ARCATA — With only four games remaining in the first half of the California Collegiate Athletic Association season, Humboldt State men's basketball will seek a return to its customary success when the Jacks host a pair of California Collegiate Athletic Association games in Lumberjack Arena this week.
HSU, 5-7 overall and 1-7 in league games, will host San Francisco State (8-4, 6-2) on Thursday, then return to the court Saturday to take on Sonoma State (5-7, 3-5). Both contests tip off at 7:30 p.m.
The Lumberjacks fell twice during last week's roadtrip, extending their losing streak to four. Meanwhile, San Francisco State swept a pair last week, and has now won six of its last seven games. Sonoma State dropped both of last week's games, and has lost four of five in recent weeks.
Head-to-Head
San Francisco State leads the Lumberjacks, 92-60, in the all-time series. Last year the teams split their two CCAA games, each winning on its home court. ……The Jacks lead the Sonoma State Seawolves, 46-36, in the series that began in 1979-80.
On-the-Air
Humboldt State basketball can be once again heard over the airwaves on KATA, 1340 AM, the North Coast's ESPN radio affiliate. BiCoastal Media Sports Director J.B. Mathers describes the action. Airtime is 7:15 p.m. The broadcast will also be streamed live at
http://socialstreamingplayer.crystalmedianetworks.com/radio/kataam.
Streaming VIdeo
Watch the Jacks' games live online by directing your internet browser to http://www.ustream.tv/channel/humboldt-state-athletics. Video and audio begin 15 minutes prior to tip-off.
LiveStats
Live statistics for both of this week's games can be accessed at http://www.sidearmstats.com/humboldt/mbball/scoreboard.aspx
Projected Starters
Humboldt State Lumberjacks
Guard – #12 Tyler Brown, 6-2, 190, Sr. from Sacramento
Guard – #15 Nathan Hentley, 6-1, 170, So. from Springfield, Mass.
Guard – #24 Austin Bryan, 6-4, 200, Jr. from Wenatchee, Wash.
Forward – #2 Deaundray Robinson, 6-5, 185, Jr. from Baton Rouge, La.
Forward – #55 Brett McConnell, 6-7, 225, Jr. from Mountain View
San Francisco State Gators
Guard – #10 Calvin Otiono, 6-2, 185, Jr. from Sacramento
Guard – #12 Robbie Herndon, 6-3, 185, So. from Vallejo
Forward – #25 William Overton, Jr., Jr. from Perth Amboy, NJ
Forward – #32 Decensae White, 6-6, 215, Sr. from Pacifica
Forward – #44 James Albright, 6-6, 219, Sr. from Oakland
Sonoma State Seawolves
Forward – #13 Steve Lackey, 6-7, 205, Jr. from Shingle Springs
Guard – #3 Jason Walter, 6-4, 190 Jr. from Las Vegas, Nev.
Forward – #20 Will Olsem, 6-3, 205, Sr. from Sacramento
Forward – #24 Patrick Scott, 6-4, 200, Sr. from Grass Valley
Center– #35 Justin Herold, 6-7, 215, Jr. from Santa Rosa
Injury Report
Aaron Chamberlain is out of the Jacks' lineup indefinitely after suffering an eye injury and possible concussion when he collided with teammate Deaundray Robinson two weeks ago. Chamberlain sustained a concussion before arriving at HSU last fall, and suffered another in September.
Lumberjack Notes
Slumping almost to the point of non-contention, the Jacks still have hopes of rallying as they continue the first half of CCAA play. Hamstrung by injuries and other personnel changes, head coach Steve Kinder has searched for a on-court combination that would click. He's mixed up his starting lineup, beginning the game with six different units on the floor since the season began. The past five games have all featured a different group. …Making his first starting appearance as a Lumberjack on Saturday was Brett McConnell. The 6-7 junior from Mountain View earned the honor by coming off the bench to grab a team-high 11 rebounds Friday. He added five more Saturday. "I'm excited about the effort and hustle (McConnell) has displayed," Kinder said. …Austin Bryan continues to assume the role of leading scorer, having put up 20 points in the weekend's first game and 18 in the second. He leads the team in 3-point shooting with 17 long-distance field goal. Bryan has also displayed the ability to drive, which in turn has sent him to the free throw line more than any other Lumberjack. His 82 percent accuracy ranks fifth in the CCAA.
San Francisco State Notes
One of the hottest teams in league, the San Francisco State Gators, are coming off a double-win weekend at home. They defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills, 68-52, on Friday, then took down Cal State L.A., 71-65, Saturday. …Senior forward Decensae White is the Gators' top scorer with an average of 13.3 points per game. Also hitting double figures are Calvin Otiono, at 12.7 points per game, and William Overton, Jr., with 10.0. …In only three years directing the program, San Francisco State head coach Paul Trevor has molded the Gators into a formidable force. His team's success is predicated on its swarming defense. "Coach Trevor has a reputation of building teams that play aggressive defense," Kinder said. "We're going to have to embrace that physicality, and eliminate turnovers."
Sonoma State Notes
Coach Pat Fuscaldo's Seawolves bring an intensity of their own, mirroring their leader's fiery style of coaching. He and associate head coach Rick Shayewitz are among the best in the CCAA at formulating an effective strategy, Kinder says. "They do a top notch job of preparing their team," Kinder said. "They'll be ready to defend our offensive sets, and they can match our tempo." …The Seawolves boast a prolific scorer in Patrick Scott, who leads the CCAA with an average of 16.6 points per game. He's also among the top 3-point marksmen, hitting nearly 50 percent of his shots from long distance. Senior Will Olsem, who is finishing an outstanding four-year career at SSU, also averages in double digits at 11.3 ppg. Justin Herold, a 6-7 junior, averages 9.2 points and a team-best 5.3 rebounds per game.
Kinder's Comments
"We'll use our practice time this week to work on the element of toughness. Hustle plays, taking charges, diving on the floor for loose balls and saving the ball to a teammate when it's going out of bounds are the drills that develop that mentality." …"I'm pleased with the way Austin Bryan has embraced his role as a primary scorer. He's doing a good job of getting open, as well as creating his own shots off the dribble." …"To be successful, we need to develop more offensive opportunities for Deaundray Robinson. I also can see Rocky Brown becoming more comfortable, now in his third week with the program."
