LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Both teams converted 19 field goals and eight 3-pointers, but it was the free throw line that sunk the Hornets in a 64-54 loss at UC San Diego on Tuesday night at LionTree Arena.
UC San Diego went to the free throw line 10 more times than the Hornets, converting 18-of-26 (69%) while the Hornets were just 8-for-16 (50%) from the charity stripe. Sacramento State's defense was impressive all evening, limiting the Tritons to just 35% shooting from the field (19-54) and 29% from the 3-point line (8-28).
The Hornets also had a 38-35 rebounding advantage, and outscored the Tritons in the second half by a 30-29 margin. However, UC San Diego, one of the top teams in the Big West Conference, went to the free throw line 16 times in the first half and 12 more in the second half.
The Tritons never trailed, but Sacramento State remained close throughout. A modest 5-0 run had the Hornets within seven points (54-47) with 8:24 to play. However, an 8-1 UCSD spurt spanning the next five minutes put the game away.
The victory improved UC San Diego to 2-1, while the Hornets dropped to 1-2. Both Sacramento State losses have been on the road, including a 64-57 loss at Fresno State on Friday night. During those two losses, the opposition has attempted 27 more free throws than the Hornets.
Sacramento State committed 18 turnovers (just five in the second half), and the Tritons turned that into a 20-8 advantage in points off miscues. Both teams had double-digit offensive rebounds, and the Hornets had 11 second chance points.
Sophomore
Alex Kovatchev scored a team-high 14 points in a game-high 35 minutes. He shot 5-for-9 from the field and 3-of-7 from distance while adding four rebounds. Kovatchev scored 12 of the Hornets' 30 second-half points. Joining him in double figures was senior
Jacob Holt, who posted 12 points and seven rebounds.
Nine different Hornets scored (18 bench points), including
Emil Skytta (8 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast) and
Lachlan Brewer (6 pts, 2-2 3FG). Brewer, a true freshman, has knocked down multiple 3-pointers in each of the team's first three games, and is 7-for-9 from distance (78%). Brewer also had the team's best plus/minus tonight at +5.
EJ Neal had seven rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal in 22 minutes,
Jalen Pitre had two points, three rebounds and a pair of blocked shots, and
Bowyn Beatty three points, three rebounds and a steal.
The Hornets are back in action for their second home game of the young season this Saturday at 5 p.m. vs. CSUN.
