ARCATA, Calif---  Humboldt State will finish off its six-game home stand this Thursday, December 9 at 7pm facing Simpson University.  After Thursday night's game, HSU will begin a three-game road trip with a 7:30pm tip-off against Stanislaus State. 
 
COACHING STAFF:  The 'Jacks are coached by second-year head coach Tae Norwood.  Coach Norwood has a .689 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:  The 'Jacks lost a pair of overtime games at home this past weekend to begin the CCAA season.  On Thursday, HSU lost 84-80 in overtime to SF State despite four players scoring in double digits paced by Will Johnson's 20 points.  AJ Sims chipped in 16 points off the bench while Thomas Melonja and Jaden Edwards each scored 11 points. Edwards also had 11 rebounds. Then on Saturday, HSU saw its late second half rally fall short in a 77-74 overtime loss to CSU Monterey Bay. Edwards and Johnson each had 19 points with Edwards grabbing 12 rebounds.  Amari Green chipped in 10 points off the bench for the 'Jacks.
 
UPDATE ON THE LUMBERJACKS: Humboldt State is 5-2 overall and 0-2 in the CCAA after this past weekend.  The 'Jacks are averaging 73.9 points per game while giving up 71.7 points per game. They are out-rebounding their opponents 36.7 to 34.3.  Jaden Edwards leads the way with his 17.1 scoring and 9.6 rebounding averages.  Will Johnson is next on the team with his 14.3 points per game average while dishing out a team high 38 assists and recording a team leading 17 steals.  Johnson also leads the team with his 50% shooting from the field. Thomas Melonja is shooting a team best 41.7% from beyond the arc while connecting on a team high 15 three's.  Edwards also leads the team with his 75.9% shooting from the charity stripe with Bryce Mitchell leading the team with his five blocked shots. 
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE: In his first season as a 'Jack, Jaden Edwards has recorded four double-doubles this season including back to back games this past weekend.  Edwards' first two game in HSU's first two games versus Western Washington (16 points/14 rebounds) and Simon Fraser (15 points/10 rebounds).  This past weekend, Edwards had an 11 points/11 rebound performance against SF State and a 19 points/12 rebounds effort against CSU Monterey Bay. 
 
CCAA RANKINGS:  HSU as a team is in the top ten in the CCAA in seven statistical categories. The 'Jacks are third in free throw percentage (73.4%), fourth in rebounding margin (+2.4), fifth in three-point field goal percentage (34.1%) and sixth in scoring (73.9 points per game), scoring margin (+2.1), field goal percentage (43.1%) and rebounding (36.7).  Will Johnson is in the top ten in assists per game (first-5.4 apg), second in steals per game (2.4 spg), sixth in field goal percentage (50%), ninth in assist/turnover ratio (+1.4) and tenth in scoring (14.3 points per game). Jaden Edwards is second in rebounds (9.6 rpg), fourth In scoring (17.1 ppg), eighth in free throw percentage (75.9%) and tied for ninth in steals per game (1.6 spg).  Thomas Melonja is eighth in three's per game (2.1) and ninth in three-point field goal percentage (41.7%) while Bryce Mitchell is tenth in blocked shots per game (0.7).
 
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.
 
SIMPSON: The Red Hawks are 3-3 overall after defeating Southern Oregon 73-55 on November 30.  They are averaging 75.5 points per game while giving up 72.0 points per game.  Simpson is out-rebounding its opponents 37.5 to 36.3.  Gary Mims leads the way with his 18.7 scoring and 8.3 rebounding averages along with his eight blocked shots.  He also shooting a team high 40% from three's while connecting on a team high 16 three-point field goals.  Dylan Banks is averaging 10.5 points per game followed by Anthony Rice's 10.3 scoring average.  Weston Vandenhazel is shooting a team high 65.6% from the field. Banks leads the team with his 22 steals and 15 steals and is shooting a team high 68% from the charity stripe.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES (HSU vs. SU):  Humboldt State leads the all-time series with Simpson 10-0 including winning both meetings during the pandemic year 104-70 on March 9 and 83-58 on March 10 in Redding.  AJ Sims paced HSU in both games with 27 points and 18 rebounds respectively.  HSU last defeated the Red Hawks in Arcata in a regular season game on November 21, 2017, 84-78.
 
STANISLAUS STATE:  The Warriors 2-5 overall and 0-2 in the CCAA after losing 66-54 at Cal Poly Pomona and 87-72 at Cal State San Bernardino this past weekend.  Stanislaus State is averaging 59.6 points per game while giving up 68.3 points per game.  The Warriors are being out-rebounded 38.3 to 31.1.  Tony Singleton leads the way with his 14.3 scoring average, 52.9% shooting from the field, 55% shooting from three's and 22 three's made.  Benno Zecic is next on the team with his 11.3 scoring average, 33 assists and 14 steals.  Luis Salgado is shooting a team high 90.9% from the line while Marlon Short has blocked a team leading five shots.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES (HSU vs. STANISLAUS):  HSU leads the all-times series with the Warriors 21-8 with each team winning on the others' home court floor.  The Warriors won 92-87 in Arcata on January 4, 2020 while the 'Jacks won 79-64 in Turlock on February 22, 2020.  
 
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 at Humboldt State, go to https://campusready.humboldt.edu/news/vaccine-or-proof-negative-test-required-campus-events-beginning-december-1. For the updated fan policies at each of the 11 other CCAA institutions, go to https://goccaa.org/sports/2021/8/24/GEN_0824214911.aspx.
 
UP NEXT:  Humboldt State will finish off its 2021 calendar year part of its schedule on the road on December 18 at Chico State and at Sonoma State on December 20. Tip-off times for both evenings are set for 7:30pm. The 'Jacks will return home on Sunday, January 2 at 3pm when they host Sonoma State at Lumberjack Arena.