SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State shaved a 17-point deficit down to one point on two occasions in the second half, but could not get over the hump in a 65-58 loss to Montana on Thursday evening at the Nest.

The game marked the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams. The Grizzlies never trailed, opening the game on a 21-4 run. Sacramento State would claw back to within one point of that deficit on two occasions in the second half (35-34 at 14:22; 47-46 at 6:02), but would get no closer. After a Marcus Greene 3-ball got the Hornets within, 47-46, the Grizzlies went on a back-breaking 11-2 run over the next 3:17 to secure a 10-point lead with 2:18 to play.

Montana has won four of its last five games, and improved to 5-3 overall and 1-0 in the Big Sky. The Hornets and Grizzlies had split the previous eight meetings in the Nest prior to this evening.

Sacramento State dropped to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in league. The Hornets are also riding their first losing streak of the season (two games) after splitting the first six games with a win following a loss each time. The Hornets will play Montana State on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Usually a positive statistic, Sacramento State's turnover issues were a problem for the second straight game. After committing 17 turnovers on Saturday at Arizona, the Hornets committed 17 more tonight. Prior to that, Sacramento State had gone 26 straight games with 13 turnovers or less. The most lopsided stat of the night, and a major reason why Montana won the game - the Grizzlies outscored the Hornets, 21-11, in points off turnovers.

Montana shot 51% (23-45) from the field, 33% (5-15) from the 3-point line and 67% (14-21) from the free throw line. Sacramento State shot 42% (22-52) from the floor, 54% (7-13) from deep, and just 7-of-12 from the charity stripe. William FitzPatrick drained five of the Hornets' eight treys, as the senior finished with a season-high 16 points on 5-for-8 shooting from distance. Sacramento State held a 31-27 advantage in the rebounding department, which included nine offensive boards. However, the Hornets, who missed 12 layups tonight, scored just three second chance points.

Bryce Fowler had a game-high 17 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists, and he and FitzPatrick combined for 33 of the team's 58 points. Forward Cameron Wilbon had six points, five rebounds, three assists, zero turnovers, three steals and a block in 28 active minutes. Center Jonathan Komagum added six points and a game-high tying six rebounds.

Zach Chappell had four points, four rebounds and a pair of steals, Greene five points on 2-for-2 shooting (including a 3-ball) and Deshaun Highler four points and a pair of boards. Sacramento State received just nine points from its bench.

Montana had four players score between 10 and 13 points, led by Robby Beasley's team-high 13 points in 33 minutes.

The Hornets return to action on Saturday vs. Montana State at 1 p.m. Originally, the game was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., but the game time was moved to 1 p.m. to accommodate Hornet Football's home playoff game Saturday evening at 6 p.m.

Between Dec. 4 and Dec. 28, the Hornets will play just three games, all in non-conference play. Finals Week at Sacramento State is Dec. 13-17, followed closely by the Christmas holiday.