ARCATA, Calif. – It took 20 minutes of action, but Humboldt State men's basketball found its rhythm and rebounded from Thursday's loss with a 94-72 win over Stanislaus State Saturday in Lumberjack Arena.
HSU improved to 12-2 overall and 6-2 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play with the win, and Stanislaus State dropped to 5-8 overall and 4-4 in conference.
The Warriors dictated the pace of the game for the first five minutes and led 12-2 with 14:58 on the clock.
A layup from senior
Rakim Brown four minutes later started a 13-0 run for the Green and Gold. Freshman
Nikhil Lizotte ended the run with a 3-pointer and tied the game 19-19 at the 7:03 mark.
The teams traded baskets, and the lead, as the half came to a close, but a Brown basket gave the Jacks a 31-29 lead at the break. The first half featured four lead changes and four ties.
"We didn't defend the post and rebound in the first half," said Head Coach
Steve Kinder. "We addressed both problems in the locker room.
Will Taylor was a warrior and matched their intensity in the post."
The Jacks came out of the locker room with confidence and went to work increasing the game's tempo.
Freshman
Tyras Rattler and senior
Ethan Dillard sank back-to-back 3-pointers to give HSU a 15-point, 48-33, advantage with 14:35 left to play.
HSU increased its lead to a game-high 28, 91-63, with two minutes left on the clock following a layup from freshman
Jack Kaub.
The Jacks shot 64.7 percent from the field and connected on 7-of-13 attempts (53.8 percent) from outside the arc in the second half. Brown scored 11 of his team-high 19 points in the final 20 minutes of action.
Rattler (18), Lizotte (13) and sophomore
Malik Morgan (10) each scored in double figures for the Jacks.
"When we push the ball we are a deadly team," said Rattler. "We made halftime adjustments and executed. Tonight's game was very important."
HSU leaves the North Coast for its next three games, beginning with a stop at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday, Jan. 15. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
