ARCATA — The Warriors still can't find a way to win in Arcata. Thursday night was no different as Cal State Stanislaus lost to Humboldt State, 71-58, at Lumberjack Arena.
The loss means the Warriors are now 0-9 in Arcata during the CCAA era — both at Humboldt State's current Lumberjack Arena or the former facility of the East Gym.
Cal State Stanislaus (14-8, 11-6 CCAA) now falls three games behind CCAA leader Chico State, which won its 10th straight Thursday night by beating Cal State San Bernardino. The Warriors, for the time being, stay in third place but UC San Diego could tie the 11-6 mark Friday night in San Francisco.
Thursday night, during part one of the cross-state trip that will have the team cover nearly 1,450 miles on bus, the Warriors scored 60 points for less for the fifth time in seven games over the last 3 1/2 weeks. The Warriors are 3-4 in those seven games with an average margin of defeat at 17 points per game.
Humboldt State (16-7, 10-7 CCAA) used a 13-2 run late in the first half to turn a tight game into a 13-point lead. The Warriors got as close as five points when
Chris Read made a free throw at 7:00 left in the second half to make it 56-51. That free throw capped a 8-2 Stanislaus run that included two
Wes Bartole baskets, an
Alek Carlson trey and a
Rob Walters layup.
But Rakim Brown answered the mini Warrior surge with a three-pointer and the Lumberjacks took off again.
In the end,
Shey Mataele led the Warriors with 15 points on 6 of 6 shooting, but the rest of the team shot 17 for 47. Bartole had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Carlson finished with all three Stanislaus three pointers for 11 points.
The Warriors will stop in San Rafael late Thursday night before continuing the trip on Friday to San Bernardino. They take on the CSUSB Coyotes Saturday night to try to stay in the hunt. With a loss Saturday, the Warriors could end up tied for sixth place. The top six teams in the CCAA standings are the end of the regulation season make the conference tournament in Stockton.
