MONMOUTH, Ore. --- The Western Oregon men's basketball team erased a five-point deficit in the final minute to take a one-point lead only to see Cal Poly Humboldt score with less than five seconds left and the Wolves' last shot come up short in a 79-78 loss to the Lumberjacks on Saturday afternoon at New PE Building.

WOU (3-7 overall) was down 77-72 when Cameron Benzel hit a pair of free throws with 46 seconds left to make it 77-74. The Wolves put the press on CPH (3-6) after the make and Carson Frincke got a steal and layup with 36 seconds left to make it a 77-76.

Again after the make, WOU pressed and Kris Cook got a steal and was fouled going up - hitting one of two to tie the game 77-77 with 34 seconds left.

For the third time in a row, the press worked for the Wolves as Peter-Kaci Gwananji got a steal in the back court and was fouled - hitting one of two free throws to make it 78-77 WOU with 24 seconds remaining - the Wolves' first lead since the 14-minute mark of the first half.

The Lumberjacks took time off the clock and Brandon Bento-Jackson hit a mid-range jumper on the baseline to give CPH a 79-78 lead with 3.1 seconds remaining. WOU had one final shot, but a deep 3-pointer came up short.

Benzel led the Wolves with 25 points (going 11-for-16 from the field) to go along with six rebounds. Frincke had 22 points - going 6-for-12 from 3-point range - while adding four assists and three steals. Jason Gallant had 12 points and a team-high seven assists and Cook finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.

The Wolves are off until returning to action Jan. 4 on the road at Western Washington.