Box Score CHICO – When dealing with five solid scoring threats, Humboldt State found its rival Chico State's balance too much on the court Friday night.
 
With all five home starters contributing double figures, the Wildcats had the answer for each Lumberjacks' push to take away the 81-73 victory.
 
"It was tough to key on one particular guy when five player were in double figures for them," noted HSU head coach Steve Kinder. "It was tough defensively to get a stop or multiple stops down the stretch (against the balance)."
 
For the second time in three games, the foul shooting discrepancy was tilted in the HSU opponent's favor.
 
"It was a back breaker when we shoot 22 free throws when they shot 43 tonight. It is tough to win a college basketball game that way," added the Jacks' leader.
 
Kinder continued, "We played with great heart and I am proud how tough our guys played. With David Howard having two fouls in the first 45 seconds, the rest of the team stepped up and played well without him."
 
Allan Guei led the HSU (11-16/6-15 California Collegiate Athletic Association) charge with 20 points on nine of 15 attempts to go with four assists and three rebounds.
 
Despite his foul trouble, Howard almost produced a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.
 
Chris Pender chipped in 13 points on four of seven shooting, while Jordan Mackie added nine tallies. Parker Farris had six points and six caroms.
 
Chico State (20-5/15-5 CCAA) saw Jordan Semple pace its five double-digit producers with 17 points. Giordano Estrada added 16 and Rashad Parker hit for 15 points.
 
The Wildcats shot 58.5-percent (24 of 41) from the floor and claimed the rebound advantage, 37-29.
 
For the lone lead of the night, Pender downed both ends of two free throws for a 2-0 lead at 18:52.
 
The two-point lead would be HSU's only one of the night.
 
Chico State scored the next six points onto the scoreboard in just 1:09. The Wildcats built the difference to as many as 13 points, 37-24, with 2:50 left in the opening stanza.
 
Pender dropped a triple at the first half buzzer for a 39-30 score.
 
In less than eight minutes, Chico State pushed the margin to 15, 57-42. Capped by three Farris free throws, HSU cut into the deficit to seven points, 60-53, at 7:59 left.
 
After a Wildcats surge returned the margin to 13 points, HSU pushed back to make it six points, 73-67, on a Pender layup.
 
For the second time, Farris was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made the trio of free throws to pull HSU within five, 75-70, with 1:08 on the clock. Chico State would allow its rival no closer in the final minute.
 
HSU will wrap up its 2013-14 campaign on Saturday night against Cal State Stanislaus starting at 7:30 p.m.