MORAGA, Calif. -- Playing for the first time in 25 days, the rust showed as Sacramento State struggled from the field and was badly outrebounded by Saint Mary's in a 63-45 loss to the Gaels on Wednesday evening at the University Credit Union Pavilion.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, the Hornets had not played a game since a home win against Idaho on Dec. 5. After Sacramento State scored the first two points of the game, Saint Mary's proceeded to bury 10 of its first 11 shots from the field, and all three of its 3-point attempts to jump out to a 23-12 lead at the 12:23 mark of the first half.

Sacramento State held the Gaels without a point for a 6:28 stretch later in the half to close within seven points (27-20), but SMC scored the next six points and led by double figures the final 23:22 of the contest. Any chance of a Hornet comeback in the second half was quickly thwarted after Sacramento State was whistled for seven fouls in the first four minutes and change. Amazingly, Saint Mary's was already in the bonus at the 15:43 mark of the second half.

Sacramento State (3-1), which was playing its first road game of the season, was attempting to begin the season 4-0 for the second straight year. The Hornets were playing a Saint Mary's squad that is currently ranked seventh in the nation in the Mid-Major top 25 poll, and improved to 9-2 overall and a perfect 7-0 at home. The Gaels have defeated their seven opponents at home by an average of 18 points per contest.

Sacramento State is now 6-31 all-time against the perennial West Coast Conference powers, and 1-20 when playing the Gaels in Moraga. The two teams were playing each other for the first time in three years.

Usually a very stout rebounding team, the Hornets had trouble with Saint Mary's size and were outrebounded by a 44-16 margin. The 16 rebounds are tied for the fewest in program single-game history (16 at Northern Arizona in 2006). In addition, the Hornets were credited with just four assists.

Saint Mary's finished the game shooting 44% (20-45) from the field and 86% (19-22) from the free throw line while the Hornets finished at 32% (15-47) from the floor and 71% from the charity stripe (12-17). Both teams combined to hit just seven 3-pointers. In fact, after the Gaels converted on their first three 3-point attempts, they went 1-for-12 the from distance the rest of the way.

The Hornets welcomed back junior guard Brandon Davis, who had missed the first three games with injury, but were without ailing guard William FitzPatrick. Sacramento State finished the game 3-for-10 from distance, and could have used FitzPatrick's 3-point prowess (nine made 3-pointers in three games).

At least four Hornets had scored in double figures in each of the first three games, and Sacramento State had scored at least 73 points in each of those contests. Tonight, two Sacramento State players finished in double digits, led by forward Ethan Esposito's 16 points and five rebounds. The senior went 6-for-11 from the field, 4-of-5 from the free throw line, and scored the Hornets' first seven points of the contest. He was joined in double figures by Bryce Fowler, who had 10 points and two steals.
Junior Deshaun Highler had eight points on just three field goal attempts, as he finished 2-for-3 from the field, 2-of-2 from distance, and 2-for-3 from the free throw line. No other Hornet scored more than four, as Spencer Monteiro had four points and a steal. Senior Christian Terrell entered the game averaging 15.3 ppg, but was limited to two points this evening.

Saint Mary's was led by Matthias Tass who had 16 points and drew a whopping nine fouls. Tommy Kuhse had 17 points and seven assists, Jabe Mullins 10 points and nine rebounds, and Kyle Bowen had a rare line of zero points and 10 boards.

Sacramento State returns to action in four days as the Hornets will host Fresno Pacific on Sunday at noon. The game was recently added to the team's schedule to help compensate for the three canceled games Sacramento State was forced to endure over the last three weeks.