CARSON, Calif.---   Junior transfer Jaden Edwards hit two free throws with three seconds left on the clock to give the Humboldt State Lumberjacks the 70-69 season opening win over Western Washington in the first game of the CCAA/GNAC Challenge in Carson, Calif.  Edwards finished with a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.  He was one of four players to score in double figures for the 'Jacks.  AJ Sims had a team high 17 points while Will Johnson chipped in 12 points and Thomas Melonja finished with 10 points.

QUOTES FROM THE COACH:  "I thought Jaden (Edwards) did a great job attacking the "O-glass" all game," said head coach Tae Norwood.  "He finished with a double-double (16 points, 14 rebounds) and his energy is infectious.  He earned the right to make those game-clinching free throws.  The depth of our team showed this evening as we played 12 with four of those scoring in double figures."
 
"I thought our guys were resilient down the stretch," added Norwood.  "We overcame a five-point deficit with less two-minutes to go in the game.  Their effort was a microcosm of who we are as a unit.  We preach toughness, selflessness and a commitment to excellence.  Tonight, I learned a lot about this young team, They refused to quit!"

 FIRST HALF:  Humboldt State (1-0) jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game capped by an AJ Sims lay-up off a pass from Will Johnson.  The 'Jacks increased their lead to double digits (15-5) as the Sims-Johnson connection connected again at the 13:13 mark of the first half.  A Lucas Holden capped a 7-0 run by the Vikings as they cut the 'Jack lead to 15-12 with 12 minutes left in the half.  HSU increased its lead to 20-13 on back to back buckets by Jaden Edwards and Thomas Melonja.  The 'Jacks took a 25-16 lead on Cam Timmons made free throw, but the Vikings went on a 10-1 run in the next three minutes to tie the game at 26-26.  The two teams exchanged three-points in the next three minutes with the last one being by Holden to tie the game at 34-34 with 16 seconds left in the half.  A Sims' lay-up gave the 'Jacks the lead, 36-34, heading into the half. 
 
SECOND HALF:  Western Washington (0-1) started the second half, how the 'Jacks started the first half, on a 9-0 run to take a 43-36 lead capped by a dunk by Luke Lovelady just two minutes into the new stanza.  An AJ Sims' lay-up capped a mini 5-0 run by the Lumberjacks as they cut the WWU lead to 43-41.  A lay-up by Dakota Ayala increased the Vikings' lead to 51-46 with 12 minutes to go in the game.  HSU came right back and cut the deficit in the next two minutes to 51-50 on a John Riddick lay-up.  The 'Jacks took a 61-59 lead on a lay-up by Amari Green and a three by Sims with six minutes left on the clock.  A Lovelady dunk off a pass from Lucas Holden tied the game at 61-61 on WWU's next possession.  The Vikings increased their lead to 67-63 on a three by Jaden Green with four minutes left in the game.  Two made free throws by Green gave WWU a 69-63 lead, but the 'Jacks didn't go away.  They finished the game on a 7-0 run.  Jaden Edwards went one-for-two from the line with 1:51 on the clock.  WWU was fouled on their next possession and missed the front end of the one and one and HSU made the Vikings pay as Johnson cut the 'Jack deficit to 69-66. 
 
On WWU's missed another free throw with 44 ticks left and Thomas Melonja made a lay-up to cut the WWU lead to 69-68 with 15 seconds on the clock.  The Vikings were fouled again and missed the two free throws.  Edwards grabbed the rebounds and was fouled in the pain with three seconds left in regulation.  The junior transfer made both free throws to give HSU the 70-69 lead.  The Vikings had a chance to win the game, but their three-pointer fell short as the 'Jacks took the 70-69 season opening victory. 
 
BALANCED SCORING ATTACK:  Humboldt State had three of its five starters score in double digits paced by AJ Sims (who came off the bench) with 17 points.  Sims went seven of nine from the field including three of five from three-point land.  Jaden Edwards added 16 points as he went six of 17 from the field and four of five from the line.  Will Johnson chipped in 12 points on six of 12 shooting from the field while Thomas Melonja added 10 points. 
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE:  Jaden Edwards recorded his first double-double in a Lumberjack uniform this evening.  Edwards scored 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds (10 offensive) for the 'Jacks in 30 minutes.  He went 6 for 17 from the field and four of five from the line including the two game-winning free throws.  He added an assist and a steal to his stat line.
 
14 TURNOVERS:  HSU forced 14 turnovers by the Vikings including eight by steals.  Will Johnson led the 'Jacks with three steals and Cam Timmons added two. 
 
JOHNSON:  Will Johnson had seven assists and four turnovers in 34 minutes for the Lumberjacks. He scored 12 points and added three steals while grabbing five rebounds for HSU.
 
UP NEXT: Humboldt State will face Simon Fraser tomorrow evening in its second game at the CCAA/GNAC Challenge in Carson, Calif.  Simon Fraser defeated the hosts, Cal State Dominguez Hills 63-52.