SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State overcame a 15-point second half deficit and scored 48 points after the break, on the way to a 74-63 win over Portland State on Saturday afternoon at the Nest. The game marked the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams.

The Vikings led, 47-32, with 14:34 remaining, but Sacramento State responded with a massive 40-9 run that spanned 12:38 to take a game-high 16 point lead with 90 seconds left.  The Hornets, who trailed by seven at the half (33-26), outscored Portland State in the second stanza by a wide margin (48-30). In fact, the 48 points were the second most scored in a half this season by Sacramento State.

The Vikings made just one field goal during a 9:40 stretch of the second half, and Sacramento State took control. In the second half alone, the Hornets made 16 field goals and shot 53% (16-30) from the field, 6-for-10 from distance, and 10-of-11 from the free throw line. Zach Chappell scored 16 of his game-high 18 points in the second half.

During that 40-9 run, five Hornets scored including Chappell (16), Akol Mawein (10), Cameron Wilbon (6), Austin Patterson (6) and Callum McRae (2).

The win marked the first Big Sky victory for the Hornets in the David Patrick era as Sacramento State improved to 8-6 overall and 1-0 in league play. Portland State, which had won the last three games in the series, dropped to 6-8 overall and 0-1 in the Big Sky. The Vikings are owners of two wins against Oregon State this season.

The Hornets have won five of their last six games, and remain perfect at home (5-0). In fact, the team has won seven consecutive games in the Nest dating back to last season.

Sacramento State is now 21-34 all-time against Portland State, including 16-11 at home. The Hornets and Vikings are both entering their 27th season in the Big Sky. All 17 games left on the Hornets' schedule are against Big Sky foes, including next week's road contests at Idaho and Eastern Washington.

The Hornets finished the game shooting 45% (25-56) from the field, 48% (10-21) from the 3-point line, and 74% (14-19) from the free throw line. They used a 42-30 rebounding advantage (including 14 offensive boards) to outscore the Vikings, 20-7, in second chance points. The Vikings finished the game 40% (23-58) from the field, and did have an 18-3 advantage in fast break points. Both teams had 14 assists.

The Hornets had four players score in double figures, including Chappell's game-high 18 points. He is now just 16 shy of 1,000 career points. Mawein posted his first Div. I double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, and all 10 of those points came during the Hornets' huge run.

Patterson had 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the 3-point line, and three of those treys came in the second half. Wilbon had a well-rounded 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. He was a team-best +22 in plus/minus, including a whopping +23 in the second half alone.

McRae narrowly missed his sixth double-double with eight points and nine rebounds. Gianni Hunt had five points and four assists, Hunter Marks had three points and a pair of boards, and Quadry Adams two points, three rebounds and plenty of stingy defense.

Next week's road games for Sacramento State includes a Thursday matchup at Idaho (6 p.m.), and Saturday matinee at Eastern Washington (2 p.m.).