SAN BERNARDINO — (Dec. 1) Cal State San Bernardino nailed its free throws down the stretch, holding off a hard-charging Humboldt State squad for a 76-68 victory in HSU's California Collegiate Athletic Association opener.

Humboldt State's first loss of the season dropped the Jacks to 3-1 overall while the Coyotes claimed their first win, moving to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in league.

Poor shooting plagued the Jacks throughout the contest, especially from beyond the three-point line. They finished with a .328 shooting mark overall from the field, and hit only four of 24 from long range for a .167 mark.

Kevin Johnson managed a double-double to lead HSU, scoring 10 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Jeremiah Ward scored 15 points despite a 4-16 performance from the field, and Will Sheufelt added 14 points for HSU.

Prentice Harris, who contributed five free throws to help seal the win, led the Coyotes with 16 points, while Ivan Johnson added 11 for CSUSB.

Cal State San Bernardino scored the first seven points of the game before the Jacks finally got a basket on Ward's spinning layup. Even that acrobatic play had a downside, however, as the senior guard was assessed a technical foul for hanging on the basket.

Regaining their composure, the Jacks scored the next seven points to tie the game at 9-9 on a pair of Grayson Moyer free throws. The battle remained tight, HSU briefly taking a 17-16 lead at the 7:00 minute mark on consecutive jumpers by Sheufelt.

For awhile, neither team could produce much offense, keeping the score low. But the Coyotes grabbed the momentum heading into halftime, quickly expanding a three-point lead to eight on Pierce's three-pointer and a layin by Harris.

Humboldt State headed to the lockerroom, trailing 32-24, its largest deficit of the first period.

In the second half, the Jacks battled back again, taking the lead on Ward's three-pointer, but they were unable to maintain the surge. CSUSB held them at bay before starting a decisive surge in the final five minutes.

Yoseph Yaisrael buried a three-pointer with 4:23 remaining to put his team ahead 60-53 to keep the run going. HSU's next possession ended with a miss and long rebound that star a Coyote fastbreak, finished off with a dunk by Yaisrael.

Humboldt trailed by 10 before making its final attempt at a comeback, pulling within four points in the final minute of the game before the Coyotes sealed their win from the free throw line.

The Jacks will be back on the court Saturday, taking on Cal Poly Pomona at 7:30 p.m.

Humboldt State University vs Cal State San Bernardino
12-1-06 7:30 PM at Cal State San Bernardino Coussoulis Arena
CAL STATE SAN BERNARDINO 76, HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY 68
HUMBOLDT STATE UNIVERSITY (3-1 (0-1))
WARD, Jeremiah 4-16 6-8 15; SHEUFELT, Will 4-13 5-5 14; VANDERMEER, Cy 2-2 7-7 11; JOHNSON, Kevin 4-10 1-2 10; MOYER, Grayson 2-7 4-5 9; PEAL, Devin 3-6 1-5 7; DEL RIO, Efren 0-0 2-2 2; CORRAL, Carlos 0-2 0-0 0; WAY, Evan 0-0 0-0 0; BURNS, Tyler 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 19-58 26-34 68.
CAL STATE SAN BERNARDINO (1-2 (1-0))
HARRIS, Prentice 5-9 6-6 17; JOHNSON, Ivan 4-7 3-6 11; PIERCE, Marlon 3-6 2-4 10; WILLIAMS, Greg 4-7 2-6 10; YAISRAEL, Yoseph 4-7 1-3 10; ORTIZ, Lance 3-6 3-4 9; REICHEL, David 1-2 0-0 3; LEWIS, Khorry 0-2 2-2 2; TILLMAN, Joseph 1-5 0-0 2; CLAYTON, Geoffrey 0-2 2-4 2; BANKS, Michael 0-0 0-0 0; GILZENE, Jason 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-55 21-35 76.
Humboldt State University.....   24   44  -   68
Cal State San Bernardino......   32   44  -   76
3-point goals-Humboldt State University 4-24 (MOYER, Grayson 1-5; JOHNSON, Kevin 1-3; WARD, Jeremiah 1-7; SHEUFELT, Will 1-7; CORRAL, Carlos 0-1; PEAL, Devin 0-1), Cal State San Bernardino 5-14 (PIERCE, Marlon 2-2; REICHEL, David 1-2; HARRIS, Prentice 1-5; YAISRAEL, Yoseph 1-1; CLAYTON, Geoffrey 0-1; GILZENE, Jason 0-1; ORTIZ, Lance 0-2). Fouled out--Humboldt State
University-BURNS, Tyler, Cal State San Bernardino-None. Rebounds-Humboldt State University 44 (JOHNSON, Kevin 12), Cal State San Bernardino 31 (YAISRAEL, Yoseph 6). Assists-Humboldt State University 8 (WARD, Jeremiah 4), Cal State San Bernardino 16 (CLAYTON, Geoffrey 4). Total fouls-Humboldt State University 27, Cal State San Bernardino 26. A-1023

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