ARCATA, Calif. – In a game that featured big shots from both sides, none was bigger than senior Thomas Witzel's game-winning three in the game's waning moments. Humboldt State (14-5, 8-5) shot a season-best 54.2 percent from long range to defeat Cal State San Bernardino (7-11, 4-10), 93-92, on Saturday night.
 
"It was a matter of our team playing with a high-level of communication," said Head Coach Steve Kinder. "We needed to come out and play with a high level of activity and selflessness. The problem is that they did too. It was kind of a historic start."
 
Both the Lumberjacks and Coyotes were off to a blistering pace, with each side shooting greater than 80 percent from the field at the first media timeout.
 
Each team hit eight first-half threes, keeping the game in a frantic pace. The Green and Gold finished the opening half shooting 66.7% from the floor (20-for-30), but only managed to be ahead by three, 49-46. The back-and-fourth first half featured nine of the game's 12 lead changes.
 
The Jacks used an 8-0 to push the game from three points to 11 at 71-60. The eight unanswered points came over just 1:02 of play and was bookended by three from seniors Rakim Brown and Ethan Dillard. Malik Morgan scored two of his team-high 20 points to give HSU its largest lead of 13 with 11:34 to play.
 
Despite the double-digit edge, the Coyotes would not back down and tied it up at 85 apiece with 2:55 remaining. On the very next HSU possession, senior Thomas Witzel stepped up and drained a three off a Morgan assist to give the edge back to the Jacks, 88-85.
 
After converting a dunk and trailing by a point, San Bernardino's Zeke Deblase knocked down a go-ahead three to give the Coyotes their only lead of the second half, 90-88, with 41 seconds remaining.
 
The home crowd erupted when coming out of a timeout, it was again Witzel who knocked down his final of four three-pointers to give the lead back to Humboldt State, 91-90. Witzel hit a pair of free throws to seal it, and HSU won despite a last-second layup, 93-92.
 
The Coyotes scored the most of any HSU opponent this season with 92 points and 14 made three-point field goals.
 
Five Lumberjacks finished in double-figures, led by Morgan's 20 points. Witzel (16), Nikhil Lizotte (15), Dillard (12) and Brown (12) also cracked double-digits. Morgan added six assists.
 
Humboldt is back on the road next week with games at San Francisco State and Sonoma State on Friday and Saturday, respectively.