ARCATA - After battling hard but coming up short on the road last weekend, Humboldt State will see if the "friendly confines" of Lumberjack Arena is the winning elixor for the first victories of the 2014 docket.

"Our Lumberjacks continue to battle night in and night out, at home and on the road. I am encouraged by the

small steps and the climb to become better and better each and every time out for competition, said HSU head coach Steve Kinder  "Every game has been extremely close as we have had multiple opportunities to win the games. We need to learn how to close out the final three to five minutes of a ball game – find a way to win, be aware of the score and situation at all times. Our freshman continue to  grow and become seasoned with all of the playing time and experience."

The battle comes to Arcata for the next pair of California Collegiate Athletic Association contests. Sonoma State comes to the North Coast on Thursday night before San Francisco State makes the trip northward on Saturday evening with 7:30 p.m. tip-offs.

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: Live video streaming is available both nights at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/humboldt-state-athletics.

Live Stats: Follow the weekend action at http://www.sidearmstats.com/humboldt/mbball/.

Head-to-Head History

Over the past two seasons, the Jacks have been able to secure only three victories in eight contests against this week's league foes ... The Sonoma State Seawolves claimed both ends of the last year's series and the last three overall meetings. SSU pulled out the last matchup, 83-68, after outscoring HSU, 39-27, in the second half for a 62-58 first affair. The Jacks last won over two years ago on the calendar on Dec. 10, 2011 with a 73-68 home win over the Seawolves. ... HSU has enjoyed a bit more of recent success against San Francisco State. The conference rivals have 'held serve' the past two years by taking the action on their home courts.  In the last game, SFSU prevailed, 79-61, in the Bay Area, while HSU won in Arcata (Jan. 17) by a 78-67 margin.

Statistically Speaking

The latest HSU standings among the CCAA statistical rankings heading into this week's competition.

Probable Starters

Lumberjacks
#5 Meniru Ofodu, G, 6-4, 190, Jr., Brentwood
#22 Will Taylor, G/F, 6-4, 220, Fr., Eureka
#23 Chris Pender, G, 6-2, 190, Sr., McKinleyville
#25 Allan Guei, G, 5-9, 163, Jr., Los Angeles
#32 David Howard, F, 6-7, 230, Jr., Chicago

Sonoma State
#20 Topher Taylor, G, 5-9, 160, Fr., Lake Almanor
#25 David Ahern, G, 6-0, 180, So., Novato
#33 Sterling Arterberry, G, 6-5, 195, Sr., Sacramento
#35 Justin Herold, F/C, 6-8, 235, Sr., Santa Rosa
#42 James Davis, G, 6-0, 170, So., San Lorenzo

San Francisco State
#10 Calvin Otiono, G, 6-2, 185, Sr., Sacramento
#13 Nefi Perdomo, G, 6-1, 170, Sr., Oakland
#15 William Overton, Jr., G/F, 6-5, 190, Sr., Perth Amboy, NJ
#24 Brandon Tatum, F, 6-6, 190, Sr., Oakland
#50 Max Fodor, F/C, 6-8, 250, Sr., Fremont

David Howard - Producing in Limited time

Despite playing only a combined 48 minutes of action last weekend, Jacks' forward David Howard was able to bank home 44 points in the two contests. The junior was slowed by foul trouble in the last Friday where he logged only 16 minutes, but still managed to lead the team with 18 points on seven of 14 shooting.  His season total of double-doubles held steady at six, but he ranks third in the CCAA in both scoring (19.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 ppg).

Guei sets new personal mark

The HSU energizing point guard Allan Guei (rhymes with way) posted his now usual productive outings last weekend including his best in a Jacks uniform. The 5-9 junior transfer from Cal State Northridge amassed 44 points on 15 of 26 from the floor including 12 of 13 from the charity stripe with 15 rebounds in the Bay Area contests. After having 15 points and four caroms Friday night, Guei came back for a season-best 29-point effort on 10 of 16 attempts and 10 rebounds for a double-double against Cal State East Bay. He also has 40 assists to only 10 turnovers to lead the CCAA in assist/turnover ratio at 4.0.

Scouting Sonoma State (1-9/0-6 CCAA)

Sonoma State holds the longest current losing streak in the CCAA at seven games.  The Seawolves have not won a contest since before Thanksgiving on Nov. 20 when they defeated Notre Dame de Namur, 70-57 on the road.  Sonoma State started its 2014 schedule the same way it ended the 2013 section with losses – 74-65 loss at CSU Dominguez Hills and 59-57 defeat at Cal State LA. … Three players average double figures to pace the offense – F/C Justin Herold (14.3 ppg), G Sterlin Arterberry (13.5 ppg) and G James Davis (10.5 ppg).  As a team, the Seawolves are at the bottom of the 12-team CCAA for scoring (64.9 ppg) and rebounds (29.4 rpg) ... "Sonoma State is a veteran team who will have us scouted extremely well. They're well coached, and recognize us as a rivalry game. They have many weapons up-and-down their roster and will be difficult to defend. They will be physical, hard-nosed, and compete to the very end," Kinder said.

Scouting San Francisco State (6-3/4-2 CCAA)

San Francisco State enters the week as winners of four of its last five contests following a split over last weekend – Friday loss at Cal State LA (78-71) and Saturday vitory at CSU Dominguez Hills (79-68).  In the games, the Gators' leading scorer G Nefi Perdomo hit for 38 points with 14 against CSULA and 24 tallies with six of seven triples at CSUDH.  Will Overton, Jr. scored 25 points at CSULA. ... SFSU is 5th in scoring (76.0 ppg) and 6th in defensive scoring (70.3 ppg) amongst CCAA teams ... Perdomo rates 2nd in CCAA scoring at 20.7 ppg and leads in steals (2.1 spg).  Overton, Jr. is the top free throw shooter (88.2%), while averaging 14.4 ppg.