CEDAR CITY, Utah -- Sacramento State struggled from the 3-point line (3-for-17) and free throw line (6-for-14) on the way to a 77-57 loss at Southern Utah on Saturday afternoon at America First Event Center.

Sacramento State shot 41% (24-58) from the field, but had trouble from the arc and the charity stripe. In fact, Sacramento State attempted two more free throws than Southern Utah (12-for-12), but converted six less of those freebies. Southern Utah shot 45% from the field and buried four more 3-pointers while also holding a 40-33 advantage in the rebounding department.

Southern Utan never trailed and used a 12-1 run midway through the second half to stretch a six-point lead all the way to 64-47 with six minutes left. Sacramento State would get no closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

The loss dropped Sacramento State to 7-8 overall, 4-6 in the Big Sky, and 2-7 on the road. Southern Utah has now won five straight, and remains perfect at home (13-0) while improving to 15-3 overall and 8-2 in league. The Thunderbirds swept the two-game season series over Sacramento State for the first time since the T-Birds joined the conference prior to the 2012-13 season. The Hornets lost to Southern Utan on Thursday night in Cedar City by an 88-69 score.

The Thunderbirds held comfortable advantages over the Hornets in points in the paint (42-30), fast break points (9-0) and bench points (17-10).

Sacramento State, which had just 10 turnovers, was led by three players in double figures. Ethan Esposito had 16 points and eight rebounds, Bryce Fowler 14 points, four rebounds and five assists, and Christian Terrell registered 13 points and two steals before fouling out with 9:34 remaining.

Elijah McCullough (2-for-3 from the 3-point line) had six points, David Jones had four points, two rebounds and two blocks, and Samaad Hector posted two points and five rebounds.

Five different Thunderbirds notched double digits in scoring, led by 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting from John Knight III.

Sacramento State will play its final two home games of the season next week when it welcomes Weber State to the Nest on Thursday (5 p.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m.).