SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State overcame an 18-point second half deficit, Prophet Johnson dropped 30 points, and Mark Lavrenov had 17 points and 17 rebounds as the Hornets knocked off Northern Colorado in overtime, 93-89.

The Bears led by 12 at halftime (43-31), and later pushed that lead to a game-high 18 point advantage (72-54) with under 10 minutes to play. At that point, ESPN had the odds of the Hornets winning the game at less than one percent (0.8%). Then the turnaround began.

Sacramento State immediately went on a 16-2 run - highlighted by five points apiece during the spurt from Johnson and Shaqir O'Neal - to get the Hornets within, 74-70, at the 4:54 mark. The Bears would get the lead back up to seven points before Sacramento State closed the final 3:20 of regulation on an 11-4 run. The Hornets had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Johnson's well-contested layup attempt was blocked.

Sacramento State scored the first five points of overtime and never trailed in the extra session. Johnson started overtime with a 3-ball and Lavrenov followed with a pair of free throws. Northern Colorado chopped the deficit to two points on a pair of occasions, but would not get closer. Johnson hit a turnaround jumper at the free throw line to give the Hornets a two-possession lead (89-85) with 26 seconds left, and both Jahni Summers and Arman Madi buried clutch free throws in the final 12 seconds to put things away.

Making the win over defending Big Sky regular season champion Northern Colorado even sweeter is the Hornets were playing without three starters because of injury (Mikey Williams, Jeremiah Cherry, Brandon Gardner). In fact, Sacramento State started a pair of freshmen (Lavrenov, Taj Glover).

The 30 points for Johnson (after he had just nine in the first half) were a season-high, and he just dropped 29 in the Hornets' win on Thursday over NAU. He was fouled 10 times, went 10-for-12 from the free throw line, and added five rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. Lavrenov, a true freshman, was inhaling rebounds all evening. He finished with season highs in points (17) and rebounds (17), and seven of those boards came on the offensive glass. The 17 rebounds are also tied for the third most in Sacramento State's Div. I single-game era (1991-pres.).

Fresh off a 14-point win over Northern Arizona on Thursday, Sacramento State sweeps the brief two-game homestand and improved to 6-1 at Hornet Pavilion. The Hornets, who recently completed a seven-game road trip, improved to 6-11 overall and 2-3 in the Big Sky Conference.

Northern Colorado dropped to 11-8 overall and 1-5 in league play. The Bears began the season with a 9-1 record, but have suffered a series of close losses of late. Sacramento State also snapped a five-game losing streak against the Bears.

Four Hornets scored in double digits, including Jahni Summers' 17 points (3-6 3FG), four assists and two steals. O'Neal poured in a season-high 11 points to go with seven rebounds. The injury-depleted Hornets used just eight players in the game, which included Lavrenov playing all but 13 seconds (44:47) and Johnson playing 43:47. Jayden Teat had eight points and a pair of 3-balls, and Glover added five points. Arman Madi was a game-high +17 in plus/minus, finishing with five points, four rebounds, three assists and career-high four steals.

Sacramento State turned the ball over just eight times while winning despite Northern Colorado shooting 52% (36-68) from the field. The Bears shot a blistering 67% (18-27) in the first half. The Hornets shot 42%, and went 25-for-34 from the free throw line (6-of-6 in OT). Sacramento State outscored the Bears in the second half (51-39) and overtime (11-7).

The Hornets are back on the road next week at Idaho on Thursday (6 p.m.), and Eastern Washington on Saturday (2 p.m.). Sacramento State is seeking its first road victory.

NOTABLES
• Sacramento State has won two straight for the first time since winning the first two games of the season
• Glover started his third game of the season, and second in a row
• Lavrenov is nearly averaging a double-double (11.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg) in Big Sky play