DENVER, Colo. -- Sacramento State used a 27-15 run over the final 11:16 to snatch its second road win in three days, as the Hornets knocked off Denver, 73-69, on Monday evening at Hamilton Gymnasium.

In a game where neither team led by more than eight points, and featured 11 ties and five lead changes, Sacramento State scored 40 second half points on 60 percent (15-of-25) shooting. After the Pioneers took their largest lead at 54-46 with just under 12 minutes to play, the Hornets began to scratch their way back into the game. In fact, an immediate 7-0 run had Sacramento State within a point at the eight minute mark.

Denver was able to maintain a small advantage until Cameron Wilbon hit perhaps the biggest shot of the game. With the score tied at 62-62 and 3:29 to play, Wilbon buried a 24-footer that just beat the shot clock and gave the Hornets the lead for good. Sacramento State increased its lead to six points on two occasions during the final two minutes before eventually getting the win. There were some tense moments as Denver had a chance to tie late, but Tommy Bruner's contested 3-point attempt with four seconds left was off the mark.

During the game-closing run, five different Hornets scored, including Wilbon puting up 10 of his career-high tying 19 points. Also scoring during the spurt were Zach Chappell (6), Callum McRae (4), Akol Mawein (4) and Gianni Hunt (2).

Speaking of McRae, he had a monster game as the 7-foot-1 center nearly had a triple-double. He had a game-high 20 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, a blocked shot and +8 in plus/minus. McRae shot 9-of-14 from the field and half his eight boards were on the offensive glass.

The win allowed Sacramento State to complete its season-opening road trip with a 2-1 record. That includes a 65-55 road win at UC San Diego on Saturday. The Hornets have now won back-to-back non-conference road games for just the third time in the program's Div. I era (1991-pres.). The team will make its home debut on Friday against UC Merced at noon, before the Golden1 Center game against rival UC Davis on Nov. 22.

Sacramento State, which led for just 5:13 of the contest, shot 52% (28-54) from the field, 36% (5-14) from the 3-point line and 67% (12-18) from the charity stripe. The Hornets held a 32-27 advantage in the rebounding department, which included 10 offensive boards leading to 16 second chance points. Sacramento State has now outrebounded all three opponents this year, including seventh-ranked UCLA.

Denver, which dropped to 2-1, had won its first two games including a victory against Big Sky Conference opponent Idaho in its opener. The Pioneers shot 50% (27-54) from the field, but just 2-for-12 from the 3-point line. The were outscored, 40-33, in the second half after building a 36-33 halftime lead.

Wilbon matched his career high with 19 points on 6-12 FG, 1-2 3FG, and 6-8 FT. He also added four rebounds. Mawein rounded out the three Hornets with double figures in points as the Oklahoma transfer had 13 points and six rebounds. Eight of those points came in the second half.

Hunt had nine points, three rebounds, three assists, and game highs in steals (3) and plus/minus (+12). Chappell registered nine points and a pair of steals. He buried two more 3-pointers and is now shooting 54% (7-for-13) from distance this season. Hunter Marks added three points and two rebounds, and Austin Patterson two rebounds and a steal.

Sacramento State will look to win its third in a row on Friday against UC Merced at noon. Friday is the only time during the entire month of November the Hornets will play inside the Nest.