Photo by Elliot Portillo – Cal Poly Humboldt’s Marlon Ruffin

It’s been a few years, but the Cal Poly Humboldt men’s basketball team is headed back to the playoffs.

The Jacks clinched their first postseason berth since 2019 in dramatic circumstances on Saturday night, hitting a pair of free throws with just 30 seconds remaining to secure a 75-73 win at Cal State Los Angeles.

Marlon Ruffin hit the game-winning throws and finished with a team-high 18 points.

The victory lifts the Jacks to 11-11 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (13-15 overall) and secured a tie for fourth in the conference standings.

Ruffin also had five rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Cam Timmons finished with 14 points and Ian Krishnan had 12 points.

The Humboldt men trailed by five at halftime but outscored the home team 38-31 in the second half for the come-from-behind win.

The CCAA tournament tips off on Thursday.

The Jacks tied Sonoma State for fourth.