GAME PREVIEW

• Sacramento State (11-9, 4-3) begins a season-long four game homestand on Thursday night vs. Montana. Tip at the Nest is set for 7 p.m.
• Thursday is International Night at the Nest, and both coaching staffs will be taking part in Coaches vs. Cancer Week.
• The Hornets are coming off two grinding road losses by four points or less. In fact, Sacramento State's three losses in Big Sky play have come on the road by a total of nine points.
• The Hornets have made a habit of playing close games in Big Sky play. Each of the last three, and five of the last six games have been decided by four points or less.
• Overall, of the Hornets' 20 games, nine have been decided by four points or less, and Sacramento State is 5-4 in those outcomes.
• The Hornets are 7-0 at home this season, and have won nine straight games in the Nest dating back to last season.
• This year is one of five teams in program history to win its first seven home games. The 2019-20, 2005-06, 1987-88, and 1961-62 teams also accomplished the feat.
• The Hornets will attempt to become just the third team to start 8-0 at home, and second during the program's Div. I era. The 2019-20 and 1961-62 teams both started 8-0.
• The Hornets' 11 overall wins already matches the win total from all of last season (11-18). The team is also two wins shy of matching its Big Sky win total from a year ago (6-14).
• Sacramento State sits in a tie for fourth in the Big Sky standings with Idaho State. Both are 4-3, and trail Eastern Washington (8-0), Montana State (6-2) and Weber State (5-2).
• Montana has dropped three of its last four games, and sits at 3-5 in the Big Sky standings. The Griz are 2-7 on the road, and 1-2 in Big Sky play. That win came at Northern Colorado.
• Six of the Grizzlies' eight Big Sky games have been decided by seven points or less.
• The Hornets are 11-47 all-time against Montana, including an 8-20 mark when playing in Sacramento. The teams split the series a year ago with each team winning on the road.
• Montana does not have a lot of depth, and relies heavily on its starters. In fact, the Grizzlies' 11.3 bench points per game ranks as one of the worst marks in the country.
• However, the Grizzlies have four players averaging better than 11 points - forwards Josh Bannan (15.8 ppg) and Dischon Thomas (12.4 ppg), as well as guards Aenen Moody (14.3 ppg) and Brandon Whitney (11.4 ppg).
• Montana is 11th in the nation with a 78% free throw percentage. The Hornets commit an average of just 15.0 fouls per game, the 43rd best mark in the country.

MULTIMEDIA OPTIONS

• Every game the rest of the season will stream on ESPN+.
• All four games during the homestand will broadcast live on ESPN 1320 AM with longtime broadcaster Steve McElroy calling all the action.
• 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.