ARCATA, Calif. – On a night when Humboldt State's offense needed a shot in the arm, Tyras Rattler Jr. proved to be the remedy. The Lumberjacks topped visiting Pacific Union 97-93 despite early offensive struggles and foul trouble Saturday night.

"I am proud of the team for pulling out a scrappy win in front of a nice home crowd tonight," said Head Coach Steve Kinder. "Credit to Pacific Union College for being mentally tough throughout the game and never giving up. They have talented players and are well coached. They have proven they can play at the Division II level having previously beaten teams in the Bay Area. We will learn from this win and prepare for more competition over the Thanksgiving break."
 
The Lumberjacks (3-1) led by as many as 13 points in the first 20 minutes, but an offensive lull midway through the half allowed the Pioneers to get back in the ball game.
 
Pacific Union went on a 16-0 run that erased the home team's lead with 8:43 left before intermission.
 
HSU took a 49-39 lead into the locker room following a 5-0 run that was capped by a layup from Calvin Young II. Nikhil Lizotte was the Green and Gold's top scorer with 14 first half points, and he connected on five 3-pointers before the break.
 
The two teams traded baskets early, but the Jacks kept their distance from the pesky Pioneers for much of the second half. An 8-2 run with under five minutes to play trimmed the HSU lead to single digits. Poor free-throw shooting by the Jacks allowed the Pioneers to make it a one possession game with seven seconds left in regulation.
 
A pair of Rattler free throws clinched the 97-93 result.
 
Rattler notched his first double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 boards. He was 7-of-15 shooting from the field and connected on a pair of 3-point baskets. The Oakland, Calif., native went 7-of-9 at the free-throw line and made four pivotal free throws in the closing minutes.
 
"Tyras has just been grinding it out and making shots," said Kinder. "He is been the anchor of who we are offensively."
 
HSU outrebounded Pacific Union 38-36. The home team shot 45.5 percent from the floor and 40.7 percent from 3-point range.
 
Lizzote (20), Malik Morgan (12) and Young (11) joined Rattler with double-digit scoring totals. Morgan dished out a team-high seven assists.
 
The Jacks are back in action in Lumberjack Arena Monday, Nov. 21 versus Simpson. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.