DAVIS, Calif. -- In a game where neither team led by more than five points the final 15 minutes, UC Davis scored the game's last four points on the way to a 77-73 win over Sacramento State on Friday evening at University Credit Union Center.
After the Hornets'
Prophet Johnson made an acrobatic layup to tie the game at 73-73 with 1:13 remaining, Sacramento State did not score again. With the score tied, UC Davis responded with a Niko Rocak bucket at the 51 second mark, and, after a Sacramento State turnover, Marcus Wilson provided the dagger 15 footer with 10 seconds to play.
Both teams shot 44% from the field and Sacramento State made one more field goal (SAC 26-59, UCD 25-56). The biggest difference came at the free throw line where the Aggies shot 21-for-27, and the Hornets were 17-of-21. Sacramento State, which led at halftime, 36-34, had advantages in points off turnovers (16-9), rebounding (37-33), fast break points (22-6) and paint points (42-36).
Sacramento State's largest lead was 10 points with eight minutes to play in the first half, and UC Davis' largest lead was five points early in the first half.
The Hornets, who were playing their first road game of the season, dropped to 2-2 on the young season. Today began a stretch of three games over five days, which includes Sunday at home vs. Presbyterian (1 pm) and Tuesday at UCLA (7:30 pm).
Today marked the 123rd installment of the basketball version of the Causeway Classic, the longest rivalry against any opponent in school history. Despite the loss, the Hornets are still 73-50 against the Aggies in a series that dates back to 1948.
UC Davis improved to 3-1 with the victory, and remained perfect at home (3-0). The Aggies have won two straight in the series since Sacramento State's victory in Davis in 2023.
Jeremiah Cherry finished with a game-high 22 points to go with nine rebounds and a pair of steals.
Prophet Johnson, a 6-foot-3 guard, posted his third straight double-double with 20 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Rounding out the three Hornets in double figures were
Mikey Williams' 12 points and four assists. All three players have scored in double figures in every game this season.
Jahni Summers added eight points and three rebounds, and
Mark Lavrenov five points and six rebounds. After converting at least 10 3-pointers in each of their first three games, the Hornets went 4-for-13 from distance tonight. Of the team's 37 rebounds, 11 came on the offensive glass.
Sacramento State is back in action in two days when the team hosts Presbyterian on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Hornet Pavilion. The Hornets have never played Presbyterian, a Div. I school from Clinton, S.C., that resides in the Big South Conference.
Notables
• Sunday's game against Presbyterian is part of the Empire Classic MTE, which begins Nov. 16 and concludes Nov. 25. Four teams will compete in the event, including UCLA, Cal, Presbyterian and the Hornets. As part of the tournament, Sacramento State will play road games at UCLA (Nov. 18) and Cal (Nov. 21) next week.
