ARCATA, Calif. - The Humboldt State men's basketball team pulled away late for the second straight game to earn another California Collegiate Athletic Association win. The Lumberjacks (17-6, 11-6) did not allow Cal State Monterey Bay (11-12, 9-8) to make a field goal in the final 7:54 of the game to seal the 87-76 win on Saturday night.

"Credit the team for making the transition on the fly and adjusting," said Head Coach Steve Kinder. "A lot of their points came in transition, open court basketball, second chance opportunities, and broken plays. Once we started getting more secure inside position on their zone, we got some rebounds and breakouts."

The Jacks jumped out to an early eight-point lead, 19-11, on a Nikhil Lizotte runner in the paint with 13:21 on the clock.

Following a Thomas Witzel three to get it back up to eight, 24-16, the Otters scored seven straight to make it a one-point game, 24-23 with 10:04 remaining until halftime. The Green and Gold responded with 11 straight points, seven of which came from Rakim Brown, to go up 35-23. The 12-point lead with 5:49 to play in the first half was the largest of the game.

The Otters cut into the HSU lead to close out the opening half, and went into the locker room trailing the home team, 47-44.

The second half did feature a pair of lead changes, with Monterey Bay taking a four-point lead, 67-63, with 12:21 to play. The Jacks managed to tie it up and retake the lead on back-to-back layups by Tyras Rattler and Will Taylor.

The Otters scored their final field goal of the game to cut it within one, 73-72, with 7:54 to play, before the HSU adjustments changed the course of the game and gave Humboldt State the double-figure victory.

Thomas Witzel and Monterey Bay's Ryan Nitz led all scorers with 24 apiece. Malik Morgan shot 9-for-15 from the floor for a career-high tying 22 points. Morgan added six dimes. Brown posted his ninth double-double of the season with his 13-point and 11-rebound performance. Rattler returned to double-figures with 10 points, and added a career-best six assists.

The Jacks hit the road next week with hopes of extending their three-game winning streak on their final regular season road trip.

"Logistically, this is the most difficult road trip coming up," said Kinder. "Especially the way this lines up begin in Turlock on Friday night and being in Chico on Saturday night for that rivalry game. I'm sure it will be packed."

Following the games on Feb. 19 and 20, the Green and Gold conclude the regular season at Lumberjack Arena on Feb. 25 against Cal State San Marcos.