SACRAMENTO --
Larry Hughes II had a game-high 24 points, and
Mikey Williams added his first career double-double (10 pts, 11 reb) to lead Sacramento State to a 90-74 win over Jessup on Monday evening at the Nest.
The Hornets led the final 28:37 of the contest, shot 49% from the field (25-51) and went to the free throw line 44 times. The Hornets used all 15 active players on the roster, and 11 of those players made at least one trip to the charity stripe. Sacramento State converted on 33 of those freebies (75%), and the free throw makes accounted for 37 percent of the team's scoring output.
The Hornets outscored the Warriors by eight points in both halves, including 50-42 in the first, and 40-32 in the second. Sacramento State limited Jessup to just two second chance points while scoring 27 points off 20 Jessup turnovers, and 22 points on fast breaks. The Hornets registered 13 steals, including 11 from its starting five.
Hughes, a transfer from CSUN, had a sparkling debut in a Sacramento State uniform. A reigning second team all-Big West performer, Hughes finished with 24 points, three assists and three steals. He scored 18 of those points in the first half, and was the catalyst for a Sacramento State squad that got off to a sluggish start.
Williams' 11 rebounds were a career best, and the junior finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and a steal. Williams was also a game-high +20 in plus/minus.
Marcus Wilson, a transfer from UC Davis, also had a nice Hornet debut with 13 points, four rebounds, a pair of assists, and a +19 in plus/minus.
Osiris Grady, a transfer from UC Riverside, nearly had a double-double with 12 points, eight rebounds and a pair of steals. Although four of Sacramento State's starters notched double figures, the Hornets did get 28 bench points, including eight from
Taj Glover, six from
Arman Madi and five each from
Ashton Pierce and
Giannis Asimakopoulos.
Sacramento State returns to action on Saturday at Santa Clara at 7 p.m. The meeting will be the first in Santa Clara since Dec. 3, 2022, when current Golden State Warrior Brandin Podziemski scored 27 points in a 72-65 Bronco victory.
NOTES
• Jessup is an NCAA Div. II program that resides in Rocklin. Sacramento State is now 11-0 all-time against the Warriors.
• Tonight marks the first of just two home games the Hornets will play during the first month of the season. Five of the first seven games will be on the road. The only other home game during the first month of the year will be Nov. 14 vs. UC Davis.
• Excluding games against UC Davis (Div. II until 2007), Sacramento State is now 54-0 against non-Div. I opponents.
• Of the 15 Hornets used in tonight's game, 11 are new to the program.
• Entering its 36th season as a Div. I member, Sacramento Sate improved to 15-21 in season openers since making the move to Div. I in 1991-92. That includes an 11-5 mark in its last 16 season openers.
