ARCATA — Lacking energy for the second straight night, Humboldt State found its power source in the form of Zac Tiedeman during a second-half surge that turned a close game into a 78-60 Lumberjack blowout of visiting Chico State.

The win allowed HSU to retain a share of first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings, improving to 12-4 in league and 19-7 overall. Chico State dropped to 6-17 overall and 3-13 in the CCAA.

Humboldt led 34-33 at halftime, only by virtue of Ernie Spada's three-pointer at the buzzer. The Lumberjacks struggled through a less impressive shooting performance again, hitting only 37 percent from the field in the opening period.

That all changed early in the second half, thanks to Tiedeman, who attacked the basket and dished to Kevin Atkins,  Jameson Figgatt and Owen Newman for eight straight points.  The junior from Santa Rosa then found the net himself, hitting a three-pointer and jumper to helped the Jacks gain a 49-37 lead.

The Lumberjacks kept the surge going, Tiedeman hitting four more three-pointers as the lead grew to 25 points.  He finished the evening with a career-high 27 points while matching his Lumbjerjack career best in assists with eight.

Atkins contributed 18 points, keeping the Jacks in contention during the first half. Jameson Figgatt scored nine for the Jacks and also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

Chico State was led by Andy Bocian, who put up 24 points, and Josh Jackson, with 13 points. Roderick Hawkins had a game-high 10 rebounds for the Wildcats.

Going to Bocian as their primary option on nearly every possession, Chico State forged a seven-point lead midway through the first half. Humboldt State answered with Atkins, who made his way into the paint for three straight layups.

His efforts weren't enough to keep the Wildcats from leading throughout the period until Spada's long three-pointer put Humboldt State ahead for only the second time in the first half.

Humboldt State goes on the road next week, taking on Cal State San Bernardino on Friday and facing Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday. Both games will air live on KATA, 1340 AM radio.

Chico State vs Humboldt State
2/14/09 at Arcata, Calif. (Lumberjack Arena)
At Arcata, Calif. (Lumberjack Arena)
HUMBOLDT STATE 78, CHICO STATE 60
CHICO STATE (6-17, 3-13 CCAA)
BOCIAN, Andy 7-18 8-9 24; JACKSON, Josh 6-9 0-0 13; HAWKINS, Roderick 2-8
3-7 7; SHARP, Chris 2-4 1-2 6; MILLER, Canyon 2-4 0-0 4; GRAVES, Zach 1-4
0-2 2; ASH, Robert 0-1 2-2 2; ARGENAL, Justin 1-7 0-0 2; WALKER, Coby 0-0
0-0 0; SUMLIN, LaCurtis 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-55 14-22 60.
HUMBOLDT STATE (19-7, 12-4 CCAA)
TIEDEMAN, Zac 10-13 2-2 27; ATKINS, Kevin 8-13 2-4 18; FIGGATT, Jameson 4-8
1-3 9; KEHRIG, Mike 2-5 0-0 5; PETTY, Will 2-2 1-1 5; HOWARD, David 2-7 1-1
5; SPADA, Ernie 1-4 2-2 5; NEWMAN, Owen 1-1 0-0 2; BAXTER, Kyle 1-9 0-0 2;
BABCOCK-KRENK, E. 0-1 0-0 0; DAVIS, Keith 0-2 0-0 0; MATHEWS, Colt 0-0 0-0
0; BROOME, David 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-65 9-13 78.
Chico State...................   33   27  -   60
Humboldt State................   34   44  -   78
3-point goals--Chico State 4-22 (BOCIAN, Andy 2-8; JACKSON, Josh 1-3; SHARP,
Chris 1-1; GRAVES, Zach 0-1; ASH, Robert 0-1; ARGENAL, Justin 0-4; MILLER,
Canyon 0-2; HAWKINS, Roderick 0-2), Humboldt State 7-20 (TIEDEMAN, Zac 5-7;
SPADA, Ernie 1-4; KEHRIG, Mike 1-2; HOWARD, David 0-1; BAXTER, Kyle 0-2;
BABCOCK-KRENK, E. 0-1; DAVIS, Keith 0-1; ATKINS, Kevin 0-2). Fouled
out--Chico State-GRAVES, Zach; ARGENAL, Justin, Humboldt State-NEWMAN, Owen.
Rebounds--Chico State 34 (HAWKINS, Roderick 10), Humboldt State 39 (FIGGATT,
Jameson 9). Assists--Chico State 9 (ARGENAL, Justin 5), Humboldt State 13
(TIEDEMAN, Zac 8). Total fouls--Chico State 17, Humboldt State 19. Technical
fouls--Chico State-None, Humboldt State-None. A-1522