RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- California Baptist shot 51% from the field, including 12-for-24 from the 3-point line, on the way to an 83-71 victory over Sacramento State on Saturday afternoon at the CBU Events Center.

The Lancers finished the game 29-for-57 from the field, and led for nearly 36 minutes of game clock. Both teams battled back and forth until CBU used an 11-2 run over the final 2:19 of the first to go into halftime with a 39-27 lead. Sacramento State did close to within nine points of CBU's lead (76-67) with 2:55 to play, but would get no closer. Besides that brief nine-point cushion, California Baptist led by double figures the entire second half.

The loss dropped Sacramento State to 6-6 overall and 1-5 on the road. The Hornets also saw their losing streak reach three games. Prior to the last three games, the Hornets hadn't suffered a losing streak all season. Today marked Sacramento State's first game since Feb. 1 as the Hornets had two-game conference series canceled last week and this week.

California Baptist, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, has now won seven of its last nine games while improving to 10-6 overall. Today marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams despite Sacramento State's first year of basketball occurring in 1948, and CBU's first season in 1956.

These same two teams will play again tomorrow at the same time (12 p.m.) and place. The Hornets and Lancers agreed to play these games on Wednesday of this week after their two-game conference series were canceled due to COVID-19 protocols in their opponents' programs. Sacramento State was supposed to play a home and home with Northern Colorado on Thursday and Saturday, and CBU was supposed to host UT Rio Grande Valley on Friday and Saturday.

Both teams scored 44 points in the second half, but the big run at the end of the first half proved to be too much for the Hornets to overcome. Sacramento State shot 33% in the first half and 53% in the second half while finishing at 44% (25-57) from the field, 33% (4-12) from the 3-point line and 68% (17-25) from the free throw line.

California Baptist entered the game shooting 40% from the 3-point line as a team, and its prowess from the arc was on display this afternoon. The Lancers shot 7-for-14 from distance in the first half, and 5-of-10 in the second half. CBU finished the game with four more field goals made and eight more 3-pointers than Sacramento State. The Lancers, who had five players score in double figures, also had a 36-30 advantage in the rebounding department.

For the fifth time in the last six games, Sacramento State was led in scoring by senior forward Ethan Esposito who had 22 points and seven rebounds in 37 minutes. He was joined in double figures by Bryce Fowler (11 points, 6 assists, 3 steals) and Zach Chappell (11 points, 2 rebounds). Fowler fouled out for the first time this season with 3:31 to play.

William FitzPatrick finished with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from the 3-point line, Christian Terrell had eight points and seven rebounds, and Brandon Davis finished with seven points, five rebounds, four assists, a block and two steals. Besides FitzPatrick, the rest of the Hornet squad combined to go 1-for-7 from deep. Chappell scored 11 of the Hornets' 14 bench points.

For California Baptist, Ry Rowell (22), Reed Nottage (19), Mark Carbone (12), Gak Gorjok (11 points, 14 rebounds) and Elijah Thomas (11) each scored in double digits.

After tomorrow's game, Sacramento State will be back on the road next week for matchups with Southern Utah on Thursday and Saturday.