GAME PREVIEW

• With 13 non-league games in the books, Sacramento State (7-6, 0-0) will open Big Sky Conference play at home on New Year's Eve vs. Portland State (6-7, 0-0). Tip is 2 p.m.
• The Hornets wrapped up non-conference play with a 72-51 win over Stanislaus State on Wednesday night. The Hornets' seven non-conference victories are tied for the second most in the program's Div. I era (1991-pres.).
• Perhaps most impressive about the Hornets' 7-6 record is only four of those games were played at home. Sacramento State is 4-0 in the Nest, and has won six straight home games dating back to last season.
• Overall, the Hornets have won four of their last five games after beginning the season with a 3-5 record.
• Saturday will mark the first Big Sky Conference game of the David Patrick era.
• Sacramento State has dropped three of its last four Big Sky openers.
• Saturday's matchup will be interesting in that it pits the Big Sky's top scoring offense (PSU averages 79.9 ppg) against the league's stingiest defense (Hornets allow 68.0 ppg).
• Perhaps a huge factor in the outcome of Saturday's game will be Sacramento State's ability to protect the ball. The Hornets are last in the Big Sky in turnovers per game (14.7), and face a Viking squad that is easily tops in the conference in steals per game (8.23).
• Sacramento State and Portland State were picked sixth and seventh, respectively, in both the Big Sky preseason coaches and media polls.
• Both programs enter their 27th season in the Big Sky Conference.
• The Vikings are 2-4 on the road, and will be playing their fourth roadie in the last five games. PSU is the owner of two wins against Oregon State this season (road and neutral).
• In a series that dates back to 1968, the Hornets are 20-34 all-time against Portland State. Of those 54 meetings, 52 have come since both joined the Big Sky in 1996. The Hornets are 19-33 in Big Sky play vs. the Vikings.
• Sacramento State owns a 15-11 record against PSU in games played at the Nest.
• These two teams love to play close games against each other. The Vikings have won three straight in the series, but each of those games were decided by eight points or less.
• Of the teams' last 11 meetings, only one has been decided by more than 10 points.
• The Vikings swept the season series against the Hornets a year ago. PSU had lost four straight in the Nest prior to their 67-62 win on Jan. 15.
• Sacramento State is 7-19 in its Big Sky Conference openers.

MULTIMEDIA OPTIONS

• Every game the rest of the season will stream on ESPN+.
• Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN 1320 AM with Jason Ross calling the action. Ross is the longtime play-by-play voice of Hornet football, and will be filling in on Saturday for Steve McElroy.
• Links for all multimedia options, including live stats for every game, can be found next to each game on the men's basketball schedule at hornetsports.com.