BOX SCORE ROHNERT PARK, Calif- Will Olsem came off the bench to score a game-high 18 points on 5 of 7 from the field, including 4 of 5 from three-point range, as the Sonoma State men's basketball team earned an 80-75 upset of 16th-ranked Humboldt State on New Year's Eve at The Wolves' Den in Rohnert Park.  The win by the Seawolves (4-6, 2-4 CCAA) snapped a four-game skid against the Lumberjacks (7-3, 3-3 CCAA).

It was the Sonoma State bench that did the majority of the damage against nationally-ranked Humboldt State, as 63 of SSU's 80 points came from Saturday's non-starters.  Olsem (18), Justin Herold (14), Jason Walter (13) and Sterling Arterberry (13) led the Seawolves, who overcame four ties and 10 lead changes in the ballgame.  Arterberry was a monster on the glass; he came down with a team-high 10 rebounds, recording his first double-double this season.  As a team, Sonoma State torched the nets at a 48.0 percent efficiency, hitting 24 of 50 shots from the floor, including 6 of 15 from beyond the arc.

For Humboldt State, Randy Hunter led the 'Jacks with 16 points, complemented by Brandon Sperling (15 points), Scott Clark (11) and Matt Lipski (11).  It was the stifling Seawolf defense that kept HSU shooting just 33.3 percent (20-60).  SSU also forced HSU into 12 turnovers, scoring 16 points off those miscues.

As it is every time, the Humboldt State/Sonoma State battle was physical; the two teams combined for 58 fouls, leading to 76 shots from the free throw line.  Neither team led by more than four points until a free throw by Patrick Scott at the 5:49 mark of the first half gave Sonoma State a five-point lead at 27-22.  The lead would stretch to eight on a couple of occasions, including a three pointer by Olsem and a dunk by Herold.  Herold's jam would put SSU up 33-25 with 4:01 to play in the opening period.  The teams would trade baskets, but Humboldt State eventually cut the lead to one point (36-35) on a buzzer-beating three pointer by Ethan Dillard at halftime.

Humboldt State used that momentum out of the break, scoring six straight points to open the second half, forcing a Sonoma State time out.  A another three ball by Olsem snapped the scoring streak and got the Seawolves within one at 40-39.  Again, both squads would battle back and forth until Sonoma State finally broke free, going on a 7-0 run late in the half to lead 61-53 with 7:06 remaining in the game.

It seemed the momentum continued on SSU's side, despite HSU's late comeback attempt that saw the Lumberjacks within four points on three different occasions including a pair of free throws by Hunter to get Humboldt down 76-72 with 1:07 left.  Walter nailed a couple of free shots with 30 seconds left to put Sonoma up 78-72, but a three pointer by Sperling with 17 ticks left got the 'Jacks to within three at 78-75.  It would be as close as they would get.  Walter drained another pair of free throws with five seconds left to seal Sonoma State's upset over archrival Humboldt State in front of a New Year's Eve crowd of 598 at The Wolves' Den.

Sonoma State will kick off 2012 next Friday when it travels south to Carson to face Cal State Dominguez Hills at the Torodome.  Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.