Box Score: No. 22 CPP vs. Humboldt State

POMONA – A 10-point deficit at halftime to Humboldt State befuddled Cal Poly Pomona men's basketball coach Greg Kamansky. 

“We have to play at an energy level that exceeds our opponent,'' he said. “Humboldt State is a national-level team and we didn't have that energy that we needed in the first 20 minutes.'' 

The 22nd-ranked Broncos certainly turned things around once the second half began. CPP outscored HSU 16-4 to begin the second half and went on to defeat the Lumberjacks in a thrilling 58-55 victory before a crowd of 564 at Kellogg Gym. 

Sophomore Dwayne Fells led the Broncos with 13 points and teammates Tobias Jahn and Austin Swift each scored 10 in a victory that came down to the final moments. 

The victory marked CPP's 11th straight home win, dating to last season. 

Trailing 53-47 with 2:44 left, HSU's Will Petty hit a 3-pointer to cut CPP's lead to 53-50 with 2:20 left. 

After Fells hit the second of a two-shot foul, Petty again cut into CPP's lead with a three-point play. He drove inside and drew the foul from Dahir Nasser. He made the and-one and CPP clung to a 54-53 lead with 1:27 left. 

Nasser missed a shot on the Broncos' next possession and HSU had a shot for the lead. The Lumberjacks worked the ball to their big man, Brian Morris, down low. But the Southern Methodist transfer missed the shot from three feet and the ball fell out of bounds. 

Nasser was fouled on the in-bounds and the Phoenix native hit both shots to put CPP ahead, 56-53 with 20 seconds left. 

Petty again was a foil for the Broncos, as he hit a jumper to pull HSU to within a point (56-55) with 20 seconds left. 

But the Broncos put a damper on HSU's hopes when Fells got free on a long pass from Nasser and provided the final margin for CPP, 58-55, as HSU's shot at the buzzer was short. 

“We had a balanced effort and worked with that energy level in the second half that we needed so badly,'' Kamansky said. “Guys were into it, making things happen.'' 

Kevin Atkins led HSU with a game-high 17 points, but what cost the Lumberjacks was their inability to hit from outside. They were 2-of-7 from 3-point land. 

“We held their 3-point people in check and that made a big difference,'' Kamansky said. “(Zac) Tiedeman was out for a while and (Ernie) Spada and (David) Howard didn't score.'' 

Donnelle Booker had nine points and junior reserve Mark Rutledge hit two big 3-pointers in the second half for his 6-point night. 

The Broncos next take on visiting Cal State San Bernardino on Tuesday night. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

BRONCO NOTES: The Broncos shot 59.3 percent from the floor in the second half on 16-of-27 shooting… CPP has not lost at home to HSU in the all-time series… The Broncos turned the ball over a season-best eight times… The Broncos' 40 second-half point total also is a season best.