MERCED, Calif. – Cal Poly Humboldt men's basketball heads into a pivotal Central Valley road trip this week, as the Lumberjacks visit UC Merced on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m., before squaring off with Stanislaus State on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 3:00 p.m. in CCAA action.

Humboldt enters the week at 12-8 overall and 10-4 in conference play, sitting near the top of the CCAA standings. The Lumberjacks saw their five-game winning streak snapped in their most recent outing but remain firmly in postseason position as they continue the back half of a critical four-game road swing.

LAST TIME OUT

The Lumberjacks split a pair of Southern California road games last week, showcasing both their depth and late-game resilience.

On Wednesday night, Humboldt continued its surge through conference play with a convincing 77-66 victory over Cal State Los Angeles at University Gym. The Jacks led for 37 of the game's 40 minutes, placed five players in double figures, and leaned heavily on a dominant bench performance that outscored the Golden Eagles 23-3.

Drew Ardouin led all scorers with 17 points off the bench, knocking down five three-pointers, while Brandon Bento-Jackson added 12 points with four triples of his own. Rob Jenkins stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points and eight assists, and Shakir Odunewu finished just shy of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds as Humboldt controlled the tempo throughout.

Humboldt's winning streak came to an end Saturday afternoon in a dramatic 78-77 loss at Cal State Dominguez Hills in the CCAA Game of the Week. The Lumberjacks held a nine-point lead with just over a minute remaining but saw the Toros close on a late 10-0 run to steal the win.

Odunewu led the Jacks with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Zaveion Bineyard added 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Jenkins chipped in 12 points and eight assists, and Wayne Hampton III logged a team-high 37 minutes as Humboldt shot over 48 percent from the field and held Dominguez Hills to just 20.8 percent from three-point range.

FIRST STOP: UC MERCED

UC Merced (7-11, 5-9 CCAA) hosts the Lumberjacks on Thursday night as Humboldt opens the Central Valley swing. The Bobcats have been competitive at home and will look to gain ground in the conference standings as the second half of league play continues.

For Humboldt, the matchup presents an opportunity to respond after a narrow loss and reestablish its identity built on balanced scoring, efficient shooting, and defensive pressure. The Lumberjacks have thrived in road environments this season and will aim to set the tone early in Merced to earn the season split. Last time around, the Bobcats came to Lumberjack Arena and beat the 'Jacks 74-64. 

SATURDAY SHOWDOWN AT STAN STATE

The road trip wraps up Saturday afternoon at Stanislaus State (10-10, 6-8 CCAA), a team fighting to stay in the CCAA playoff hunt. The Warriors have been tough at home and will look to defend Fitzpatrick Arena against a Humboldt squad still jockeying for conference positioning.

With the conference standings tightening, Saturday's contest carries added significance as Humboldt seeks to maintain separation from the teams chasing them and keep pace with the CCAA's top tier. In December against the Warriors in Lumberjack Arena, Humboldt was victorious with a 73-58 final score. 

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

Thursday at UC Merced: Watch | Listen on ESPN Radio | Live Stats

Saturday at Stanislaus State: Watch | Listen on ESPN Radio | Live Stats

UP NEXT

Following the two-game road swing, the Lumberjacks will continue CCAA play as they move into the final stretch of the regular season and return home to Lumberjack Arena.

For more information on Cal Poly Humboldt men's basketball, visit humboldtathletics.com, download our mobile app on Apple iOS or Google Android, and follow the Lumberjacks on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook.

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