Cal State men win epic battle with Humboldt

By Michelle Gardner

Staff Writer

It might be a bit premature to call a rivalry between Cal State San Bernardino and Humboldt State one of the country’s best at the Division II level since the Lumberjacks joined the CCAA two years ago. But it is getting there.

The Coyotes struck the most recent blow, beating the Lumberjacks 82-73 Saturday at Coussoulis Arena in front of a season-high crowd of 2,597 spectators.

“You have two good basketball programs going head-to-head year in and year out, a rivalry will definitely develop,” Cal State coach Jeff Oliver said.

The teams came in tied for first in the CCAA with both nationally ranked — Humboldt at No. 17 and Cal State at No. 18.

It was the first meeting between the teams since the Coyotes edged the Lumberjacks in last year’s West Region championship 68-66 en route <WC>to <WC1>a berth in the Elite Eight. There might not have been as much on the line but the most recent showdown was equally as thrilling.

“It was a big game, a big statement game,” senior Michael Earl said. “There was a lot riding on this. It was a good game, good atmosphere. The crowd really got it into it.”

The Coyotes (15-3, 8-2) surged ahead with a run midway through the second half. They led by two at 50-48 with 12:50 left to play. They upped that lead seconds later on a nice baseline drive by Renardo Bass, then got a bucket from Devon Davis to go up 54-48.

Every time the Coyotes threatened to break away, the Lumberjacks (12-5, 7-3) came back. The visitors got within two at 54-52.

They stretched the lead back to nine at 61-52 on a bucket by Earl, only to have the Lumberjacks retaliate with a 3 at the other end by Ernie Spada.

The Coyotes’ final run was good enough. They led 66-60 with 5:51 to go. Lance Ortiz drained a 3 from the top of the key to make it 69-60.

Another by Marlon Pierce made it 74-64 with 3:01 left and the Lumberjacks didn’t threaten again.
Cal State shot 54.4 percent in perhaps its most efficient offensive outing of the season. Earl and Pierce had 17 each while Ortiz added 14.

Davis helped out with 10 which loomed large when Earl was out with foul trouble. The team shared the ball well with 22 assists, with Pierce tallying seven and Ortiz five.

Oliver said it was his team’s best performance, given the opposition.

“Becasue of the opposition we were playing and the quality of the opposition and the significance of it, playing for first place.”

Cal State started out strong and led until Humboldt’s Efren Del Rio nailed a 3-pointer to put the visitors up 17-16 with 12:38 left. The Coyotes suffered a blow a minute later when Earl was called for his second foul and went to the bench.

Earl, who scored 21 points and had 11 rebounds in Friday’s win over Sonoma State, played just six minutes in the opening half. With him sidelined the Lumberjacks dominated in the paint. Cy Vandermeer was the beneficiary with nine points, five rebounds and three blocks.

The Coyotes struggled to get the ball inside and settled for jumper from the perimeter. They took 13 3-pointers, making four. Reichel and Pierce hit back-to-back distance shots with six minutes left that stopped a Humboldt run and closed the gap to 26-23.

A 3-point play by Pierce in the closing seconds sent the Coyotes into the lockerroom down by only two, 37-35.

The Coyotes go back on the road next week to play at San Francisco State and Monterey bay, continuing a stretch of eight of 10 games on the road.