Box Score TURLOCK – In a tight contest, Cal State Stanislaus hit key shots out of the Humboldt State press and proved to be the difference to overtake its visitors on Saturday night.
 
Leading by five at half, the Warriors' Marcus Bell made sure his final home game was a special one as he powered 30 points to help take away the 84-72 victory over the Lumberjacks in both teams' regular season finales.
 
"The final score didn't indicate how tight of a game it really was," said HSU head coach Steve Kinder. "We found ourselves trading baskets, changing defenses, but communicating at a high level. Our communication helped us change our defenses on the fly and was key for us to staying in the game."
 
The Jacks coach continued, "Stanislaus at home answered with huge shots out of our press and they had to make those. They hit big shots out of transition and really was the difference in the game."
 
After falling behind by double figures early in the second half, HSU was able to cut the margin to five points, 52-47, but Cal State Stanislaus would not allow the game to get any closer.
 
"Our players played extremely hard all up through the last seconds of the game," stressed Kinder. "The lockerrom was a special place after the game with our two seniors Chris Pender and Derrick Buchanan. The two of them with their professionalism and what they brought to the team will continue on with the program."
 
Buchanan punctuated his career with his highest point total of nine points with a three for three evening and grabbed a pair of rebounds.
 
Pender added his own nine points including two 3-pointers and a team-best three assists.
 
Allan Guei made seven of 10 shots for a team-high 16 points to lead the Jacks' effort.
 
David Howard and Parker Farris chipped in 11 and 10 points apiece, respectively.
 
The Jacks finish the season with 11 victories for the second year in a row and a final 11-17 mark.
 
"The wins and losses may not show to be a great season, but with how hard this team worked every day and game showed without a doubt. This team is very tight and a lot of teams would have fallen apart midway through the season, but they stuck together the whole year," explained Kinder.
 
HSU did hold the lead for almost the entire opening half of the affair.
 
A Jordan Mackie layup helped HSU double Cal State Stanislaus (18-8/14-8 California Collegiate Athletic Association) on the scoreboard, 18-9, with 6:29 off the clock.
 
The Warriors battled back to tie the game at 40, before doubling up the Jacks output, 10-5, in the final four minutes to have their 40-35 halftime advantage.