SACRAMENTO -- Northern Colorado led for 36 minutes of clock, and converted on 15 layup and six dunks while beating Sacramento State, 79-61, on Thursday evening at the Nest.

The Bears shot 52% (33-64) from the field, and a whopping 50 of their 79 points came inside the paint. That was largely due to Northern Colorado getting easy buckets throughout the first and second halves. Sacramento State, currently ranked third in the Big Sky Conference in scoring defense, had trouble containing the Bears' offensive attack. Of Northern Colorado's 33 field goal makes, 21 came on either layups or dunks.

The two teams combined for just 15 turnovers (SAC 8, UNC 7), but Northern Colorado converted on 11 more buckets than the Hornets. Sacramento State shot 40% (22-55) from the field, 21% (4-19) from the 3-point line and 87% (13-15) from the free throw line. The Bears, who led by double figures the final 11:29 of the contest, held sizable advantages in second chance points (12-0), fast break points (12-3) and points off turnovers (13-5).

The loss was the fourth straight for Sacramento State, which dropped to 6-14 overall and 2-11 in the Big Sky. The Hornets have just seven games left in the regular season, including Saturday at home vs. Southern Utah at 1 p.m.

The Hornets won the previous meeting between the two teams earlier this season in Greeley by an 85-71 score. The Bears, however, turned the tables this evening while improving to 13-11 overall and 8-4 in league play.

Sacramento State got a big performance from senior Bryce Fowler, who finished with 29 points on 10-for-19 shooting from the field and 9-of-9 from the free throw line. He also added four rebounds, five assists, a block and a steal. Fowler scored 30 points in the last meeting with Northern Colorado, and now ranks sixth in the Big Sky with an average of 18.2 points per game in league play.

Cameron Wilbon, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury and was a game time decision tonight, finished with 14 points on 6-for-8 from the floor, and 2-of-3 from distance. No other Hornet scored more than six points. William FitzPatrick had six points (including a pair of 3-balls) and Jonathan Komagum had a team-high six rebounds.

For Northern Colorado, Daylen Kountz led the way with 27 points on 12-for-19 shooting. Kur Jongkuch finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Four of the Bears' five starters finished with double figures in points.

Sacramento State returns to the Nest on Saturday at 1 pm. where the Hornets will take on Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds won the previous meeting in Cedar City by a 64-51 score.