ARCATA, Calif.--- After a four year hiatus, the Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks return to the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament with a first round matchup against NorCal foe Sonoma State on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock, California. The 'Jacks earned the fourth seed in the tournament with their win in the regular season finale over Cal State Los Angeles last weekend, 75-73.
"To get into the tournament of your own attrition, to win your way in and not have to depend on somebody to help you get in is a step in the right direction," head coach
Tae Norwood said. "I told the guys we're all 0-0 now. It's win or go home."
Humboldt (13-15, 11-11 CCAA) enters the tournament as the fourth seed and will face off against the fifth seeded Seawolves of Sonoma State (12-16, 11-11 CCAA) who dropped their final game of the regular season 61-58 against No. 2 seed Cal State San Marcos. The Seawolves are led by CCAA Player of the Year Jaylen Wells. The Sacramento sophomore leads the conference in scoring with 22.1 points per game and is second in the conference in rebounds with 8.6 per contest.
"He's a heck of a talent," Norwood said. "It'll be about attention to detail when it comes to him and limiting his touches and shot attempts and shot selections. We're going to have to put in a team effort. Not just one man guarding one individual, but really good team defense across the board."
CONFERENCE HONORS
The North Coast squad garnered some postseason honors of its own, with the Lumberjack duo of
Marlon Ruffin and
Malek Davis both earning all-CCAA nods. Ruffin earned first team all-conference honors. The senior from Madison, Wisconsin currently ranks fifth in the conference in scoring with 17.6 points per game while shooting 45 percent from the field. On the defensive side, Ruffin ranks third in steals with 1.9 steals per game. Davis currently holds the best free throw shooting percentage in the conference at 89.5 percent. The junior from St. Louis is also sixth in the conference in assists (3.8 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio.
OTHER LUMBERJACKS TO WATCH
The Green & Gold will look for contributions from a variety of players who have been in the top half of CCAA statistical categories this season. Senior guard
Ian Krishnan is shooting 38 percent from beyond-the-arc, good enough for fifth in the conference. On the flip-side,
Cam Timmons has been a defensive and rebounding anchor for the 'Jacks, grabbing 6.8 rebounds per game and averaging 0.8 blocks per game to rank seventh and eighth in each respective statistical category.
WIN OR GO HOME
The winner of Thursday afternoon's contest will go on to face No. 1 seed Cal State San Bernardino on Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Fitzpatrick Arena. The men's championship game will be on Saturday, March 4 at 5 p.m.
For ticketing or event info, please go to
www.goccaa.org. Fans can also catch the action live on the CCAA network or listen live at ESPN 107.3 fm.
