SACRAMENTO -- Eastern Washington began the game on a 28-4 run, and held off a Hornet comeback to defeat Sacramento State, 102-94, on Thursday evening at Hornet Pavilion.
The Eagles completely owned the first seven minutes of the game, converting on 11 of their first 17 shots, and 5-for-8 from distance, to jump out to a 28-4 lead. Conversely, Sacramento State was just 2-for-10 from the field with four turnovers during that stretch.
The Hornets, who turned the ball over just three times the rest of the evening, used a 23-7 run to get within eight points (35-27) of that lead with six minutes left in the first half. However, Eastern Washington made a series of 3-pointers late and finished the half 10-of-16 from distance to take a 57-39 lead into the break.
Sacramento State trailed between 10 and 14 points the majority of the second half. The team made a late push to get the deficit to six points with under 10 seconds to play, but would get no closer. Both teams shot better than 50 percent from the field (EWU 56%, 36-64; SAC 54%, 33-61), but the Eagles buried 14-of-28 from long range while the Hornets were just 5-of-17 from the 3-point line. Of Sacramento State's 94 points, 48 were scored in the paint.
The Hornets, playing with eight healthy bodies, dropped to 9-17 overall and 5-9 in the Big Sky Conference. They have just four games left in the regular season, and tonight was the first of three at home.
Sacramento State has played the last three games with just seven or eight healthy bodies, and guard
Mikey Williams (20.1 ppg) missed his third straight game with injury. Sacramento State was already playing without starters
Jeremiah Cherry and
Brandon Gardner before Williams was injured.
Tonight's loss was just the third of the year at home as the Hornets fell to 9-3 at Hornet Pavilion. Once again, the fixed seating portion of Hornet Pavilion was packed and tonight's attendance was 2,691. Sacramento State is currently third in the Big Sky with 2,725 fans per home game.
Eastern Washington, one of the league's hottest teams, has won five straight after beginning the conference season with a 3-6 record. The Eagles, who recently swept the Montana schools on the road, won both meetings against the Hornets this year (including Jan. 24 in Cheney). The Eagles have won 13 of the last 15 meetings in the series with Sacramento State.
Arman Madi scored a career-high 26 points (previous was 17) on 10-of-15 shooting, 2-for-4 from distance, and 4-of-5 from the line. The sophomore added four rebounds, three assists, a pair of steals, and was a plus seven in plus/minus.
Prophet Johnson matched Madi with 26 points and the senior guard added nine rebounds, eight assists, zero turnovers and four steals in a game-high 40 minutes. He now has 13 games with at least 20 points this season.
Five Hornets scored in double figures, including
Mark Lavrenov (14 points, 4 rebounds),
Jahni Summers (12 points, 4 rebounds) and
Shaqir O'Neal (11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks). Romari Robinon added four points, two steals and was a team-best +11 in 21 minutes.
The Hornets are back in action on Saturday vs. Idaho at 7 p.m. inside Hornet Pavilion. After Saturday, the team's final three games of the regular season will take place over a five-day stretch - Feb. 26 at Montana; Feb. 28 vs. Montana State; March 2 at home vs. Idaho.
NOTABLES
• The Big Sky Tournament will take place in Boise, Idaho, on March 7-11. Each of the league's 10 teams qualify for the postseason event, and the top six receive a first round bye
• Robinson returned this evening after missing Saturday's Northern Arizona game
