SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State shot 54% from the field, and led by at least 16 points the final 22 minutes of clock on the way to an 83-65 victory over Idaho State on Monday evening at Hornet Pavilion.
The game marked the regular season finale for both teams, and Sacramento State (10-20, 6-12) will head into the Big Sky Conference Tournament on a winning note. The Hornets, playing once again with just eight healthy bodies, will now set their sites on the Big Sky Tournament in Boise (March 7-11). All 10 teams qualify for the postseason event.
Sacramento State will be the No. 8 seed, and play No. 7 seed Idaho in the first round on Saturday, March, 7 at 7 p.m. PT. The winner of that game advances to the second round to play No. 2 seed Montana State on Sunday at 7 p.m. PT. The top six teams in the league receive a first round bye in the single-elimination tournament
Tournament seed are as follows - No. 1 Portland State, No. 2 Montana State, No. 3 Eastern Washington, No. 4 Montana, No. 5 Northern Colorado, No. 6 Weber State, No. 7 Idaho, No. 8 Sacramento State, No. 9 Idaho State, and No. 10 Northern Arizona.
Playing in front of its largest crowd of the season (3,016), Sacramento State finished the regular season with a 10-4 home record - the most home victories in a season since the 2019-20 squad finished with the same record. The Hornets averaged 2,758 fans per home game, the third best mark in the Big Sky.
The Hornets had little trouble against Idaho State, shooting 54% (29-54) from the field, 39% (7-18) from the 3-point line and 78% (18-23) from the free throw line. Sacramento State led, 46-29, at the break, and had an 18-7 advantage in points off turnovers. Idaho State was limited to 38% shooting and 6-of-29 from distance.
The Hornets had four players in double figures, led by
Prophet Johnson's team-high eighth double-double of the season. He had 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
Arman Madi posted his first collegiate double-double with 13 points and career highs in rebounds (11) and assists (7). He didn't have a turnover and also added a pair of blocks. Sacramento State committed just nine turnovers as a team.
Mark Lavrenov posted 19 points, two rebounds and two steals, and
Jahni Summers added 12 points on 5-7 FG, and 2-3 3FG.
Shaqir O'Neal added seven points and four rebounds,
Jayden Teat six points, and
Romari Robinson posted five rebounds, four assists and three steals in 19 minutes.
Taj Glover had four points.
NOTABLES
• Team manager Vince Cooke,
Davis Ambuehl, O'Neal and Johnson were honored prior to the game on Senior Night. Hornet general manager Shaq O'Neal was in attendance to be with his son, Shaqir, on Senior Night.
