ARCATA — As hot as the Jacks have been during their three-game winning streak, this week's opponents have been even hotter. The Lumberjacks face two formidable foes on the road, traveling to take on UC San Diego on Friday and CSU San Bernardino on Saturday.

UC San Diego, winners of three straight and five of its last six games, is now 8-9 overall and 7-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The Tritons have rebounded from a slow start, and are in the hunt for a berth in the league's postseason tournament.

CSU San Bernardino has won six straight games, all of those contests away from home. The Coyotes return to Coussoulis Arena for Saturday's 7:30 p.m. game, bringing with them a 14-3 overall record and 12-2 CCAA mark that places them second in league, one game behind Cal Poly Pomona.

Head-to-Head
Since the rivalry began in earnest when the Jacks joined the CCAA, the Coyotes have forged a 14-6 advantage all-time, including their 70-65 win over HSU on Jan. 3 in Lumberjack Arena. Humboldt State had won the previous four meetings. …UC San Diego still trails HSU, 12-4 in the series, but put a dent in the history by defeating the Lumberjacks, 72-69 on Jan. 5.

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' game vs. UC San Diego live online by directing your internet browser to http://www.ucsdtritons.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=5800&KEY=. Saturday's matchup with CSU San Bernardino can be viewed at http://acm.csusb.edu/services/videoproduction/livewebcast.html. Video and audio begin 15 minutes prior to tip-off.

LiveStats
Live statistics for Friday's UC San Diego game can be accessed at http://www.ucsdtritons.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=5800&KEY=. Saturday's game against CSU San Bernardino can be tracked at http://www.sidearmstats.com/csusb/mbball/xlive.htm.

Projected Starters
Humboldt State Lumberjacks
Guard – #22 Cody Kale, 6-3, 190, Jr. from Rocklin
Guard – #24 Austin Bryan, 6-4, 200, Jr. from Wenatchee, Wash.
Forward – #32 Darren Turpin, 6-4, 205, Sr. from Compton
Forward – #2 Deaundray Robinson, 6-5, 185, Jr. from Baton Rouge, La.
Forward – #55 Brett McConnell, 6-7, 225, Jr. from Mountain View

UC San Diego Tritons
Guard – #10 James McCann, 5-11, 165, Jr. from Carlsbad
Guard – #12 Tyler McGrath, 6-2, 175, Sr. from Camarillo
Guard – #25 Ryan Peters, 6-4, 205, Sr. from Santa Clarita
Forward – #14, Drew Dyer, 6-6, 210, Fr. from Aurora, Colo.
Forward – #30, Colin Porter, 6-6, 230, Sr. from San Diego

CSU San Bernardino Coyotes
Guard – #3 Bryan Goins, 5-10, 165, Jr. from Concord
Guard – #13 Lacy Haddock, 6-3, 185, Jr. from Las Vegas
Guard – #24 Johnny Bell, 6-3, 175, Sr. from Moreno Valley
Forward – #44 Kwame Alexander, 6-7, 240, Sr. from Moreno Valley
Forward – #00 Pablo Genovo, 6-10, 250, Sr. from Girona, Spain

Injury Report
Brandon Woods returned to action Saturday after sitting out Thursday's game with a knee injury. He is expected to continue improving this week. …As the week began, Head Coach Steve Kinder was down with the illness that has been circulating this winter. His prognosis calls for a rapid return.

Lumberjack Notes
Opposing teams know what to expect from HSU now, three weeks after the Lumberjacks changed tactics. Still, HSU's up-tempo style has given the Jacks a new identity that their opponents didn't see the first time the teams met. "When we started to platoon players, it began to breath new life into the system," HSU assistant coach Carl Nash said. "We're using more players, keeping everyone fresh, and playing with passion." …Besides preserving energy, the platoon system has allowed the coaching staff to identify who is at his best on a given night. That assessment usually helps decide who will be on the court in the game's closing minutes. …One of those players who has consistently been among the trusted players is junior Austin Bryan, who continues to lead the Lumberjacks offensively. Bryan scored a season-high 25 points in HSU's win over Chico State and contributed 14 points in the Jacks' victory over CSU Stanislaus. He was 9-for-9 from the free throw line on Thursday, including six successful foul shots in the game's final 48 seconds. …Bryan's teammates have also seen success from the free throw line, giving the Jacks' the No. 1 position in the CCAA with an average of 14.7 made per game. …Since Aaron Chamberlain's unfortunate injury sustained the last time the Jacks played UC San Diego, on Jan. 5, Brett McConnell and Thomas Witzel have been called on to deliver in the post. "They've worked themselves into playing major roles on our team," Nash said. "They've done extremely well for guys who didn't see a lot of playing time early in the season."

UC San Diego Notes
Sharp-shooting guards Tyler McGrath and James McCann have paced the Tritons in scoring, averaging 16.4 and 12.5 points per game, respectively. Far from one-dimensional, UCSD also has trusted post players, including Drew Dyer, who scored a team-high 17 points in the Tritons' early victory over the Jacks. …When you send a Triton to the free throw line, you're pretty much providing automatic points. UCSD ranks No. 10 among all NCAA Division II schools with a team free throw shooting mark of 76.2 percent. McGrath also ranks 10th individually, knocking down 89.1 percent of his attempts.

CSU San Bernardino Notes
Cal State San Bernardino's current winning streak is predicated on balanced offense and good ball control. The Coyotes average only 10.2 turnovers per game, ranking them No. 2 among the 285 NCAA Division II teams. They can also shoot the ball, as indicated by their No. 5 nationally ranked average of 42.3 percent accuracy from 3-point range. …Guard Brian Goins and forward Kwame Alexander are CSUSB's top scorers, Goins averaging 15.6 points per game and Alexander putting up 14.9. Also averaging in double figures are guards Lacy Haddock (11.0) and Jamari Simmons (10.0). Alexander's 9.5 rebounds per game rank him first in the CCAA and 19th in the nation.

Nash's Notes
"UC San Diego is a very methodical team that runs its half-court sets very well, resulting in good looks at the basket. The system has been adapted to the players they have, and those players work hard. They're a complete team that can score from the perimeter, go inside, rebound and defend." …"Cal State San Bernardino has both good size and speed. They do a great job of spreading the wealth on offense.  Goins and Alexander are athletic and quick, and are good shooters."