SACRAMENTO -- After trailing by eight points at halftime, Sacramento State outscored Stanislaus State by 29 points in the second half on the way to a 72-51 victory over the Warriors on Wednesday evening at the Nest.
The Hornets shot just 5-for-24 (21%) and turned the ball over 10 times in the first half on the way to a 27-19 halftime deficit. In fact, Sacramento State was in danger of seeing its 36-game winning streak against non-Div. I opposition come to and.
Then the second half began. The Hornets opened the second on a 10-1 run, and never looked back. Sacramento State shot a blistering 63% (19-30) from the field, 56% (9-16) from the 3-point line and 86% (6-7) from the free throw line in the second half. Three different Hornets had 10+ points after halftime, including
Zach Chappell (15),
Austin Patterson (12) and
Callum McRae (10).
Sacramento State led by double figures the final 11:14, and led by as many as 22 points before settling for the 21-point victory. Stanislaus State was limited to 32% from the field, and the Hornets held a 46-34 advantage in the rebounding department. The Hornets finished the game shooting 44% (24-54) from the field, 42% (10-24) from distance, and 70% (14-20) from charity.
The win was the seventh of the season for Sacramento State, which was playing its final non-league game of the season. The Hornets (7-6) open Big Sky Conference play at home on Saturday vs. Portland State at 2 p.m.
Despite today marking just the fourth home game of the season, Sacramento State's seven non-league victories are tied for the second most in the program's Div. I era (1991-pres.). In addition, the Hornets remained perfect at home (4-0), which includes wins over Denver and Long Beach State three weeks ago.
A milestone was reached as center
Callum McRae registered his 1,000th career point in the first half. McRae, who is a Palmerson North, New Zealand native and transfer from UC Riverside, becomes just the fourth Kiwi to score 1,000 points at the Div. I level. He joins Kirk Penney (Wisconsin from 1999-03), Craig Bradshaw (Winthrop from 2003-07), and Tai Webster (Nebraska from 2013-17).
In the process, McRae also notched his fifth double-double of the season (and 21st of his career) after finishing with game highs in both points (19) and rebounds (15). The 15 boards are tied for the eighth best single-game mark in Sacramento State's Div. I era.
Stanislaus State, a Div. II team that is a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, was playing for the first time since a loss at Pacific on Dec. 13. The Hornets and Warriors played 35 times from 1973-88 when both programs were Div. II members. Sacramento State, which is now 22-14 in the all-time series, was playing Stanislaus State for the first time since a road win in 1988.
Nine different Hornets cracked the scoring column, and three finished with double figures. That included Chappell (15 points, four steals) and Patterson (17 points, five rebounds). The two sharp shooters combined to go 7-for-11 from the 3-point line in the second half. All 15 of Chappell's points came in the second half.
Akol Mawein had five points and six rebounds,
Quadry Adams five points and four boards, and
Hunter Marks four points.
Cameron Wilbon posted three points, five rebounds and four assists, and
Gianni Hunt tallied three points, two rebounds and four assists.
Xavier Ford had three rebounds in two minutes. Both Wilbon and McRae were a team-best +18 in plus/minus.
The Hornets will now embark upon an 18-game Big Sky Conference schedule that begins on New Year's Eve at home vs. Portland State at 2 p.m. After Saturday's game, the Hornets are on the road next week for games at Idaho and Eastern Washington.
