ARCATA, Calif. – Justin Everett and Jackson Strong combined for 42 points as the Humboldt State men's basketball team kept its unblemished 8-0 home record intact defeating Cal State Los Angeles 84-76 Thursday night.

"I am so excited how collectively me fought and scrapped and were able to hold on and finish the game," said HSU Head Coach Steve Kinder. "Cal State LA is a potent offensive team that can score in transition, score from the 3-point line and attack you at the rim. I just liked the way we finished."

The Lumberjacks got off to an impressive start shooting 48.3 percent in the opening half. A Calvin Young II dunk with the home team trailing 12-9 sparked a 10-2 run that Jack Kaub capped with a 3-point basket. The first half featured three lead changes and four ties, but the Green and Gold led 38-33 as they went into the locker room.

HSU looked like it was going to run away with the game as it put together a 20-5 spurt early in the second half. Everett helped power the run with seven points and Strong contributed six to the offensive burst that gave the home team its largest lead of the evening, 58-44. The Golden Eagles halted the Jacks run and began one of their own. LA's Devin Means scored 12 of his 17 points in the final 20 minutes and helped the visitors even the score at 76-all with 2:18 to go. Strong splashed his team-leading sixth trey of the game with 1:58 left on the clock, and HSU scored the final eight points to put the game away.

"We had the luxury of the last 10 days to prepare for this team and its press," said Kinder. "We got to the right spots, and I thought we kept them off balance with some of the alignments we were running against it. They were using a platoon system which is difficult to play against, especially over 40 minutes."

Both Everett and Strong finished with a team-best 21 points. LJ Williams grabbed a team-leading 10 rebounds and contributed six points.

"I think we are playing as a team," said Everett. "We are playing team defense and team offense. We're just going out there and getting the win. It's the best feeling in the world when the crowd got going tonight."

The Green and Gold outrebounded LA 34-28 and connected on 51.9 percent of their shots in the win.

HSU hosts Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday night in Lumberjack Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.