BOX SCORE ARCATA, Calif- Patrick Scott had team-highs of 16 points and six rebounds, but the Sonoma State men's basketball team fell victim to a late surge by host Humboldt State in a 73-68 loss on Saturday at Lumberjack Arena in Arcata.  The Seawolves have lost four straight, falling to 2-5 overall and remaining winless in the CCAA at 0-3.  The Lumberjacks, ranked at No. 8 in this week's National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Top 25 poll, improve to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in conference action.

With four assists on Saturday, Steven Pratt needs just four more to break the career record for most assists in program history.  He currently has 302 career assists, just three behind Antoine Woods, who passed out 305 assists in 1991-92 and 1992-93.  Pratt is also 48 points from 1,000 career points.

Sonoma State jumped out to a quick start against Humboldt State, scoring the game's first eight points to lead 8-0 just 2:13 into the contest.  It wouldn't take long, though, for the 'Jacks to even things up at 10-10 on a three pointer by Ethan Dillard.  A brief offensive spirt led by Scott and Will Olsem gave the Seawolves a six-point lead at 16-10, but the nationally-ranked hosts came storming back again and took its first lead of the game (20-18) at the 7:36 mark of the opening period.  Both teams would battle back and forth the rest of the way through the first period, but a Ashley Arnott three pointer with two seconds left on the clock put Sonoma State up 33-31 at halftime.

In the second half, neither team would lead by more than four points at any time until a layin by Sterling Arterberry at 11:39 gave the Seawolves their largest lead of the game -- a seven-point advantage at 46-39.  The 'Jacks wouldn't go away, scoring the next six points to come within a point at 46-45.  SSU and HSU would trade baskets over the next four minutes, but it would be the Lumberjacks that would start to pull away.

With Sonoma State up 54-53 with 5:39 left in regulation, Humboldt State went on a 8-0 run over the next 1:49 to grab a 61-54 lead.  Consistent with the tempo of the game, the Seawolves and Lumberjacks continued to trade buckets and SSU would eventually come within four points at 65-61 on a pair of free throws by Scott with 1:22 on the clock.

It would be as close as the Seawolves would get the rest of the way, despite a late attempt to close the gap.  Pratt got SSU within five with just 10 seconds left, but on the ensuing inbounds pass, Kyle Baxter found D.J. Broome sprinting towards the other end of the floor and the two connected for a wide open layin to seemingly put a cap on the 'Jacks victory.  A tip-in by Scott with one second left cut the lead to five, but it would be too little, too late, as Sonoma State suffered the 73-68 loss.

Scott netted 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in addition to handing out three assists.  Pratt scored 15 points on 5 of 6 shooting, dishing out four assists.  Brian Crow and Will Olsem came off the bench to contribute nine and eight points, respectively.  The Seawolves outshot the Lumberjacks (53.2 percent to 51.1 percent), hitting eight three pointers on the night.

For Humboldt State, Randy Hunter torched the nets for 21 points, complemented by the 18 points of Scott Clark and 14 points of Brandon Sterling.  Baxter came off the bench to corral a game-high 12 boards, as the 'Jacks outrebounded the Seawolves, 30-27.

Sonoma State will finally return home on Dec. 17 to host Cal State Stanislaus after its season-long five-game road swing.  The Seawolves and Warriors will tipoff at 7:30 pm in The Wolves' Den.