ARCATA – Head coach Steve Kinder was looking forward to starting a new season and seeing what each of his players would bring to the table. What he wasn't expecting on the first night, was the showmanship and flair from his team in the 96-46 blowout win over Simpson University Friday night.

The non-conference exhibition game marked the first time either team had played this season. With the win, Humboldt State starts the 2011-12 campaign 1-0, while Simpson starts 0-1.

As the No. 24-ranked team in the preseason poll, the Lumberjack squad was hitting from all cylinders, with every active player adding to the scoreboard—some with a little more style–to show why they are a top ranked Division II basketball team.

Pre-season All-American forward Randy Hunter led the team in scoring with 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while senior forward Kyle Baxter wasn't too far behind in scoring with 15 points and two assists. 

Baxter led the Jacks in scoring in the first half with nine points, helping give HSU a big lead heading into halftime at 43-22, but Kinder knew his team was capable of playing better than they had the first half.
 
"I'm proud of what we accomplished in the second half," said Kinder. "The key was to not look at the scoreboard and see the discrepancies from first half."
 
The Jacks continued to dominate the Red Hawks in the second half, scoring another 43 points, including two crowd-pleasing dunks from Baxter and Tavin Hurley, to end the game at 96-46.

"I dont remember this high-flying act or special plays this early last year," said a pleasantly-surprised Kinder. 

Senior point guard D.J. Broome brought the Jacks to life on both sides of the ball for Humboldt State by penetrating the Red Hawks' defense and coming up with three of the team's 14 steals.

"I thought DJ—a real crowd favorite—really sparked us offensively and played well for us off the bench," said Kinder.

The first win of the season was a great confidence-booster for the Jacks as they travel to No. 16-ranked Division I University of Arizona to face the Wildcats on Tuesday, November 1, but Kinder knows the long season is just beginning and is excited for the challenge his team will face against Arizona.
 
"We have a lot to polish up," said Kinder. "We need to continue to inject new offensive plays. Defensively, we're going to be challenged in whole different way."