ARCATA, Calif.---  Humboldt State's men's basketball team will open their 2019-20 season in San Diego, Calif., when the Lumberjacks take on 2018-19 NCAA Division II National Champion Runner-up Point Loma Sea Lions on Friday, November 8 at 7:30pm.  HSU will also face Fresno Pacific at 5:30pm on Saturday, November 9.
 
Humboldt State returns four letter-winners from last year's 17-11 team including All-CCAA honoree Jackson Strong.  Joining Strong from last year's team are Zachariah Christian, Amari Green and Victor Mijas.
 
Strong averaged 10.2 points per game last season while shooting connecting on a team high 89 threes to earn him All-CCAA honors in his first season.  Also, back for their senior seasons are Zachariah Christian and Victor Mijas.  Christian averaged 4.0 points per game in his first season in the Green and Gold while shooting 51% from the field.  Mijas played in 22 games last season and averaged 3.4 points per game.  Returning for his sophomore season is Amari Green who played in 31 games last season. Green dished out 50 assists in his freshman season and recorded 23 steals. 
 
Humboldt State head men's basketball coach Steve Kinder welcomes 12 newcomers to this year's team including five freshmen in Isaiah Hughes (F, Bakersfield/Garces HS), Isaiah Pope (G, Yorba Linda/Lutheran HS), Joey Rodrick (G, Portland, Ore./Cleveland HS), Isaiah Sampson (F, Camas, Wash./Camas HS) and Noah Viera (F, Torrey Pines/Torrey Pines HS). 
 
The Lumberjacks have three Division I transfer on the 19-20 team in Leland Green (G, Compton/University of Hawai'i), Rob Lewis (G, Compton/Texas Southern University) and RaySean Scott Jr., (F, Compton/Florida Gulf Coast University).  The three junior college transfers are Arash Poorsina (C, San Francisco/Saddleback College), Gabrys Sadaunykas (G, Vilnius, Lithuania/Allan Hancock College) and Ruben Parks, Jr. (F, Fresno/Reedley College).
 
POINT LOMA:  The Sea Lions went 31-5 last season including 17-3 in the PacWest.  They captured the 2018-19 NCAA Division II West Regional Championship and lost 64-58 to Northwest Missouri State in the NCAA Division II National Championship Game 64-58. Sterling Somers represents PLNU on the preseason All-PacWest team. The senior forward is a three-time All-PacWest selection averaged 7.0 points per game while shooting .526 percent from the field, and .385 percent from 3-point range. He also grabbed 4.3 rebounds and dished out 1.3 assists per contest.
 
FRESNO PACIFIC:  Humboldt State will also face the Sunbirds out of the PacWest this weekend in San Diego.  The Sunbirds went 12-15 overall last season and 9-13 in the PacWest.  They return Elijah Hill who averaged 12.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game along with AJ Kirby.
 
UP NEXT:  The Lumberjacks will have their home opener on November 13 at 7pm when they host the University of Antelope Valley.  They will also host Pacific Union on November 16 at 7pm.