SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Thunderbirds got off to a good start early, shooting 60 percent from the field, but found themselves down nine points by the first media timeout as the Hornets had taken eight more shots than the Thunderbirds. The SUU defense would step up, holding CSUS to just 2-8 shooting, halfway through the first half. The Hornets would respond, making five of their next six shots but SUU would keep pace, making four of their next five.
SUU went cold after that, scoring just three points in the last four minutes of the first half, while the Hornets stayed red hot and took a 52-37 lead into the locker room.
The Thunderbirds hit 45 percent of their shots in the first half including 50 percent from three but the Hornets couldn't seem to miss, making 62.9 percent from the field and 75 percent from three.
Trey Kennedy, Casey Oliverson, James McGee and A.J. Hess all had eight points by halftime for SUU.
Travon Langston would open the second half with a 3-pointer for the Thunderbirds. Kennedy and Hess added free throws and SUU pulled to within seven points, two minutes into the second half. CSUS would respond with an 8-2 run of their own, pushing their lead to double-digits again.
The reserve players came into the game at that point and gave the Thunderbirds the spark they needed. Race Parsons, Sherron Wilson and Christian Thompson all knocked down 3-pointers and Parsons added a layup to bring the Thunderbirds to within six points at 68-62.
That's as close as the Thunderbirds would get though, as the Hornets extended their lead to double-digits again and won the game, 90-75. “It was a very fast paced game. We played well and shot the ball great, but we have to pick it up defensively, allowing 50 points in a half is not going to cut it,” Kennedy stated.
Hess finished the game with 17 points and shot 62.5 percent from the field. Kennedy, Oliverson and McGee all had 11 points each for the game with Oliverson pulling down five rebounds. Austin Waddoups, Langston and McGee all finished with three assists for the game.
“We got consistency on both nights of Big Sky games from Casey Oliverson and Trey Kennedy.” Coach Robinson added, “James McGee hit more shots tonight and all those guys took care of the basketball throughout the night. I liked our ball distribution, I thought Austin Waddoups came in and gave us a boost, moving the ball around.”
Sacramento State shot the ball well at home, making 61.3 percent of their shots and 83.3 percent of their free throws. “They shot the ball extremely well both halves, but we just didn't have the toughness we needed to keep them out of the paint and to prevent them from getting so many easy ones,” Coach Robinson stated.”
Uncharacteristically, the Thunderbirds were outrebounded, 35-24 overall. “Sacramento State plays extremely well at home. They are one of the top teams in our league because they defend their home court,” Coach Robinson said. He added, “We came out with quite a bit of energy but unfortunately we weren't able to rebound the ball like we needed to initially, and they took advantage of those opportunities.”
The Thunderbirds now have a week to get ready for conference rival Northern Arizona. They take on the Lumberjacks next Saturday, January 10, in Flagstaff, Ariz. at 2:00 p.m.
