LA JOLLA — (Feb. 10) Humboldt State's efforts to earn a come-from-behind win were finally sealed when Jeremiah Ward drove the left side for a layin with only two seconds remaining, handing the Jacks a 61-59 victory over UC San Diego in a California Collegiate Athletic Association men's basketball game Saturday.

Humboldt State improved to 18-3 overall, keeping its leadership of the CCAA intact with a 13-3 record in league games. UC San Diego dropped to 10-11 overall and 8-8 in conference, its winning streak stopped at four straight.

"It's the old classic statement that champoinship teams find a way to win," HSU head coach Tom Wood said. "We didn't play our best tonight, which is a tribute to them. But we never lost our resolve, and used the grinding effort you need on the road to get it done."

Ward hit the game-winner, but it was fellow senior Kevin Johnson who loomed largest in the second half, scoring 20 of his game-high 22 points and earning all of his 11 rebounds the hard way. He and Devin Peal worked the inside effectively as the Jacks traded leads with the Tritons down the stretch before finally pulling out the victory

The only other Lumberjack finishing in double figures was Peal, who scored 14 points and nailed big free throws down the stretch. Kelvin Kim led UCSD with 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range, and Henry Patterson added 12 for the Tritons.

HSU dug itself a big hold in the early going, as the Jacks connected on only one of their first nine shots from the field. Many of the misses came on easy inside chances, and while HSU struggled the Tritons found the mark on the way to a 17-5 lead.

HSU's reserves took over early, working the lead down to 17-10 before some starters reentered the game for the Jacks. Peal finally mae a layin to make it 17-12. Clint Allard hit a three pointer to end the run, but Grayson Moyer drove for a baseline layin to keep the Jacks in contention.

UCSD pulled away again, taking a 24-16 lead on Patterson's layin with 3:59 remaining until halftime. But the Jacks righted themselves again, working it down and finishing the half with Peal's layin to leave the Jacks trailing only 29-28 at the break.

Starting the second half, Humboldt State 30-29 lead on Peal's driving layin, but it was a brief lead. UCSD moved ahead again, taking a 39-34 advantage on two Allard free throws after a technical foul interrupted a HSU fastbreak.

Quiet for most of the first half, Johnson made his presence known as the game progressed, receiving a no-look pass form Sheufelt for a layin and free throw that tied the game for the first time at 45-45.  His three-pointer then provided HSU with its first lead 48-45.

The Jacks are on the road again next week, traveling to face Cal State Monterey Bay on Thursday and facing San Francisco State on Saturday.

Humboldt State vs UC San Diego
02/10/07 7:30 p.m. at La Jolla, Calif. - RIMAC Arena
HUMBOLDT STATE 61, UC SAN DIEGO 59
HUMBOLDT STATE (18-3, 13-3 CCAA)
JOHNSON, Kevin 10-15 1-1 22; PEAL, Devin 4-7 6-10 14; VANDERMEER, Cy 1-3 4-7 6; Ward, Jeremiah 3-11 0-0 6; SHEUFELT, Will 2-2 0-0 5; DEL RIO, Efren 1-3 2-3 4; BURNS, Tyler 1-1 0-0 2; MOYER, Grayson 1-4 0-1 2; WAY, Evan 0-0 0-0 0; KEHRIG, Michael 0-0 0-0 0; CORRAL, Carlos 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-46 13-22 61.
UC SAN DIEGO (10-11, 8-8 CCAA)
KIM, Kelvin 5-7 0-0 14; PATTERSON, Henry 6-10 0-1 12; ALLARD, Clint 2-4 3-4 8; POPPEN, Shane 2-4 2-2 6; PETERS, Robby 2-8 0-0 6; LAWLOR, Darryl 1-4 3-4 5; STUCKEY, Brett 2-2 0-0 4; BROWNING, Andrew 1-4 2-2 4; LAWLEY, Jordan 0-0 0-0 0; MAULHARDT, A.J. 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-43 10-13 59.
Humboldt State................   28   33  -   61
UC San Diego..................   29   30  -   59
3-point goals--Humboldt State 2-9 (JOHNSON, Kevin 1-3; SHEUFELT, Will 1-1; Ward, Jeremiah 0-3; DEL RIO, Efren 0-2), UC San Diego 7-16 (KIM, Kelvin 4-5; PETERS, Robby 2-6; ALLARD, Clint 1-3; LAWLOR, Darryl 0-1; BROWNING, Andrew 0-1). Fouled out--Humboldt State-None, UC San Diego-None. Rebounds--Humboldt State 28 (JOHNSON, Kevin 11), UC San Diego 24 (ALLARD, Clint 7). Assists--Humboldt State 15 (MOYER, Grayson 7), UC San Diego 14 (ALLARD, Clint 7). Total fouls--Humboldt State 15, UC San Diego 19. Technical fouls--Humboldt State-MOYER, Grayson, UC San Diego-None. A-519

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