ARCATA, Calif. – Cameron Cranston recorded his third 20-point game of the season Tuesday night when he put up a game-high 23 points on the road at Humboldt State. The Western Oregon University men's basketball team held a lead early in the second half before the 'Jacks came back to claim the 75-67 victory inside Lumberjack Arena.
Cranston went 7-14 from the field, 4-5 from three and a perfect 5-5 at the foul line. He added five rebounds and two steals. Tyreek Price reached double-figures with 11 points connecting on a trio of three-pointers. Elihu Cobb gave WOU three in double-figures with 10 points on 5-5 shooting and six rebounds. Zach Moore added nine points on 3-3 from long range. Qiant Myers had a team-best six assists and Daisone Hughes tied Cranston for the team-lead in steals with two.
Humboldt State (4-0) jumped out to a 7-2 lead four minutes in. WOU (1-4) kept chipping away with Cobb throwing down a dunk near the midway point of the half and then a triple by Cranston had WOU back in front. A layup by Cobb followed the three by Cranston to push the Wolves lead out to three at 20-17.
Moore dialed long distance at the 8:36 mark to give WOU a four-point lead at 23-19. It would be a battle the rest of the half with the teams tying or trading leads. Price hit a three down the stretch for the Wolves and after Will Johnson answered for the 'Jacks with a jumper, the teams entered halftime tied at 40.
It was a great start to the second half for the Wolves. Cobb hit a jumper a couple of minutes in and then Cranston sunk another long ball to move WOU out to a five-point lead at 45-40.
Humboldt State answered with a 10-0 run to move in front at 50-45. A Cranston three-pointer and then three free throws by Cranston had the Wolves back to within one near the midway point of the half.
Following a Cobb layup near the nine-minute mark of the second half had WOU within three, the Wolves would keep pushing, but the 'Jacks kept the lead by at least six points the rest of the way before claiming the 75-67 victory.
WOU went 25-64 (39.1) from the field, 11-29 (37.9) from three and 6-8 (75) from the foul line. HSU went 27-55 (49.1) from the field, 7-17 (41.2) from three and 14-16 (87.5) from the foul line.
Jaden Edwards paced the 'Jacks with 18 points and nine rebounds. Johnson added 16 points.
The Wolves got a big boost from the bench outscoring the 'Jacks 42-20. WOU also held the edge in fastbreak points (22-16). HSU held the advantage in points off turnovers (20-14), second chance points (10-6) and points in the paint (20-14).
WOU will continue the seven-game road trip to start the regular season when they will travel to Salt Lake City to play Fort Lewis on Friday at 4 p.m. (Pacific) and Westminster on Saturday at 6 p.m. (Pacific).
