The Lumberjacks (18-11, 13-9 CCAA) battled from start to finish, led by standout performances from CCAA Freshman of the Year Aidan Fowler and CCAA Honorable Mention Josiah Sanders. Fowler poured in a team-high 24 points, connecting on 8-of-18 from the field and 3-of-8 from deep, while Sanders added 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Their efforts helped Humboldt push the Toros, as the Jacks only trailed by three points at halftime (46-43), but a red-hot second half from the older Dominguez Hills group proved to be the difference.
The Toros (24-5, 20-2 CCAA) shot 61.5% from the field and 52.2% from beyond the arc, with Jeremy Dent-Smith leading the way with a game-high 32 points. Adam Afifi added 21 points and 10 rebounds to power Dominguez Hills into the CCAA Tournament Championship.
Despite the loss, the Lumberjacks' season was one for the record books. Under second-year head coach Chris Tifft and assistant coach Brandon Billups, Humboldt tripled its win total from last season and reached the CCAA Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2016. The 18-win campaign marks the program's most successful season in nearly a decade, signaling a promising future for the young Lumberjacks.
The loss likely concludes Humboldt's season, but the Lumberjacks maintain a very slim chance of earning an at-large bid to the NCAA West Region Tournament. The top eight teams across CCAA, GNAC, and PacWest conferences combined will receive bids to the regional field, with the selection show scheduled for Sunday at 8:00 PM PT on ncaa.com.
Regardless of the postseason fate, Humboldt's future is bright. With a core of young talent, the Lumberjacks have laid the groundwork for sustained success in the years to come under Chris Tifft and Brandon Billups.
The top two seeds, Cal State Dominguez Hills and Chico State, will face off in the CCAA Tourrnament Championship on Saturday at 5:00 PM. All CCAA Tournament Information can be found here: Click here
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.