GAMEDAY CENTRALvs. Cal State Dominguez HillsLIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE RADIO
vs. Cal State LA
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE RADIO LUMBERJACK SOCIAL MEDIATWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAMARCATA, Calif. -- Humboldt State men's basketball kicks off 2015 with a pair of California Collegiate Athletic Association games this week in Lumberjack Arena.
The Lumberjacks host Cal State Dominguez Hills on New Year's Day (Jan. 1) and welcome Cal State Los Angeles Saturday, Jan. 3. Both games tip off at 7:30 p.m. PT.
HSU is riding a three-game winning streak, its longest of the season. The streak began in mid-December with a pair of Alaskan road victories and continued it with a 103-78 win against Pacific Union, which capped the team's non-conference slate. The Green and Gold finished their non-conference schedule with a perfect 6-0 record.
Thursday's meeting with the Toros gives the Jacks the opportunity to notch its first conference win. Cal State Dominguez Hills is winless (0-4) in conference play this season and it has lost four of its last five games. HSU swept the season series against Cal State Dominguez Hills last season.
"Cal State Dominguez Hills has a very athletic and talented team," said HSU Head Coach
Steve Kinder. "Individually, they can break you down top to bottom on their roster."
The Green and Gold topped the Toros in the Torodome last season 78-50 before wrapping the season series with an 83-72 win at Lumberjack Arena. Despite the Toros' record, Kinder knows that they will bring their best game Thursday.
"They are an awfully good team that is well-coached," said Kinder. "The Toros are also looking for their first win, so I'm sure it will be a tough, scrappy game."
Junior guard Ivan Dooley leads the Toro offense with 12.4 points per game and has scored 10 or more points in five of the team's 10 games. The Palmdale, Calif., product is dangerous from long range and leads the team with 14 3-point baskets.
With 12 days and a holiday break between contests, Kinder believes the Jacks are rested and ready for Thursday's conference challenge.
"We took advantage of (the break)," said Kinder. "Since coming back, we have had early morning workouts and video work. We have also been coming back in the afternoon and getting practice in. We have made sure we get all of those cobwebs out and we're rolling. I feel like we've put in a few good days here and by tipoff this Thursday, we'll be ready to go."
Cal State Los Angeles, winners of its last two games, visits Saturday evening. The Golden Eagles have won the last four meetings against the Jacks and topped the Green and Gold twice last season by a combined 10 points.
Junior guard Franklin LaBradford is one Golden Eagle the Jacks will have to watch out for Saturday. LaBradford, a San Diego State transfer, is a balanced basketball player who can dominate at both ends. He scored 13 points, tallied six steals and dished out eight assists in his team's 70-59 win against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Nov. 29.
