ARCATA, Calif. (Jan. 25) -- Austin Nichols scored 20 of his 24 points in the second half as No. 2-ranked Humboldt State snapped Seattle Pacific University's three-game win streak, 80-70, to take over sole possession of first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Saturday night before a capacity crowd at East Gym.

Yusef Aziz (Sr., Seattle, Wa./Foster HS) poured in 24 points for the Falcons (5-2, 9-7), who fell into a second-place tie with Alaska Fairbanks.

SPU hosts Seattle University Thursday night at 7:30.

It was the Lumberjacks' (6-1, 15-1) 27th straight home win, dating back to a loss two years ago to Seattle Pacific. It is the longest current streak in NCAA Division II.

Nichols, a 6-foot-6 junior, scored nine points in the first six minutes of the second half as Humboldt State took a 59-49 lead. He later scored seven straight points for his team as the Falcons rallied.

An Aziz three-point play trimmed the deficit to three with 2:09 remaining, but a jumper by Mark White made it 75-70 and Seattle Pacific could not answer thereafter. The Falcons made three turnovers and missed their final three shots from the field while the 'Jacks pulled away by hitting five of six free throws in the final 26 seconds.

Fred Hooks finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds and White added 14 points.

Aziz also had nine rebounds. Jason Chivers (So., 6-8, Palmdale, Ca.) hit 8-10 field goals and had 16 points and six boards for SPU, which lost for the first time when making over 49 percent (53 percent, 31-58).

Humboldt State had a 38-32 advantage in rebounds and committed five fewer turnovers (15-10). The 'Jacks shot just 44 percent (27-61) but outscored the visitors 18-6 at the foul line.

Humboldt stormed to an early 11-2 lead and led by as much as 10 before the Falcons responded with a 11-2 run and eventually tied the score at 36 shortly before halftime. Combined, Aziz and Chivers were 12-19 from the floor in the first period.

SEATTLE PACIFIC -- Aziz 24, Sandrin 6, Chivers 16, Cato 11, Harris 2, Lee 0, Bushmaker 0, Binetti 2, Knudson 0, Keely 4, Woodard 2, Cohen 3.

HUMBOLDT ST. -- Nichols 24, White 14, Hooks 17, Shannon 9, Kaatz 2, robinson 3, Thornton 4, Wilber 0, Coleman 3, Cutler 4, Webster 0.

Halftime--HSU 41, SPU 38.