SACRAMENTO -- Four Hornets scored in double figures, led by
Mikey Williams' career-high 30 points and
Jeremiah Cherry's 20, but it was not enough in a 92-87 loss to UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday evening at Hornet Pavilion.
Both teams shot well in a highly entertaining game in front of another packed house at the brand new Hornet Pavilion. Sacramento State shot 53% (31-59) from the field and 48% (10-21) from the 3-point line as the Gauchos outscored the Hornets by just two points in the first half and three in the second half. UCSB shot 48% from both the field (30-63) and 3-point line (13-27) while also connecting on four more makes from the charity stripe.
The Gauchos held a lead the majority of the contest (33:11), but the Hornets were within striking distance nearly the entire way. UCSB used a 10-2 run over a 2:15 stretch late in the second half to take an 81-69 lead with 5:44 remaining. Sacramento State made things interesting by closing the final 3:48 on a 16-8 run, but the Gauchos' Miro Little went 8-for-8 from the line over the last 44 seconds to keep the Hornets from completing the comeback.
The matchup featured two unbeaten teams as the Gauchos improved to 3-0 while the Hornets dropped 2-1. Equipped with a brand new coaching staff and 14 brand new players, Sacramento State was facing a UC Santa Barbara squad that won over 20 games a year ago, and was selected second in the Big West Conference preseason poll.
Tonight also concluded a season-opening three-game homestand for the Hornets that saw three straight packed houses at Hornet Pavilion. Sacramento State was attempting to start a season 3-0 for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
The Gauchos, who were coming off an 11-point victory over San Jose State, were playing the Hornets for the first time since 2018.
Williams' 30 points came on 10-of-16 shooting from the field, 4-for-7 from 3-point and 6-of-8 from the free throw line while he also added five assists, a steal and a block. He scored 14 points in the first half, and added 16 in the second half. Cherry has now scored 15+ points in each game after finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and four blocked shots. He now has 12 blocks in just three games thus far.
Also in double figures were
Prophet Johnson (17 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast, 0 to) and
Jahni Summers (10 pts, 2 stl). Johnson now has back-to-back double-doubles despite his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame. Freshman
Mark Lavrenov added eight points (3-3 FG, 2-2 3FG) and three rebounds, and was a +6 plus/minus in 12 minutes.
Sacramento State plays three times this week, including a road matchup at UC Davis on Friday (7 p.m.), followed by a home game Sunday vs. Presbyterian at 1 p.m.
Notes
• The Hornets are now 1-7 all-time against UC Santa Barbara with the lone victory coming in 2013
• Friday's rivalry game at UC Davis will be the 123rd meeting between the two programs. That is the longest standing rivalry against any team for Sacramento State. The Hornets are 73-49 against their Causeway rivals.
