lumberjacks are one win away from a CCAA Tournament title.
Tip-off for Saturday's championship game is set for 8 p.m. at Kellogg Arena in Pomona.
For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt men's basketball, visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app on Apple iOS or Google Android, and follow the Lumberjacks on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook.
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