ARCATA - The With a quality weekend of contests in Los Angeles, Humboldt State comes back to the North Coast for continued hardwood success.
The Lumberjacks recorded their most complete game of the year in going away fashion at Cal State Dominguez Hills (78-50), before falling just short against one of the California Collegiate Athletic Association leaders, Cal State Los Angeles, 74-70.
HSU will try to keep the improved play and team growth sprouting with home contests with Cal State Stanislaus Thursday night and long-time rival Chico State Saturday evening with 7:30 p.m. tip-offs.
Track the Jacks
Audio: Every Humboldt State men's basketball game is broadcast live on the local airwaves on KATA 1340 AM, the North Coast's ESPN affiliate owned by BiCoastal Media. J.B. Mathers handles the play-by-play responsibilities, beginning with the pregame show 15 minutes prior to tip-off. The audio is also streamed live online at http://socialstreamingplayer.crystalmedianetworks.com/radio/kataam.
Video: HSU Athletics offers live streamed video online, coming direct from Lumberjack Arena at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/humboldt-state-athletics.
Live Stats: Follow the action online via Humboldt State's live statistics viewer, located at the following link: http://www.sidearmstats.com/humboldt/mbball/.
Head-to-Head History
When it comes to hosting certain CCAA travel partners, HSU has found wins to be abundant. The Cal State Stanislaus/Chico State pairing is one such set of games where HSU has been dominant in Lumberjack Arena. The Jacks have claimed 13 of the last 14 meetings between them and this CCAA opponent pair. The lone loss came to the hands of Chico State in the 2011-12 game. ... HSU will try to continue its home run against Cal State Stanislaus as it has won each of the seven contests in Aracata since joining the league in 2006-07. In fact, the Jacks are 13-1 versus the Warriors the last seven years including taking the last five contests. Cal State Stanislaus won 73-58 on Dec. 4, 2010 in Turlock as the lone victory. HSU won the last meeting, 87-84, last February 2. HSU has a 41-29 overall series lead. ... The HSU/Chico State meetings have shifted more the past two years after HSU won 10-straight from 2006-07 through the 2010-11 seasons. Chico State swept the 2011-12 season series and the first contest last year in Chico, before HSU won 80-73 in Arcata last Jan. 31. The Wildcats own a 109-74 in the overall series.
Statistically Speaking
The latest HSU standings among the CCAA statistical rankings heading into this week's competition.
Probable Starters
Lumberjacks
#4 Parker Farris, G, 6-4, 180, Fr., McKinleyville
#15 Brandon Pomrehn, C, 6-8, 230, Jr., Arcata
#22 Will Taylor, G/F, 6-4, 220, Fr., Eureka
#25 Allan Guei, G, 5-9, 163, Jr., Los Angeles
#32 David Howard, F, 6-7, 230, Jr., Chicago
Cal State Stanislaus
#2 Shey Mataele, G, 6-2, 185, Jr., Compton
#12 Sam Marcus, G, 5-8, 160, Sr., Bakersfield
#15 Chris Read, G, 6-4, 195, Jr., San Pablo
#24 Marcus Bell, C, 6-9, 225, Sr., Modesto
#34 Rob Walters, F/C, 6-7, 230, Jr., Moreno Valley
Chico State
#11 Rashad Parker, G, 6-0, 190, Sr., Castro Valley
#12 Giordano Estrada, G, 6-1, 185, Sr., Concord
#15 Amir Carraway, F, 6-6, 210, Sr., Vallejo
#20 Sean Park, G, 6-4, 200, Sr., Goleta
#41 Jordan Barton, F/C, 6-6, 235, Jr., Oakland
Howard & Guei Tandem
The Humboldt State offense is running well when the production of numbers 25 and 32 are rising with each minute ticking off the game clock. The Allan Guei-David Howard tandem continues to be the motor that makes the Jacks attack run. The two juniors combined for almost half of their team's points last weekend (71 of 148 points for 48.0%). Guei led Friday's win with 19 points, before Howard could not be stopped in the tight loss with 24 points. Both Jacks are hitting over 55-percent from the field, while Howard pulls down 7.5 rebounds and Guei dishes out 3.2 assists per night from their positions.
Farris makes it two top weeks in a row
The development of first-year player Parker Farris made it two top weeks in a row. Farris hit for 31 points (15.5 ppg), while 8 of 19 (.421) from 3-point range with four assists. The McKinleyville native hit for a new season-high of 19 points as he joined Allan Guei for team-best honors. His 19 points came on six of 13 attempts from the floor and five of 10 triples to go with three rebounds and two assists. Farris' Saturday night line ended with 12 points, four boards and two assists. He has now raised his average to 9.3 ppg and stands at 36.5% (35 of 96) from behind the arc.
Scouting Cal State Stanislaus (11-3/7-3 CCAA)
Cal State Stanislaus heads into the week as one of the three hottest CCAA teams with four wins in a row behind the two league leaders (CSU San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona) with 10 and nine-game winning streaks. The Warriors have won five of their six games of the New Year with the lone defeat at CSU San Bernardino (72-87). The Warriors swept the Bay Area swing of Cal State Monterey Bay (80-68) and Cal State East Bay, 89-81 in a two overtime thriller. On the year, the Warriors are .500 on the road (3-3). ... They are outscoring their opponents by almost 10 points per night (9.1 ppg) and are winning the rebounding by a 6.8 margin. ... Senior 6-9 center Marcus Bell is the Warriors' leader and one of the top CCAA performers. He leads the league in rebounding (9.9 rpg), field goal percentage (.614) and blocks (1.4 bpg), while fifth in scoring (19.3 ppg). Guard Chris Read leads the backcourt (10.6 ppg).
Scouting Chico State (11-3/7-3 CCAA)
Chico State saw its second winning streak of at least two weeks snapped last Saturday in a 73-72 defeat at CSU Monterey Bay. The Wildcats are 4-2 in six games since the calendar turned 2014 with the two losses coming by a combined four points. Chico State defeated CSU East Bay (83-75) to begin last weekend. ... Chico State will try to take its second game in eight tries over HSU in Arcata. Its lone victory came in the 2011-12 meeting, while the two teams won each squad won on its home floor. ... Chico State leads the CCAA in turnovers per game (12.0 tpg) as one factor of its season success to this point. ... The Wildcats have a balanced attack with five players averaging over nine points per contest. Guards Sean Park (15.4 ppg) and Rashad Parker (13.4 ppg) are the team leaders with forwards Amir Carraway (12.4 ppg) and Jordan Semple (11.9 ppg & 8.2 rpg) on the inside.
###
