SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State shot a season-high 57% from the field and led for nearly 36 minutes of game clock, including the final 32:24, on the way to a 67-64 win over Kansas City on Wednesday evening at the Nest.
Today's game was part of the inaugural Big Sky-Summit Challenge. The event takes place today and Jan. 6, and each program in the Big Sky will play one home game and one road game against teams from the Summit League. Sacramento State concludes the tournament on Saturday at St. Thomas at 5 p.m. PT.
Though the Hornets led the entire second half, Kansas City (formerly UMKC) trailed by six points or less the final 8:32. Sacramento State converted on 27-of-47 shots from the field, had a substantial advantage in points in the paint (42-26), and won despite hitting a season-low three 3-pointers.
Two of those 3-pointers, however, were huge and came from the right hand of
Austin Patterson. The junior was clutch late, scoring 10 of his team-high 14 points in the second half, including huge 3-balls at the 4:43 mark, and 3:27 mark. The 3-ball at 4:43 stopped a Kansas City run and extended the Hornets' lead to four points. The second 3-pointer gave the Hornets a five-point lead.
The Roos would trim the deficit to three points (64-61) at the 2:59 mark, but Sacramento State got three free throws from
Zee Hamoda over the final 34 seconds. Kansas City scored just three points over the final 2:58. Those three points were a meaningless 30-footer at the buzzer to provide the final outcome.
The Hornets improved to 3-2 at home, and 4-10 overall. After Saturday's game against St. Thomas, the Hornets will jump back into Big Sky Conference play which started last week.
Sacramento State and Kansas City were playing each other for the first time. The Roos are coached by Marvin Menzies, who was a former Hornet assistant under Don Newman during the 1996-97 season.
The Hornets shot 57% despite going just 3-for-12 from distance. In fact, Sacramento State shot 69% (24-35) from inside the 3-point arc. Kansas City was limited to 36% (21-59) shooting, including 19% (5-26) from long range. The Roos stayed in the game by going 17-for-23 from the free throw line, while the Hornets were 10-of-17.
Patterson's 14 points came on a very proficient 5-of-7 shooting from the field, 2-for-3 from distance, and 2-of-2 from the free throw line. He also grabbed four rebounds and dished a team-high tying four assists. Three Hornets scored in double figures, including
Akol Mawein (11 pts, 4 reb, 2 blk) and
Duncan Powell (10 pts, 5 reb).
Emil Skytta and
Zee Hamoda both had nine points, and
Jacob Holt posted six points and seven rebounds. Holt was a team-high +14 in 20 minutes.
Nine different Hornets scored, including
Michael Wilson's four points, and
Bowyn Beatty's two points and four assists.
Alex Kovatchev added two points.
The Hornets will now turn their attention to Saturday's road game at St. Thomas, which hails from Saint Paul, Minn. After that game, Sacramento State jumps back into Big Sky play next week for home games against Weber State (Jan. 11) and Idaho State (Jan. 13).
