Box Score ARCATA – Playing hard for the whole night in a high-quality men's basketball game, Humboldt State ran out of steam at the wrong time at the end of the night.
 
San Francisco State outlasted HSU in the final six minutes to earn the 82-73 California Collegiate Athletic Association victory.
 
Tied at 60, the visiting Gators (7-4/5-3 CCAA) took the lead on a Nefi Perdomo free throw at 5:29 remaining and never gave up the advantage the rest of the game against the hard-fighting Lumberjacks.
 
"We're extremely proud of how we played.The effort was there.The team cohesiveness is intact, and we're staying strong," stressed HSU head coach Steve Kinder. "I'm proud of how we played, even down the stretch tonight. I think we played better basketball down the stretch. We were smarter and I do think we took a step in the right direction."
 
The youthful Jacks (6-8/1-7 CCAA) are making steps of progress each time on the court.
 
The night, though, was a battle between two of the CCAA's best players – San Francisco State's Perdomo and HSU's David Howard. The two put on highlight after highlight with 68 points scored and 24 of 27 free throws made between them.
 
Howard won the individual battle with a career-high 35 points on nine of 19 shooting, three of six from long-range and 14 of 15 from the charity stripe. The junior added seven rebounds, two blocks, two steals and an assist.
 
Perdomo may have lost the individual clash with a total of 33 points (nine of 12 shooting and 10 of 12 from the line) but led his team to the victory. The senior also posted three boards, three assists and four steals.
 
"David had 37 minutes and 35 points. That's close to a point a minute. Obviously, like I said, were proud of what we have done. We're getting better as a team and that specifically, David staying out of foul trouble is a huge leap for him on maturing as a player. He's only a junior right now. He's been out of basketball two years and he's coming around," said Kinder. 

Kinder continued on the two player matchup, "Our guy got a few more points than their guy. He was 10-12 and we were 14-15 from the line for our featured players. They were both marvelous. You can't put them under the microscope any more than did and they were both fantastic. Two premier players and I project those kids wont be ending their careers at the college level. I've been here long enough; I've seen Lumberjacks go on to the professional level. Both those kids, one for them and one for us, project to do so.   So whoever paid a dollar or any amount to get in tonight got their money's worth. Those two picked it up for their respective teams."
 
For the second time this weekend, freshman Parker Farris had a solid outing. The swingman hit four of seven 3-pointers for 14 points after 15 tallies two nights ago.
 
"That's his role right there. If we can get Parker to shoot four for seven from three, get to the line a couple times, be tall and long, and pick up one or two more years on that drivers license, he's going to be a heck of a player in this league," said Kinder.
 
Guard Allen Guei had a tough night from the field but still managed 10 points with eight of eight from the foul line to go with five caroms and four assists.
 
In the first half, HSU found itself in another double-digit deficit.
 
The Gators held a lead of as many as 13 points two times first on a Bennie Rhodes dunk, 32-19 with 4:17, and shortly later with a Perdomo triple, 35-22, at 3:14.
 
Behind making 19 of 20 from the foul line, the Jacks edged back to within six points, 37-31, at half.
 
For the first time since the opening two minutes, HSU took over the lead, 46-45, on a Howard three-pointer at 13:17 to go. HSU would hold the advantage by four points on another Howard long-range shot, 53-49, less than three minutes later.
 
Leading by two on a Colin Caslick three-pointer, the Jacks would enjoy their final time ahead, 58-56, before the Gators tied the contest at 60.
 
Along with Perdomo's night, San Francisco State received 17 points and seven rebounds from Will Overton, Jr.
 
"Whether it's at home or on the road I'm proud of that type of basketball (played tonight). We obviously went deep in our bench. Every player has been playing each weekend. Everyone is contributing. That causes a healthy environment Monday morning when we get back to the drawing board," said Kinder.
 
Kinder's team will look to continue the improvement on the road next weekend. HSU will face Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday and Cal State Los Angeles next Saturday in 7:30 p.m. road contests.