RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- In a back and forth game that included the Hornets leading for 13 minutes of clock, California Baptist took advantage of a huge free throw disparity in a 74-67 win over Sacramento State on Saturday evening at Fowler Events Center.
The Lancers went to the free throw line 30 times (converting 21) compared to the Hornets going just 5-for-6. In fact, after the Hornets went 4-for-4 from the line in the first 1:07 of the contest, Sacramento State attempted just two freebies the final 38:53 of the game. Conversely, the Lancers had 14 free throw attempts in the first half, and 16 more in the second half.
Neither team led by more than seven points the first 30 minutes of game clock before California Baptist used a 13-3 run over five minutes to take a game-high 63-51 lead with 8:31 remaining. Sacramento State trimmed the deficit to 69-67 with 3:13 remaining on a
Jahni Summers free throw, but the Hornets did not score the rest of the way.
Summers was incredible, finishing with a game-high 21 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field, and 6-of-8 from the 3-point line. The shooting guard's six 3-pointers tied a career high, and he is now 18-for-29 from distance over his last four games. The 21 points were one shy of his career best. Williams finished with 18 points and five assists as the duo combined for 39 of the team's 67 points.
Sacramento State, which was playing for the first time in 18 days, dropped to 4-7 with the loss. Tonight marked the third leg of a season-long seven game road trip, and Sacramento State was plying for the first time since Dec. 2 at Baylor.
The Hornets played without three rotation players (two starters) to injury, including leading scorers
Prophet Johnson (15.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg) and
Jeremiah Cherry (15.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg). Sacramento State also played without guard
Romari Robinson.
California Baptist, currently ranked 22nd in the College Insider Mid Major Top 25, improved to 10-3 overall and 6-0 at home. Each of their first five home victories came by at least eight points until tonight. Dating back to last season, the Lancers have won 10 straight at the Fowler Events Center.
The two teams were playing for just the third time ever (Lancers lead, 2-1), and each of those games have come on California Baptist's home floor. The two teams played on back-to-back days during the pandemic (Feb. 13-14, 2021).
Sacramento State attempted 14 more shots from the field (37%, 26-71), and used 17 offensive rebound to score 23 second chance points. The Hornets went 10-for-32 from distance for the second straight game. California Baptist shot 40% 23-57) from the field and 39% (7-18) from the 3-point line.
Summers and Williams were the only Hornets in double figures, but
Mark Lavrenov nearly posted his second double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.
Jayden Teat had nine points,
Taj Glover five points, six rebounds and two steals, and
Shaqir O'Neal four points, three boards and two steals.
Brandon Gardner had a career-best nine rebounds (five on the offensive glass) in 22 active minutes.
Sacramento State has just one non-conference game remaining on the schedule, and that will come Monday at CSUN. Tip is 7:00 p.m. Sacramento State opens Big Sky Conference play on New Year's Day at Idaho State. The Hornets play their first three conference games on the road.
HORNET NOTABLES
• Cherry missed his fifth straight game. He was injured in the first half at UCLA
• Johnson missed just his second game to injury in three years
• Monday's game at CSUN will mark the first time Sacramento State has played in Northridge since beating the Matadors, 88-68, on Dec. 1, 2018
• With starters Johnson and Cherry out, the Hornets used the following starting lineup for the first time all season - Williams, Summers and Glover at guard, O'Neal and Lavrenov at forward. The start for Glover was the first of his collegiate career.
