MISSOULA, Mont. -- In a game that remained close throughout, Montana outlasted Sacramento State, 68-61, on Thursday evening at Dahlberg Arena.

The Grizzlies narrowly outscored the Hornets in the first half (32-29) and second half (36-32), and never trailed after halftime. However, Sacramento State trailed by single digits for nearly the entire second half, slicing the deficit to three points (53-50) with 6:14 to play on an Akol Mawein layup. That capped a 9-0 Sacramento State run, highlighted by a pair of Bailey Nunn 3-pointers.

However, Montana immediately answered with a 7-0 run to go up 10 points, 60-50, at the four minute mark. Sacramento State would get as close as five points on a 3-ball from Bowyn Beatty with 49 seconds left, but Montana answered with a pair of free throws on its next possession to put the game away. The Hornets converted on five of their final eight 3-balls of the contest.

Sacramento State, which led for over 12 minutes of the first half, was outrebounded (32-27), but the Hornets converted 13 offensive rebounds to a 15-9 advantage in second chance points. Sacramento State also turned the ball over just seven times, and held a 14-4 advantage in points off miscues.

Montana (18-9, 9-5) improved to 11-3 at home, and swept the season series from the Hornets (6-22, 2-13). However, both of those games were close, including a 70-67 Hornet loss at the Nest on Jan. 27. Of the Hornets' 15 games in Big Sky Conference play, 12 have been decided by single digits.

The Grizzlies shot 57% (27-47) from the field, while the Hornets shot 36% (21-58). Sacramento State was 11-for-15 from the free throw line while was Montana was 8-of-9.

Mawein had a season-high tying 13 points (7-9 FT) to go with five rebounds and a pair of steals. Austin Patterson scored in double figures for the third time in four games, finishing with 13 points (5-10 FG, 3-7 3FG) and a pair of steals. Nunn had nine points on 3-for-4 from the 3-point line. All nine of his points and 12 minutes came in the second half. In fact, Nunn played the final 12:13 of the contest at point guard.

Patterson and Nunn combined to go 6-for-11 from the 3-point line, while the rest of the team was 2-for-17 from deep.

Jacob Holt had seven points and five rebounds, Zee Hamoda seven points and three rebounds, and Beatty five points and five boards. Of Holt's five rebounds, four came on the offensive glass. Duncan Powell added five points.

Five Montana players scored in double figures, led by Laolu Oke's 10 points, 15 rebounds and two blocked shots.

The Hornets will play their final road game of the regular season on Saturday at Montana State. Tip is 5 p.m. PT.