ARCATA, Calif--- Humboldt State men's basketball team will look to extend its five-game winning streak this week when the Lumberjacks begin California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play with two home games. The 'Jacks will entertain San Francisco State this Thursday, December 2 and Cal State Monterey Bay this Saturday, December 4. Tip-off for both evenings is set for 7:30pm at Lumberjack Arena.
COACHING STAFF: The 'Jacks are coached by second-year head coach
Tae Norwood. Coach Norwood has a .727 winning percentage during his three years as a head coach. Norwood led the 'Jacks to a 4-5 record during the pandemic season. He came to Humboldt State from Florida, where he guided Keiser University to a 23-7 record during the 2019-20 season including a share of the conference regular season title. Keiser also appeared in the NAIA Tournament.
On his staff are
Andy Harre (first year), HSU Alum and former men's basketball player
Colin Caslick (third season) along with volunteers Jason Hodges and Baron Parks.
RECAP OF LAST WEEK'S GAMES: Humboldt State went 2-0 last week in two West Region non-conference games at home. The 'Jacks started their week on Tuesday with a 75-67 win over Western Oregon behind
Jaden Edwards' 18 points and nine rebounds.
Will Johnson added 16 points and nine assists while
Thomas Melonja had 10 points. HSU held Western Oregon to just 39% shooting from the field including just 28% in the second half. The 'Jacks came back on Saturday afternoon with a 74-68 win over Dominican behind Edwards' 19 points. He was one of five Lumberjacks to score in double digits including Johnson (16 points), Melonja (12 points) and
Cam Timmons with 12 points and
AJ Sims with 10 points.
UPDATE ON THE LUMBERJACKS: Humboldt State enters this week 5-0 while averaging 72.6 points per game/ and giving up 68.2 points per game. The 'Jacks are out-rebounding their opponents 35.6 to 31.2. Two players are averaging double digits in scoring in
Jaden Edwards (18.0 points per game) and
Will Johnson (12.2 points per game). Edwards leads the team with his 8.8 rebounding average and 83.3% shooting from the line. Johnson has dished out a team high 18 assists while recording a team leading nine steals and shooting a team best 50.9% from the field.
Thomas Melonja leads the 'Jacks with his 44.4% shooting from three's and 12 three-point field goals made.
Bryce Mitchell as blocked a team high three shots this season.
BEST START SINCE 2011-12: The Lumberjacks are off to their first 5-0 start since 2011-12. That season, the 'Jacks finished with a 22-8 overall record and won the CCAA Basketball Championship Tournament. HSU ended its season that year with a 75-68 loss to Chico State in the first round of the NCAA Division II West Regional in Bellingham, Washington. In 2006-07, HSU started the season 13-0 before losing 94-85 at Cal State Los Angeles on January 19, 2007. The 'Jacks finished the season 28-2 including 21-1 in the CCAA. They won the CCAA and lost 68-66 to Cal State San Bernardino in Arcata in the NCAA Division II West Regional Championship game.
1/39: Humboldt State is one of 39 teams from NCAA Division II that are still undefeated. Four teams from the CCAA are undefeated in Cal State San Bernardino, Chico State, Cal State San Marcos and the Lumberjacks.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE: In his first two games as a 'Jack,
Jaden Edwards recorded two double-doubles. He started the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds against Western Washington on November 12. The junior transfer came back with a 15-points, 10-rebounds performance in the Lumberjacks' win over Simon Fraser.
CCAA/NCAA RANKINGS: HSU as a team is in the top ten in the CCAA in seven statistical categories. The 'Jacks are second in free throw percentage (79.7%), third in three-point field goal percentage (36.7%), fourth in rebounding margin (+4.4) and fifth in scoring (72.6 ppg), scoring defense (68.2 ppg), scoring margin (+4.4) and rebounding margin (+4.4). Three players in
Jaden Edwards,
Will Johnson and
Thomas Melonja are in the top ten in the CCAA in nine individual categories. Johnson leads the CCAA in assists per game (5.4) and is sixth ins teals per game (1.8) and ninth in field goal percentage (50.9%) and assist/turnover ratio (+1.5). Edwards is second in rebounding (8.8 rpg), third in free throw percentage (83.3%) and fourth in scoring 918.0 ppg). Melonja is fourth in three-point field goal percentage (44.4%) and seventh in three-point field goals made/game (2.4).
REGION MATCH-UP: Four of HSU's first five non-conference games were all NCAA Division II West Region games. HSU started the season with two important wins over Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponents in Western Washington (70-69) and Simon Fraser (63-59) in Carson, California. The 'Jacks also defeated Western Oregon, 75-67, from the GNAC and Dominican, 74-68, from the PacWest Conference. HSU's other non-conference victory was an 81-78 over Lincoln. The 'Jacks will finish off their non-conference part of their schedule on December 9 hosting Simpson. The CCAA, GNAC and PacWest Conferences are all members of the NCAA Division II West Region.
LACE UP FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER: At both of the games this weekend, fans will also have the opportunity to purchase gold shoelaces for $5/pair to raise awareness for pediatric cancer and $4 goes directly to help the children they support. This is put on by Go4TheGoal and Humboldt State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
SAN FRANCISCO STATE: The Gators enter this week with a 2-4 overall record after splitting their two games in Oakland over the weekend. SFSU defeated Holy Names 87-83 and lost 86-63 to Fresno Pacific. The Gators are averaging 71.2 points per game while giving up 75.3 points per game. They are out-rebounding their opponents 38.5 to 37.0. Toby Okwokei leads the way with his 13.3 scoring average followed by Travis August at 12.5 points per game, 10.8 points per game and Eche Okeke at 10.0 points per game. August leads the team with his 15 three's made and 36% shooting from beyond the arc. Okeke is shooting a team leading 51.2% from the field, 82% from the line while averaging 7.2 rebounds per game. Jacob Huynh has dished out a team leading 16 assists while Bruso Ryan has blocked a team high four shots. Sean Orr is tied with Hyunh with 16 assists while he has a team high nine steals.
ALL-TIME SERIES (HSU vs. SFSU): Humboldt State leads the all-time series between the two teams 14-12 with the teams splitting their meetings in 2019-20. HSU won 80-74 in Arcata on Dec. 12, 2019 while SFSU won 77-69 in San Francisco on Feb. 13, 2020.
Amari Green had 12 points and steals in the Lumberjack's game at SFSU.
CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY: The Otters enter their game with Sonoma State on Thursday with a 1-2 overall record. CSUMB went 1-1 in its last two games losing 73-66 to Saint Martin's on November 27 and defeating Western Oregon 82-60 on November 13. The Otters are averaging 70.3 points per game while giving up 69.0 points per game. They are out-rebounding their opponents 44.7 to 33.3. Levi Frankland leads the way with his 12.3 scoring average and 47% shooting from the field. Jordan May is next on the team with his 10.3 points per game average, 30% shooting from three's and seven three-point field goals made. Andrew Ferguson is averaging a team 8.3 rebounds per game and has a team leading three blocked shots. Tommy Kramer leads the team with his 13 assists.
ALL-TIME SERIES (HSU vs. CSUMB): Humboldt State leads the all-time series with CSUMB 21-7 with the Otters winning both games in 2019-20, 76-72 on January 15, 2020 in Arcata and 76-71 on Dec. 7, 2019 in Seaside.
Amari Green had eight points and three assists in the game in Arcata and four points and five rebounds in Seaside. HSU's last win was a 68-61 win on January 19, 2019 in Seaside.
LIVE STATS/VIDEO: To view the video stream, go to www.ccaanetwork.com/hsu. For live stats, go to https://hsujacks.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary. You can also listen to JB Mathers call the game on the radio on KGOE.com. The video stream will be free until December 31, 2021. Then on January 1, 2022, you will have to pay a monthly subscription fee of $9.99.
CCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN LUMBERJACK ARENA: Humboldt State will host the 2021-22 CCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Championships, March 3-5 at Lumberjack Arena. The top six teams will receive a berth to the CCAA Championships. March 3 will be the quarterfinal round with the top two seeds receiving a bye. The semi-final round games are set for March 4 with the championship game set for March 5. The winner of the CCAA Championships will receive the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Championships.
FAN POLICY: For the updated fan policy, go to
https://campusready.humboldt.edu/news/vaccine-or-proof-negative-test-required-campus-events-beginning-december-1
UP NEXT: The Lumberjacks will finish off their six-game home stand with a non-conference game at 7pm on December 9. They will return to CCAA play two days later on Saturday, December 11 in Turlock against Stanislaus State.
