Box Score SEASIDE – When seeking the winning combination late in games, the little things become more important.
 
For what seems to be an unfortunate theme, Humboldt State saw a couple small areas add up to another tough late men's basketball defeat on Friday night. This time it was Cal State Monterey Bay doing what was needed in the final four minutes to claim the victory over HSU, 76-69.
 
"We missed a couple crucial free throw opportunities that deflated us, and we were not able to recover. We had a problem with free throw shooting," said Lumberjacks head coach Steve Kinder. 
 
Leading 61-60, David Howard made one of two shots with 4:32 left, and the visitors would connect on only one of their next four attempts over the next two minutes.
 
The free throw shooting was not the only area that cost HSU (5-6/0-5 California Collegiate Athletic Association) down the stretch.
 
"Defensively, we couldn't keep them off the boards as they were getting second, third and fourth chances," added Kinder. "Offensively, we didn't play assist basketball. We play at our best when we are sharing the ball, and that wasn't the case tonight."
 
The Otters (4-4/2-3 CCAA) won the rebounding battle, 43-36, and finished with two players, Kris Gallop and Greg Anderson, with double digits caroms with 14 and 11, respectively.
 
Offensively, HSU totaled only six assists on 23 baskets from the floor with Allan Guei and David Howard leading with two apiece. Howard pumped in an efficient 18-point night on seven of 14 from the floor despite only seeing the floor for 16 minutes of play.
 
"We had multiple players in foul trouble early," Kinder said. "The critical fouls hampered us and hurt both our scoring and rebounding production."
 
Howard managed only three boards, not even half of his 8.1-rebound average due to his foul trouble.
Guei chipped in 15 points and four rebounds to go with his assists. Will Taylor contributed 12 points and seven caroms, while Jordan Mackie rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.
 
With his second free throw attempt going through the hoop, Howard gave the Jacks a 62-60 lead with 4:32 remaining.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay erased it instantly when Anderson downed a right wing triple to make it 63-62. The Otters would never trail the remaining four minutes after the good three-pointer.
 
In fact, the Otters outscored the Jacks, 13-7, in the final three-plus minutes.
 
HSU was able to tie the game, 65-65, on a Guei running jumper in the lane at 2:57 only to see Cal State Monterey Bay connect for the game's next five points in just over two minutes of play.
 
HSU will look to bounce back Saturday night at Cal State East Bay in a 7:30 p.m. start. The Pioneers lost a 66-52 decision to Cal Poly Pomona in Hayward.