ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A long road trip and freezing temperatures proved to be just the remedy the Humboldt State men's basketball team needed to snap a three-game losing streak as it downed Alaska Anchorage, 87-83, Friday at Alaska Airlines Arena.
 
Austin Bryan's 3-point dagger at 2:00 firmly swung momentum in the Lumberjacks' favor and free throws sealed the victory. HSU was 6-for-6 from the line in the game's closing minutes.
 
"Austin had a warrior effort tonight," said Head Coach Steve Kinder. "He got hit hard late and had to wear gauze in his nose down the stretch. He showed a lot of toughness and we really appreciated him stepping up."
 
The win moves the Green and Gold to 4-4 overall and gives them their first win in the month of December. Alaska Anchorage is 3-6 overall after the setback.
 
Friday's non-conference matchup was a game of runs. The Seawolves sprinted out to a 10-2 advantage to start the game, but the Jacks fought back and they went on a run of their own.
 
A 15-2 scoring stretch beginning at 8:43 left in the first half ended with the Jacks leading, 37-29, at the 4:34 mark. Senior Allan Guei accounted for five of HSU's 15 points during the run and ended the half with a team-high nine points.
 
"Allan provided outstanding pressure and his energy was contagious tonight," said Kinder.
 
The Jacks led by three, 46-43, at halftime. HSU shot 58 percent from the field in the first half and dished out 13 assists compared to seven turnovers. Freshman Malik Morgan compiled a team-best six assists in the opening period.
 
"I am very proud of our poise and our composure in that half," said Kinder. "Getting up big can be dangerous. When you lose that lead, the momentum change can crush your team. We sustained that run and many runs throughout that game (and avoided the letdown)."
 
HSU came out of the locker room with the same intensity it showed late in the first half and went on a 10-0 run. A David Howard layup at 17:12 gave the Jacks a 13-point advantage, 56-43, and their largest lead of the game.
 
The Seawolves answered late in the game with a comeback attempt aided by Travis Thompson. Thompson scored 14 second-half points for Alaska Anchorage and knocked down three 3-point shots, including a pair in the game's final five minutes.
 
Four Jacks scored 10 or more points in the win, including Bryan who scored a season-high 21 points against the Seawolves. The Wenatchee, Wash., native was 7-for-12 from the field and connected on 5-of-8 attempts from outside the arc. Morgan compiled a season-best 17 points, Guei finished with 14 and Howard had 12.
 
Morgan also finished with his first collegiate double-double with 10 assists.
 
HSU faces Alaska Fairbanks in its final game of the Seawolf Jamboree on Saturday, Dec. 13. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT.
 
"(Tonight's result) was one step in the right direction," said Kinder. "We are a good team and we got a little better tonight. If we can keep our focus down the road, just try to get better each game out, then we can be a very good team. This win helps build a little bit more of our identity."