ARCATA — It's been quite a ride for Humboldt State men's basketball first-year head coach Steve Kinder, and he's not quite ready to get off yet. But on Wednesday, he and his Lumberjacks celebrated a significant milestone along the way.

Boxscore

Avenging an earlier loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills, the Lumberjacks earned the California Collegiate Athletic Association regular season championship with a 71-62 win over the Toros in front of a sold-out Lumberjack Arena. They also recognized another significant accomplishment Wednesday when senior guard Ernie Spada took over as the HSU all-time 3-point leader, draining two to total 198 and surpass previous record-holder Vince Zinselmeir's 196.

There were several stars in Wednesday's win, which improved Humboldt State's record to 23-2 overall and 19-2 in the CCAA heading into Friday's league finale vs. Cal State Los Angeles. Brandon Sperling, Brian Morris and Randy Hunter also had major contributions in helping the Lumberjacks build a 14-point second half lead and hold off the Toros' comeback attempts at the end.

But it was Kinder who attracted the most attention. The Jacks' longtime assistant under Coach Tom Wood, who retired last year, was doused with water by his players right before they all took turns cutting down the Lumberjack Arena nets.

"This has become a rivalry in itself, " Kinder said. "To win the league championship is special, but to win it against a talented team like Cal State Dominguez Hills is a nice feather in our caps."

Coming in ranked No. 3 in the country and No. 2 in the West Region, the Jacks had already clinched at least a tie for the league title with a road win last Saturday. But they weren't satisfied with a chance to share, and came in with extra motivation against the team that had defeated them in Carson on Jan. 22.

Sperling, who was limited by ankle injury to only eight minutes of court time in the first matchup with CSUDH, led the way Wednesday with a season-best 23 points. He picked up the scoring pace when Morris was forced to sit out after being whistled for three first half fouls.

"With Brian out, we needed someone else to step up and score and this time that guy was me," Sperling said. "Brian and Randy (Hunter) always attract so much attention from defenders, and that makes it easier for me to get opportunities."

Morris made the most of his time, scoring 13 points and grabbing eight rebounds in 26 minutes on the floor. Hunter achieved a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Kyle Baxter led the Jacks with six assists.

Spada's record-breaking 3-pointer came in dramatic fashion, swishing the net at the halftime buzzer to send the Jacks into the lockerroom with a 35-26 lead.

"That was a beautiful moment," Kinder said. "To have it come in such a big game with this crowd and atmosphere, and with his entire family in attendance was incredible."

Cal State Dominguez Hills, now 20-5 overall and 16-5 in league, made a concerted effort to thwart the Jacks' hopes, cutting the lead down to six points on a free throw by Zareh Zargaryan with 7 minutes, 42 seconds remaining in the game. But HSU quickly expanded the advantage back to 13 points on a 3-pointer by Elliot Babcock-Krenk, and the Jacks were never threatened in the final six minutes.

Marquintice Davis led the Toros in scoring, finishing with 20 points, and James Cawthorne added 15 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Cornell Jenkins also reached double digits with 10 points, hitting 3-of-6 from 3-point range.

Another big performance for HSU was contributed by 5-foot, 5-inch guard DJ Broome, who came off the bench to grab six rebounds and make four steals. Broome also dished four assists without committing a turnover.

"Everybody had moments of glory tonight," Kinder said. "They all contributed, whether is was a key rebound, grabbing a loose ball or cheering from the bench.

"I just have to shake my head in disbelief. I didn't imagine (a CCAA title) would come this quickly."

Following Friday's game against Cal State Los Angeles, Humboldt State will open the first round of the CCAA postseason tournament at home Tuesday. If the Jacks win, they'll advance to the next round at Cal State East Bay, where the semifinals and final will be held on March 4 and 5.