Dawson went 9-of-18 from the floor, 5-of-9 from the three-point line and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line to surpass his previous career high of 30 points. The Fontana, Calif., native is now averaging 24.5 points over his last four games, including a 30-point effort at Northern Arizona on Feb. 7. The 32 points also tied for the fifth most by a Hornet since the program joined the Div. I ranks in 1991-92.

Sacramento State had been 0-18 all-time against Weber State prior to tonight’s win. The Hornets (11-13 overall and 5-6 in the Big Sky) moved into a four-way tie for third place in the conference standings with Idaho State (which lost tonight to Northern Arizona), Montana State and Portland State. The top six squads in the eight-team league advance to the Big Sky Tournament (March 6-10). Sacramento State’s five conference wins ties the program record (set last year) for most Big Sky victories since joining the league in 1996.

With the loss, Weber State (11-13, 4-7) dropped into a last-place tie with Montana. The Hornets improved to 9-3 at the Hornets Nest, as the team’s nine home wins ties its Div. I record (set in 2001-02). The victory was also the team’s first of the season when trailing at halftime.

With the score tied at 52-52 with 7:08 remaining, Dawson took over as he was the only Hornet to score during the final seven minutes of the contest. He began his personal 12-point run with a jumper to put the Hornets up two points (54-52) with 6:52 remaining. Sacramento State led the rest of the way as Dawson and the Wildcats exchanged baskets until a Lance Allred lay-up drew Weber State within one point (62-61) with 25 seconds to play.

Dawson, who was a perfect 6-of-6 from the line during the final 4:29 of the game, was then fouled immediately and converted his free throws to put the Hornets back on top, 64-61, with 23 seconds left. Weber State’s Josh Hamilton missed an off-balance jumper from the baseline with 13 seconds left and Sacramento State’s Jameel Pugh grabbed his game-high 11th rebound. Pugh was immediately fouled and missed the front end of the 1-and-1 situation. Weber State grabbed the rebound and drove the length of the floor, before Nic Sparrow missed a three-point opportunity from the top of the key. The Hornets’ DaShawn Freeman grabbed the rebound as time expired.

Dawson was the only Hornet in double figures as Pugh and senior Brandon Guyton each had nine points. Sacramento State recovered from a dreadful first half in which the team shot just 34.8 percent from the floor (8-23) while missing 14 of its first 18 field-goal attempts. Weber State took advantage, building a game-high 10-point lead (23-13) with 6:36 remaining in the first half. The Hornets, however, responded with an 11-0 run (sparked by eight points from Dawson) to take their only lead of the half (24-23) with 2:02 left. Weber State scored the half’s final five points to go into the break with a 28-24 lead.

The Hornets shot 46.4 percent (13-28) in the second half, including 5-of-9 from beyond the three-point arc. The team committed a season-low eight turnovers, including just one in the second half. Weber State shot 46.8 percent (22-47) from the floor, but converted just one three-pointer while going 16-of-26 (.615) from the charity stripe.

Sparrow’s 16 points led four Wildcats in double figures, as John Hamilton (15), Lance Allred (10) and Slobodan Ocokoljic (10) also reached double digits. Ocokoljic, the Big Sky’s fifth-leading scorer, was held scoreless in the first half. Allred added 10 rebounds for a double-double. The Hornets’ 10-point deficit was their largest overcome this season to go on and win.

Sacramento State has just three games remaining on the regular-season schedule as the team plays its final home game on Saturday, Feb. 21, against Idaho State at 7:05 p.m. Hornet seniors Joel Jones, Cedric Thompkins, Tony Champion, Djibril Diop, Dawson and Guyton will be honored prior to the game for their contributions to the program.