SACRAMENTO -- Northern Colorado opened the game on a 17-4 run and cruised from there to a 77-61 victory over Sacramento State on Thursday evening at the Nest.

The Hornets played tonight's contest without three starters due to injury (guards Bailey Nunn, Julian Vaughns and Alex Kovatchev). In addition, key rotational forward Bowyn Beatty did not play because of injury. Beatty started the game before he was injured.

Northern Colorado came out hot, scoring on each of its first five possessions of the game. Conversely, the Hornets missed 12 of their first 13 shots from the field (including their first seven 3-pointers). That helped Northern Colorado jump out to a 17-4 advantage, and the Bears led by double figures the remainder of the contest.

The Bears went into halftime with a 45-25 lead, but Sacramento State did play much better in the second half, outscoring Northern Colorado, 36-32, in the second stanza. The Hornets also turned the ball over just 10 times, outscored the Bears in points off turnovers (16-8) and finished with nine steals and four blocks. However, it was not enough as the Bears connected on 10-of-26 (39%) from deep while the Hornets were just 4-for-20. In addition, Northern Colorado made eight more free throws (NC 17-21, SAC 9-12).

The Bears shot 45% FG, 39% 3FG and 81% FT, compared to the Hornets 39% FG, 20% 3FG and 75% FT.

Sacramento State, playing the first of just four remaining home games, dropped to 6-19 overall and 2-10 in league as the team continues to play with a plethora of injuries.

Northern Colorado (19-7, 11-2) remains in a tie for first place in the Big Sky Conference standings with Montana, who also won tonight. The Bears are now 5-1 on the road in Big Sky games, including three straight road victories. Sacramento State dropped both its games to the Bears this season, including a 68-64 loss in Greeley on Jan. 18.

Freshman guard Leo Ricketts played all 40 minutes, finishing with 11 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. He was joined in double figures by guard Deonte Williams who posted a season-best 10 points to go with four rebounds. The Hornets used eight players in tonight's game, and all eight scored between five and 11 points.

Chudi Dioramma had eight points and four rebounds, Michael Wilson seven points and five boards, Emil Skytta eight points, Lachlan Brewer six points, four rebounds and two steals, and Jacob Holt finished with six points, three assists and a game-high nine rebounds. EJ Neal added five points, four assists and two blocked shots.

With just six games left in the regular season (three at home), the Hornets return to action this Saturday vs. Northern Arizona at 1 p.m. Sacramento State has just three games remaining in the Nest, before moving into a new on-campus facility next season.