Box Score ARCATA – Just like baseball teams bringing in the closer to seal the win, Humboldt State had a closer of its own in Derrick Buchanan Thursday night.
 
After taking the pass at the top-of-the-key with a one-point lead and under 20 seconds in the game, Buchanan swept around the right side of the lane and banked home the sealing points for the Lumberjacks' victory, 80-76, over Cal State Stanislaus Warriors.
 
"We bring him in the 9^th inning. He's our closer," quipped HSU head coach Steve Kinder. "Derrick came up big down the stretch and I'm very happy for him.  I see him hit that shot and that smile, especially, was special. It is fitting a senior has a special moment like that."
 
Buchanan and HSU (8-9/3-8) continued its ascent on the court with the victory. The North Coast team has claimed victories in three of its last five California Collegiate Athletic Association contests after falling short by a slim margin in each of the first six league affairs.
 
Buchanan wasn't the only Humboldt State story as the first chapter, as has been the case this season, belonged to David Howard.
 
Howard exploded for 20 of his game-high 27 points, his ninth 20-plus point outing, in the opening half where he hit seven of 11 shots with a pair of 3-pointers. For the night, he connected on nine of 16 attempts with a trio of triples and all six of his free throws. He also grabbed five rebounds.
 
"The team kept getting me the ball and the shots were falling," noted Howard.
 
"It's not the Honeymoon any more as he's the 'real deal.' He is a premiere player," noted Kinder of Howard. "I am glad he's playing for Humboldt State and not one of our opponents."
 
Allan Guei drove his way to 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals leading the back court.
 
After two weeks away, Jordan Mackie returned to give the Jacks 11 points with three 3-pointers and three rebounds in 21 minutes.
 
Buchanan finished the night with only four points, making both of his attempts from the field, but it was his layup with 16 seconds that was all that was needed.
 
Chris Pender chipped in seven tallies and Jermain Wilson made the crowd roar with a thundering dunk for two of his three points to go with five rebounds.
 
Each team enjoyed a lead of at least five points over the opening 10 minutes of play.
 
Pender laid the ball in and completed the conventional 3-point play for the largest lead of eight points, 40-32, at 3:17 in the first half. Cal State Stanislaus (11-4/7-4 CCAA) cut the difference to five points, 48-43, by half.
 
A Guei steal and layup kept the difference at seven, 64-57, halfway through the latter stanza.
 
The Warriors battled back and edged ahead, 67-66, for their first lead on a Marcus Bell layup with 6:59 remaining.
 
Cal State Stanislaus' Rob Walters jumper at 1:18 push his team back in front 76-75.
 
The Jacks would post the final five points on the board.
 
Guei made both free throws to regain the lead, 77-76 at 1:01 and pulled down a missed 3-point visitor attempt.  Buchanan sealed the victory with his drive following a home timeout and pulled down the ensuing rebound.
 
HSU will have a day before taking on its rival Chico State on Saturday night in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. The Wildcats defeated the Broncos of Cal Poly Pomona, 67-64.