SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State's
Austin Patterson scored a career-high 29 points, but Northern Colorado used a late 11-0 run to eventually defeat the Hornets, 80-75, on Saturday afternoon at The Nest.
A pair of
Jacob Holt free throws gave the Hornets a 61-58 lead with 5:09 to play. However, Sacramento State turned the ball over on its next five possessions, and the Bears turned the miscues into an 11-0 run and 69-61 lead with 2:20 to play. Sacramento State cut the deficit to four points on a pair of occasions during the final two minutes, but would get no closer.
A combined 96 points were scored in the second half as both teams were on fire. In fact, Northern Colorado made 12 straight field goals during the half, and the Hornets finished the game by making their final 10 field goals. Both teams shot a scorching 71% (17-24) from the field in the second half. However, after Sacramento State went into halftime with a 32-27 lead, the whistles came out in full force.
Northern Colorado went to the free throw line 24 times in the second half (converting 17) while the Hornets were 2-for-4. In addition, the Bears turned 18 Hornet turnovers during the game into 30 points.
Sacramento State outrebounded the Bears, 31-21 (including 10 offensive rebounds), and shot 57% (30-53) from the field, 52% (11-21) from distance, and 4-of-9 from the free throw line. Northern Colorado shot 59% (27-46) from the floor, 46% (5-11) from 3PT, and 70% (21-30) from the line.
The loss overshadowed a brilliant performance by Hornet junior
Austin Patterson. The sharp shooter finished with a career-high 29 points (10-13 FG, 7-9 3FG, 2-2 FT) to go with five rebounds and four assists. The 29 points were the most scored by a Sacramento State player this season as he scored 19 in the second half. His seven three-point makes were also a career high, and tied for the sixth best single-game mark in Sacramento State's Div. I era (1991-pres.).
Northern Colorado (16-10, 9-4), currently in second place in the Big Sky Conference, swept the season series from the Hornets. However, Sacramento State (6-21, 2-12) lost both games by five points or less, including a 77-75 loss in Greeley.
The Hornets had 24 assists on 30 made buckets, their highest assist total against a Div. I opponent this season. Seven different players had multiple assists, led by freshman point guard
Michael Wilson's six dimes.
Patterson was joined in double figures by
Duncan Powell's 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Wilson had career highs in points (8) and assists (6).
Jacob Holt added eight points and four rebounds, and
Akol Mawein added six points, five rebounds, four assists and a block.
Alex Kovatchev had five points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Hornets have just four games left in the regular season. That includes the final two road games next week at Montana on Thursday, and Montana State on Saturday. Both will start at 6 p.m. PT.