GAME PREVIEW

• After an eight-day break without a game, Sacramento State (2-7) is back in action on Monday when its hosts UC San Diego (5-5). Tip at the Nest is set for 6 p.m.
• The long layoff from games was because of Finals Week on campus.
• Monday's game is the second of a three-game homestand that began with a 62-60 loss to Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 9, and ends with a game vs. Bethesda on Dec. 21.
• The UC San Diego and Bethesda games are the final tune-ups before Big Sky Conference play begins on Dec. 28 at Idaho.
• UC San Diego, members of the Big West Conference, has dropped five of its last six games after beginning the season with a 4-0 record.
• However, three of those five losses were by six points or less. That includes a 63-62 loss to San Diego State on Dec. 1.
• The Tritons are seeking their first win away from home (0-3 on the road; 0-1 at neutral).
• Sacramento State has also dropped a series of close games, including the loss to Fullerton when the Hornets had two opportunities in the paint in the final five seconds to win.
• Against like opponents this season (CSU Bakersfield, Austin Peay, UC Davis, Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton), the Hornets are 1-4 but every game has been close. In fact, all but the Long Beach State game (83-73 loss) have been decided by six points or fewer.
• Sacramento State is 2-1 all-time against UC San Diego, as the teams will play each other for the third straight season.
• The Hornets won on the road at UC San Diego last season (65-55) in the first victory for head coach David Patrick at Sacramento State.
• The Tritons won in the Nest (71-56) on Nov. 20, 2021.
• The Hornets have played just two games at home this season, as the team beat Pacific Union, 128-66, at the Nest on Nov. 14.
• Sacramento State is the Big Sky's top rebounding team (+9.0 per game), and top 3-point shooting team at 10.1 makes per contest.
• The Hornets are in the second season of the David Patrick era. Last year's squad finished 14-18 overall and 7-11 in the Big Sky Conference. The 14 wins were the most by a first-year head coach during the Hornets' Div. I era (1991-pres.), and third most in program history.
• Despite fielding a roster that consists of just four returners and 11 newcomers, Sacramento State was selected to finish fourth in the Big Sky preseason coaches poll.

MULTIMEDIA OPTIONS

• Monday's game will be streamed on ESPN+. Every game the rest of the season, except for the Jan. 6 road game at St. Thomas, will be streamed on ESPN+. Steve McElroy, in his 27th season as the play-by-play voice of the Hornets, will call Saturday's contest.
• This marks the third straight season all Hornet home games, and games played at a Big Sky Conference venue, will stream on ESPN+. The subscription-based service will stream on watchespn.com and the ESPN App.
• 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.

Full set of game notes can be accessed in the link above.