Cedric Thompkins scored a career-high 21 points on Saturday.

The victory improved Sacramento State to 7-10 overall and 1-2 in Big Sky Conference games. The team also won its seventh home game in eight tries this year. The Lumberjacks fell to 7-9 overall and 0-3 in league action.

The Hornets led from start to finish in the game and led by less than 10 points only one time in the final 30 minutes. Thompkins helped the team to its early lead by making four of his first six shots and grabbing eight rebounds in the first half. The sophomore finished the game 8-for-10 from the floor and 5-of-9 from the line. The double-double was his fourth this season and the 21 points were a career high.

Sacramento State led 11-6 with 13:45 to play in the first half before going on an 11-5 run to take control of the contest. The Hornets pushed the lead to 14 points on three occasions before settling for a 33-24 halftime advantage. The team opened the second half with a pair of free throws by Derek Lambeth and never led by less than 10 for the remainder of the game.

Northern Arizona was able to cut the lead to 10 points, twice, but could not get closer. The Lumberjacks were handcuffed all night by foul trouble. The team’s top two scorers, Ryan McDade and Brian McHugh, were limited to 17 and 16 minutes respectively. McDade picked up his third foul with 9:41 left in the first period and played just six minutes in the half.

Sacramento State received a boost in the second half behind the play of Joel Jones. The junior, who did not play in the first period due to a pinched sciatic nerve in his back, scored 16 points in 16 minutes in the second half. Jones ended the night 6-of-7 from the floor including three electrifying dunks.

Joe Dawson and Rene Jacques joined Thompkins and Jones in double-figures with 10 points each. Jacques’ performance marked the second time in the last four games, and the third time this season, that the senior has scored at least 10 points.

Casey Grundman came off the bench to lead NAU with 21 points and eight rebounds. Kodiak Yazzie (10) was the only other player to reach double-figures.

As a team, Sacramento State shot .471 (24-51) from the field and .725 (29-40) from the line. The team, however, struggled from long-range, making just four of its 14 (.286) three-point attempts.

NAU had troubles from all aspects. The team was 24-for-63 (.381) overall, 3-of-18 (.167) from three and 12-of-22 (.545) from the line.

The Hornets will remain at home for a pair of games next week. The team welcomes Big Sky-leading Montana State on Friday before hosting Montana on Saturday. Both games will start at 7:05 p.m. at Hornet Gym.

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