ARCATA — Humboldt State held off a determined Simpson University squad Friday, escaping with a 78-68 victory in the second game of the DeBeni Holiday Classic.

The victory sends HSU into Saturday's game against Western Oregon with a 8-3 overall record, while Simpson dropped to 1-10. Aundre Sheard provided the Red Hawks with hope throughout, bombing for a game-high 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range.

Zac Tiedeman led the Lumbejacks with 14 points, while also dishing seven assists. David Howard added 12 points and Jameson Figgatt scored 10 for HSU, while Kevin Atkins contributed a team-high six rebounds.

Simpson, a late replacement in the tournament after Lewis-Clark State had its travel plans impacted by the weather, never let Humboldt State get comfortable. The Lumberjacks forged ahead by 12 points with 2:36 remaining in the first half on Figgatt's layup, but the Red Hawks responded with a 9-2 run that cut the Jack's lead to 37-32 at the break.

"We may have better players than Simpson, but they were the better-playing team tonight," HSU head coach Tom Wood said. "We gave them hope, and they came back. They were the better-coached, harder-playing team."

Playing inspired basketball and responding to the urgings of head coach Cary Williams, a former Lumberjack player, the Red Hawks maintained their momentum in the early part of the second half. Dwight Bond's jumper pulled them within a single digit at 59-58 with 9:29 remaining, but the Jacks responded with a 15-2 surge that finally put the victory away.