SACRAMENTO -- Omaha converted on 11 more field goals than the Hornets, and limited Sacramento State to 36% shooting (16-45) on the way to a 70-60 victory on Saturday afternoon at the Nest.
After Sacramento State took its largest lead of the game at 22-18, Omaha closed the final 8:35 of the first half on a 20-5 run. That allowed the Mavericks to take a 38-27 halftime lead, and the Hornets trailed by double figures the entire second half. Sacramento State closed the final 4:18 on a 16-2 run to provide the final 10-point margin of defeat.
Today's meeting was the first-ever between the two schools, and was also part of the second-annual Big Sky-Summit Challenge. During the event, Big Sky schools play a pair of games against Summit League teams on Wednesday and Saturday of this week. The Hornets finished 0-2 at the event while Omaha was 1-1.
The Mavericks improved to 4-7 overall while the Hornets dropped to 2-7. This afternoon kicked off a stretch for Sacramento State that will see the team play seven of eight games at home extending through Jan. 11.
Of the Hornets' eight games against a Div. I opponent, seven have now been decided by 10 points or fewer.
Senior forward
Jacob Holt led the Hornets in scoring for the third straight game (and five of the last six) after finishing with 15 points (3-7 3FG) to go with six rebounds and two blocked shots. He was the lone Hornets to score in double figures, as nine of the 10 Sacramento State players cracked the scoring column.
Freshman
Chudi Dioramma had seven points, two blocks and 10 rebounds. The 10 boards were the most by a Hornet this season.
Michael Wilson, who had not played more than six minutes in any game this season, provided a spark off the bench with nine points and six rebounds in 24 minutes.
Bailey Nunn had seven points, and accounted for six of the Hornets' 11 assists to go with two steals. Both
EJ Neal (2-3 3FG) and
Julian Vaughns finished with six points and three rebounds,
Lachlan Brewer five points (2-2 FG, 1-1 3FG) and
Emil Skytta three points, three rebounds and a steal.
The Hornets did not shoot well from the field, but did convert 77% (20-26) of their free throws. They also outrebounded Omaha, 35-29, but the Mavericks owned a 32-16 advantage in paint points.
Sacramento State will get a short breather, as the team does not play until next Saturday (Dec 14) at home in the basketball version of the Causeway Classic vs. UC Davis. Game time is 7 p.m. The Hornets own a 73-48 record in the all-time series between the two rivals, and has won four of the last five matchups. After playing at Golden1 Center for six straight years, the game was moved back to campus last year when the Hornets won at UC Davis, 69-63.
