ARCATA, Calif. – Just two days removed from a tight non-conference showdown with Pacific Union, Humboldt State men's basketball put the pedal down and rolled past Simpson 111-78 Monday night in Lumberjack Arena.
 
The Lumberjacks improved to 4-1 overall and captured their fourth straight victory.
 
"Offensively we were fine tonight, and I thought we executed at a high level," said Head Coach Steve Kinder. "Defensively, we had a goal to keep our opponent under 40 percent shooting, and we went the opposite direction. We certainly didn't achieve what we were trying to do on the defensive side."
 
HSU got off to a slow start as an Alex Huerta jumper gave Simpson a 10-9 lead less than six minutes into the game.
 
A 13-2 run capped by a Malik Morgan trey with 11:29 left in the first half gave the Jacks momentum and a 22-12 advantage.
 
The Green and Gold shot 52.8 percent from the field in the first half and took a 53-33 lead into the locker room. Tyras Rattler Jr. led the way for the home team with 10 points.
 
Rattler sank a pair of 3-pointers at the start of the second half to give the Jacks a 24-point edge.  He finished the game with 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
 
Just like Saturday's opponent, Simpson hung with HSU for much of the final 20 minutes of action. But unlike the Pacific Union game, the Jacks long-range specialists hit their mark and put the game away. HSU shot 68.8 percent from outside the arc in the second half, and Rattler and Jeryn Lucas had six of the team's 11 second half 3-pointers.
 
Morgan led all Green and Gold scorers with 21 points. The junior also finished with four assists and two steals.
 
HSU shot a season-best 81.8 percent at the free-throw line. The Jacks' bench outscored the Redhawk reserves 52-16, and all 13 players that logged minutes for the home team scored.
 
Josh Brakkee led the Redhawks (1-10) with 21 points.
 
HSU continues its five-game homestand with Dominican Wednesday, Nov. 23, in Lumberjack Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
"The Dominican game will be a true battle," said Kinder. "It will be a great test and a prep to get us ready for our conference opener."