ARCATA, Calif. -- Senior David Howard scored a team-high 18 points and led the Humboldt State men's basketball team past visiting San Francisco State Saturday night.
 
The win, HSU's third straight, makes the Lumberjacks 8-6 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association and 14-6 overall. San Francisco State is now 8-10 overall and 6-8 in the conference. After tonight's victory, the Green and Gold are 10-1 at Lumberjack Arena.
 
"I am really excited about our defensive play. We created 24 turnovers, got deflections and steals, and played Lumberjack basketball," said Head Coach Steve Kinder. "Our fans appreciate our efforts and style of play."
 
Austin Bryan helped HSU carry a 15-point, 41-26, lead into the break. The Wenatchee, Wash., native led all Green and Gold scorers with 12 points in the opening period.
 
The Jacks went on a 27-8 run to close out the first half following an Andre Jones layup which gave the Gators a four-point, 18-14, edge with 10:17 on the clock.

HSU never trailed in the second half and increased its lead to as many as 25 points three times. The Green and Gold were 18-for-28 (64.3 percent) from the floor in the second half and shot 44.4 percent from outside the arc.
 
Howard paced the Green and Gold offense and scored a team-high 14 second-half points. He finished 8-for-11 shooting, 2-for-4 from 3-point range and grabbed four rebounds. His scoring total was one point shy of his season best 19, which he scored against Alaska Fairbanks on December 13.
 
"David is a premier player in the conference and he proved that last year," said Kinder. "He can score driving to the basket, make the mid-range shot and the 3-point shot. When he gets hot it becomes red hot fast."
 
Three more Jacks scored 10 or more points – Thomas Witzel finished with 15, Allan Guei had 14 and Bryan finished with 12. Witzel also pulled down a team-best five rebounds.
 
HSU hits the road next weekend and travels to face Cal State Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 6 and Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday, Feb. 7.  Tipoff for both games is 7:30 p.m.
 
"I am very pleased with where we are right now (as a team)," said Kinder. "We are making some noise across the conference. Now we have put together an incredible surge and I am really proud of where we are. If we continue to have a steep learning curve, we will finish strong this year."