Senior Derek Lambeth led the team with 17 points.

The win improved Sacramento State to 10-13 overall and 4-6 in the Big Sky Conference. Both win totals mark season highs since the program moved to Div. I before the 1991-92 season. The victory also vaulted the team into a three-way tie for fifth place in the league. The Vikings dropped their seventh-straight contest to fall to 4-20 overall and 2-9 in league games.

Portland State came out quickly, taking an 11-5 lead with 14:30 to play in the first half before eventually leading 15-10 with 12:01 showing. From, that point, the Hornets went on an 8-0 run to take control of the game. PSU was able to tie the contest (22-22) before Sacramento State took the lead for the final time on a layup by Chris Lange.

The Hornets began to pull away midway through the second half. Lambeth made two free throws and a three-pointer to put the team ahead, 57-44, with 7:26 remaining. Sacramento State sealed the game at the free-throw line, making 7-of-10 free throws in the final five minutes.

Joining Lambeth in double-figures were Lange (13), Raashad Hooks (12), Jimmy White (11) and Cedric Thompkins (11). The game marked just the second time this season that the team had five players score at least 10 points. Thompkins led the squad with seven rebounds.

As a team, the Hornets shot .423 (22-52) from the field and an impressive .793 (23-29) from the charity stripe.

Portland State was held to .364 (20-55) overall, .067 (1-15) from three-point range, and .630 (17-27) at the line. Senior Kevin Briggs led all players with 18 points while Brandon Haughton grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.

The Hornets will travel to Weber State and Idaho State next week before ending the season with a pair of games at home. The game against WSU is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20, with tip off coming at 6:05 p.m. PST. The game can be heard on KTKZ 1380 AM with the start tape-delayed until 7:00 p.m.

---30---