Box Score ARCATA — After holding Pacifica College at an arm's length most of the game, the Humboldt State men's basketball team finally found a way to put the Gladiators away in a 86-70 non-conference victory Saturday.

The win improves HSU's record to 2-0 in the early season, while Pacifica, out of Riverside, fell to 0-3. Humboldt State is back in Lumberjack Arena on Monday for another pre-Thanksgiving contest when Southern Oregon visits for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

Five players scored in double digits for HSU, led by Randy Hunter's double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Kyle Baxter and Brandon Sperling each added 15 points, and Sperling dished a team-high eight assists.

Also contributing to the Jacks' efforts were newcomers Ethan Dillard and Austin Bryan, who came off the bench to score 12 and 11 points, respectively. DJ Broome added six assists and six points on a 3-for-3 shooting effort.

Early in the game, the score remained tighter than expected against the NAIA affiliated Gladiators, whose schedule includes five California Collegiate Athletic Association teams and two NCAA Division I opponents. The Lumberjacks finally surged ahead with a 10-1 run that expanded the lead to 15 points midway through the opening period.

The persistent Gladiators found ways to overcome the Lumberjacks' full-court press, however, and cut the Jacks' lead to two points when Alex Brandon scored a layup with 2 minutes, 21 seconds remaining until halftime. Brandon finished as the game's high scorer, putting up 22 points on a 10-of-16 shooting effort from the field.

"My game plan was to do what Humboldt State does, coming out in the fullcourt press," HSU head coach Steve Kinder said. "I thought that would get us going, but it backfired. Their players are quick, and we had a difficult time. In the second half, we got out of the press and played more conventional basketball."

After trailing 42-36 at halftime, Pacifica pulled within three points again when Kristoff Thande opened the second half with a 3-pointer. Baxter, Scott Clark and Bryan responded with 3-pointers of their own, but the Jacks still couldn't shake free of the Gladiators, who pulled within three again when Thande hit another long-range bomb that cut the Jacks' lead to 53-50.

"It was a strategic game, from a coach's standpoint," Kinder said. "They did a nice job of making it difficult for us. It was a game of many adjustments."

The jousting continued until Kinder brought in a secret weapon off the bench. Dillard, a true freshman from Reno, Nev., drained three straight 3-pointers to help HSU push the lead back to double figures.

Pacifica was unable to chip into the Jacks' advantage, and Humboldt State took control, expanding its lead to as many as 23 points. Sperling got in on the long-range show, hitting a 3-pointer that gave the Jacks 10 total on the evening.

"We're expected to make shots when we get them," Dillard said. "That's what we practiced all week. We have incredible athletes on this team. We just need to bring it every night."

Both teams ripped the nets with accuracy Saturday. Humboldt State hitting 60 percent of its shots from the field, shooting 43 percent from 3-point range, and Pacifica notched a 54 percent shooting  effort.

With two wins in two starts, the Jacks have a pair of games remaining – both at home – before beginning CCAA action. Following Monday's game and a brief break for Thursday's feast, they'll be back in the Arena Saturday for a tune-up against Simon Fraser University.

"It's been a good start for us. We're going the right direction," Baxter said. "Ethan and Austin came off the bench and hit big shots tonight. Everyone's doing a great job right now."