ARCATA — (March 12) Cal State San Bernardino staked itself to a sizeable lead, then held off a hard-charging Humboldt State squad to claim a 68-66 win and the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball West Region title in front of another sold-out crowd Monday.

Cal State San Bernardino improved to 25-5, advancing to the Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass., which begins on March 21. They Coyotes take on the winner Tuesday's South Atlantic Region final matching Wingate University and Virginia Union.

Humboldt State finished the year with a 26-4 record, the best winning percentage in program history. The loss also ended Humboldt State's winning streak at 15 straight and was the Jacks' first at home this season.

“It was a terrific run,” HSU head coach Tom Wood said. “Tonight doesn't diminish what this team has accomplished.

The Lumberjacks refused to go down easy, rallying from a 12-point deficit to finally tie the game at 61-61 on Jeremiah Ward's three-pointer from the left wing. But Ivan Johnson answered with a three-pointer of his own, and Geoffrey Clayton came up with a steal, laying in the ball to move the Coyotes back ahead by five with 3:33 left to play.

The Jacks came back again, pulling even at 66-66 when Jeremiah Ward drained to free throws, but Yoseph Israel's jumper with eight seconds remaining gave the Coyotes their final lead.

Humboldt State's Will Sheufelt missed a leaning three-pointer with a defender draped over him as the clock ran down.  Grayson Moyer grabbed the rebound and hit a jumper that would have tied the contest, but came just after the horn had sounded.

“It's a tremendous feeling,” CSUSB head coach Jeff Oliver said. “The atmosphere in the East Gym makes it all the more exciting.”

Ivan Johnson led the Coyotes with 18 points and six rebounds, while Prentice Harris contributed 13 points. Geoffrey Clayton had 12 points and Marlon Pierce finished with 10.

Moyer led Humboldt State with 21 points, Ward had 16 and Kevin Johnson 15 for the Lumberjacks. Devin Peal added 14 points.

CSU San Bernardino vs Humboldt State
03/12/07 7 p.m. at Arcata, Calif.
CSU SAN BERNARDINO 68, HUMBOLDT STATE 66
CSU SAN BERNARDINO (25-5)
JOHNSON, Ivan 7-11 3-4 18; HARRIS, Prentice 3-6 5-5 13; CLAYTON, Geoffrey 5-6 0-0 12; PIERCE, Marlon 4-9 1-1 10; ORTIZ, Lance 3-7 0-0 6; YAISRAEL, Yoseph 2-6 0-0 5; JOHNSON, Chet 1-8 0-0 2; GILZENE, Jason 1-1 0-0 2; REICHEL, David 0-1 0-0 0; WILLIAMS, Greg 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-55 9-10 68.
HUMBOLDT STATE (26-4)
MOYER, Grayson 6-9 6-7 21; WARD, Jeremiah 6-9 2-2 16; JOHNSON, Kevin 6-9 2-2 15; PEAL, Devin 7-9 0-2 14; CORRAL, Carlos 0-0 0-0 0; DEL RIO, Efren 0-1 0-0 0; VANDERMEER, Cy 0-0 0-0 0; SHEUFELT, Will 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-39 10-13 66.
CSU San Bernardino............   46   22  -   68
Humboldt State................   39   27  -   66
3-point goals-CSU San Bernardino 7-24 (CLAYTON, Geoffrey 2-3; HARRIS, Prentice 2-4; PIERCE, Marlon 1-6; YAISRAEL, Yoseph 1-3; JOHNSON, Ivan 1-3; REICHEL, David 0-1; JOHNSON, Chet 0-3; ORTIZ, Lance 0-1), Humboldt State 6-12 (MOYER, Grayson 3-5; WARD, Jeremiah 2-2; JOHNSON, Kevin 1-2; DEL RIO, Efren 0-1; SHEUFELT, Will 0-2). Fouled out--CSU San Bernardino-None, Humboldt State-None. Rebounds-CSU San Bernardino 22 (JOHNSON, Ivan 6), Humboldt State 22 (MOYER, Grayson 5; JOHNSON, Kevin 5). Assists-CSU San Bernardino 7 (YAISRAEL, Yoseph 3), Humboldt State 13 (MOYER, Grayson 3; JOHNSON, Kevin 3). Total fouls-CSU San Bernardino 13, Humboldt State 13. A-1400 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball West Region Championship

###