FRESNO, Calif.---  Despite a strong first half in which Humboldt State had a 39-34 lead and four players scoring in double digits, the Lumberjacks lost 76-70 to Fresno Pacific at FPU's Special Events Center in Fresno, Calif., this afternoon.  Isaiah Hughes was one of four Lumberjacks to score in double digits with a career high 15 points.
 
Besides Hughes' 15 points, three other players scored in double figures in AJ Sims (14 points), Bryce Mitchell (11 points) and Gabrys Sadaunykas (10 points).  Humboldt State also out-rebounded its opponents 34-31 including 11 offensive rebounds.  Hughes paced HSU with seven rebounds while Sims and Sadaunykas each had six rebounds. Sadaunykas added four steals for the Lumberjacks.
 
FPU, who is currently eighth in the NCAA Division II West Region, finished its regular season with a 11-4 record. The Sunbirds were paced by Adrian Antunez's game high 19 points
 
HSU scored the game's first four points of the game and took a 34-26 lead with three minutes left in the first half on a Sadaunykas' lay-up. The guests increased its lead to 39-30, but the Sunbirds finished the half scoring the final points to cut HSU's lead to 39-34.
 
FPU outscored the 'Jacks 11-4 to decrease HSU's lead to 45-43 early in the new stanza.  A Sims' lay-up gave HSU a 49-45 lead, but the FPU's Spencer Heimerdinger capped a 9-2 run by the hosts as they took a 54-51 lead. 
 
Humboldt State followed that with a 7-2 run of its own to take a 58-56 lead, but FPU came right back and outscored HSU 12-7 to take a 68-63 lead with 3:31 on the clock. Raine McKeython's two free throws increased FPU's lead to 74-67 with just 33 ticks left in the game.  A three by Sims on HSU's next possession cut the deficit to 74-70, but McKeython made both of his free throws to seal the 76-70 FPU victory.
 
The Lumberjacks will travel north up I-5 to Redding, Calif., for their final two games of the road trip.  They will take face Simpson University at 5pm on both Tuesday and Wednesday, March 9 and 10.   Live stats/stream can be viewed at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/simpsonca/.