Both Humboldt State basketball teams return home for a pair of games this week, with doubleheaders scheduled for Thursday and Saturday nights at Lumberjack Arena against Cal State Monterey Bay and Stanislaus State.

The HSU men (4-4 overall, 1-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association) tip off a five-game home stand against an Otters team that has dropped eight straight games, including a heartbreaking 86-84 loss to Cal State Dominguez Hill last weekend.

The Otters are statistically the league’s worst defense, allowing 83.5 points per game, while the Jacks are the conference’s top scoring offense with 87.9 points per game through eight games.

Senior forward Justin Everett leads the Jacks with 14.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

“Our starting lineup is playing good basketball,” HSU head coach Steve Kinder said. “They take care of the basketball. We’re not turning it over and we’re defending well.” 

Last week HSU got its first conference win of the year, 86-75 over Cal State San Marcos, but failed to complete the SoCal sweep in a 83-73 loss to Cal State San Bernardino.

Despite the Otters’ losing streak, Kinder is expecting a challenge.

“Don’t let Monterey Bay’s record fool you,” said Kinder. “They have had extremely close games lately against UC San Diego and Dominguez Hills. They have very capable players and some weapons. We are going to have our hands full on Thursday night.”

Stanislaus State, meanwhile, will be looking to build on an exciting 78-71 overtime win over No. 7 Cal Poly Pomona last Saturday. The Warriors are 4-3 overall and sit at 1-2 in CCAA play. 

HSU split last season’s series with both programs. 

Both men’s games are set for 7:30 p.m.

HSU Women

The HSU women are 4-2 on the season, and 2-1 in conference play.

Following a two-point loss on the road at Cal State San Marcos last Thursday, the Green and Gold responded with a dominant 69-49 victory against Cal State San Bernardino to round out the weekend. 

Junior forward Alexia Thrower continues to collect double-doubles, averaging 18.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. 

She currently ranks second in the CCAA in scoring and fourth in rebounding. 

The Jacks have also shown the ability to wreak havoc from deep as they boast two of the top three 3-point shooters in the CCAA, junior guard Madeline Hatch and senior forward Isa Conde.

Monterey Bay has struggled in the early going and is in the midst of a seven-game losing to start the campaign. 

“They are a very different team from the past,” said HSU head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson. “No. 1 they have a new head coach, and No. 2 the personnel is completely different. From a personnel standpoint, they are different and their style of play is different.”

Stanislaus State is 1-4, with the lone win coming against Sonoma State last Thursday.

Both women’s games are set for 5:30 p.m.