GREELEY, Colo. - Northern Colorado led from start to finish while tallying 26 assists on 37 made buckets to defeat Sacramento State, 95-79, on Thursday evening at Bank of Colorado Arena.

The Bears shot 56% (37-66) from the field, and held a 41-29 rebounding advantage. Sacramento State converted on 26-of-31 (84%) from the free throw line, but made 14 less shots from the field. The Hornets were 23-of-64 from the floor with 26 of the team's 64 attempts coming from the 3-point line (7-of-26).

Sacramento State, playing without injured starters Mikey Williams, Jeremiah Cherry and Brandon Gardner, dropped to 9-15 overall and 5-7 in the Big Sky Conference. The team had just eight healthy bodies for the game, and used all eight this evening.

The Hornets were coming off a 3-1 homestand, and had won five of the last eight games. However, Northern Colorado was better tonight. The Bears' 16-point margin of victory was also their largest lead of the evening. The Hornets, who trailed by 14 points at halftime, cut the second half deficit to seven points on five occasions, but could not get closer.

Sacramento State and Northern Colorado (16-10, 6-7) split the season series, as the Hornets beat the Bears in overtime at home on Jan. 17. Northern Colorado is the Big Sky's defending regular season champion, and was selected to finish third in the preseason coaches poll.

The Hornets turned the ball over just eight times, and held a 13-2 advantage in points off turnovers. They also held a 19-7 lead in bench points, but Northern Colorado owned a 52-26 advantage in points in the paint.

The Hornets were led by Prophet Johnson's 23 points. The senior guard also had six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Arman Madi added 15 points (two shy of a career high) while notching a pair of steals. Jahni Summers rounded out the three Hornets in double figures as he finished with 12 points and five rebounds. 

Both Shaqir O'Neal and Taj Glover scored nine points, and Mark Lavrenov added seven points and seven rebounds. Romari Robinon had four points, three rebounds and a steal.

The Hornets are back in action on Saturday when the team travels to Flagstaff for a matchup at Northern Arizona. Tip time is 5:00 p.m. PT.

NOTABLES
• Cherry (15.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg) missed his 18th straight game with injury
• Gardner missed his eighth straight game
• Williams was coming off a 26-point evening against Portland State on Saturday prior to missing tonight's game