Humboldt Falls to Alaska Fairbanks, Interior Defense Proves Costly
Cal Poly Humboldt dropped a 57 to 66 decision to Alaska Fairbanks in the Sprite Tundra Tip Off, highlighting a struggle to contain interior scoring that undercut efficient perimeter play. The loss leaves the Jacks at 2 and 4 and raises questions about rebounding and paint defense as the team returned home to begin CCAA conference play.
Cal Poly Humboldt's men s basketball team fell 57 to 66 to Alaska Fairbanks on November 29, finishing the Sprite Tundra Tip Off with a defeat that exposed a mismatch inside. The Jacks managed respectable shooting and forced turnovers, but Alaska Fairbanks outscored them 38 points in the paint and produced a balanced attack that Humboldt could not overcome.
Bench scoring led Humboldt as Raydon Thorson paced the team with 15 points on 6 of 9 shooting. Zaveion Bineyard added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Dorrell Thomas finished with 11. Humboldt had three players in double figures, shot 40.8 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three point range, and forced 13 turnovers that yielded 15 points off turnovers. Those gains were offset by the opponent s interior production and collective scoring distribution.
The loss dropped Humboldt to 2 and 4 overall as the program returned home to open California Collegiate Athletic Association play on December 4 against Stanislaus State. Early season records carry outsized weight for midmajor programs. A 2 and 4 start narrows margin for error in conference play, influences seeding possibilities and affects ticket demand and local engagement as the team moves into games that mean more for postseason positioning.
For local fans and businesses, the timing matters. Home conference games provide revenue and community activity, from ticket sales to nearby restaurants and campus vendors. On court the immediate priorities are clear. Humboldt must defend the paint more effectively and secure more rebounds to prevent opponents from converting high percentage shots near the basket. The team s ability to translate perimeter efficiency into sustained defensive stops will determine whether early losses become a long term drag on the season or a temporary setback.
Statistically the matchup provided a mixed snapshot. Efficient shooting and turnover creation show strengths to build on, while the 38 paint points allowed and the need for more interior defensive presence point to where adjustments are most urgent. As conference play begins, local supporters will be watching whether the Jacks can convert those adjustments into wins at the Lumberjack Home Court.
