Effecting the outcome was the loss of the CCAA's leading scorer, Brian Morris, who was ejected from the game after picking up his second technical foul early in the second half. Morris also sat for much of the opening half after picking up two early fouls.

Despite the loss of Morris, and limited play from starting point guard Brandon Sperling due to a lingering injury, the Jacks kept the game tight and trailed by only three, 29-26 at halftime.  But after Humboldt State's big man was tossed for reacting to the banging he was experiencing down low, the Toros went on a 10-1 run that featured 3-pointers by Robert Willhite and Marcquintice Davis. That expanded the lead to 18 points with 13 minutes, 47 seconds left to play.

“It was an extremely physical game, and we weren't prepared for that,” HSU head coach Steve Kinder said. “We didn't respond to the physicality, but next time we play them we'll prepare for that.”

In Sperling's absence, the Jacks received a lift from junior guard DJ Broome, who contributed a career-high 12 points, dished four assists and came away with three steals without committing a turnover. Also scoring in double figures was Randy  Hunter, who posted a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, Elliot Babcock Krenk, with 11 points, and Ernie Spada with 10.

Zareh Zargaryan led the Toros with 19 points and Davis added 17. Willhite scored 16, hitting 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and Michael Cox scored 14 points and chipped in a team-high 10 rebounds.

The Jacks made the game exciting in the waning minutes, twice pulling within nine points. Hunter's jumper with 3:56 on the clock was the final time the Jacks were within single digits, the Toros' James Cawthorne draining a 3-pointer from the corner to stop the comback attempt.

Humboldt State (14-2 overall) will face the Toros (15-1) again February 23 in Arcata. Saturday's game marked the midway point of CCAA action, leaving HSU in second place in the 12-school standings.