Fresh off a controversial two-point loss at Weber State on Thursday, Sacramento State (8-15, 4-6) resumes its brief two-game road trip on Saturday, Feb. 12, at Idaho State. Tip-off against the Bengals is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. PST at Reed Gym. The Hornets defeated the Bengals, 61-59, earlier this season in Sacramento. However, Sacramento State has struggled on the road against Idaho State, going 0-8 against the Bengals in Pocatello, Idaho, since joining the Big Sky in 1996-97. The Hornets'' last victory at Idaho State came in a 77-74 overtime win during the 1995-96 season.

Saturday night''s contest can be heard locally on KTKZ 1380 AM with Steve McElroy handling the play-by-play. For those outside the greater Sacramento area, the contest will also be broadcast live via the internet at www.hornetsports.com, by clicking on the Live Audio link and scrolling down to the men''s basketball schedule.

In Thursday night''s loss, Weber State''s Coric Riggs stole the ball from the Hornets'' Jason Harris with 2.5 seconds to play and raced three quarters of the court to score as time expired, giving the Wildcats a 57-55 victory. Riggs'' shot sparked controversy as Sacramento State vehemently protested that the shot came after the buzzer. Referees Sam Gibson, Chris Rastatter and Gregg Morstein ran off the floor while the Hornets tried to argue the call. On Friday, the Big Sky suspended Sacramento State head coach Jerome Jenkins for Saturday night''s game "for comments made regarding officials as well as failure to control his players and staff" in the aftermath of the loss. Assistant coach Zac Claus will serve as Jenkins'' replacement for Saturday night''s game against Idaho State.

Sacramento State, which has been impressive at home this season (8-3), has struggled badly on the road as the team is winless in 12 chances. However, the Hornets have shown signs of digging out of their road doldrums since entering Big Sky play. Three of the team''s last four Big Sky road losses have come by three points or less, including defeats at Eastern Washington (44-41), Montana State (67-64) and Weber State (57-55). The Hornets posted a 3-11 record on the road last year, including 2-5 against Big Sky competition.

The Hornets are currently alone in fifth place in the Big Sky standings, one half game behind fourth-place Eastern Washington (4-5) and two-and-a-half games behind third-place Montana (6-3) with just four games remaining on the regular-season schedule. The top six squads in the eight-member Big Sky advance to the conference tournament, which takes place March 5-9.

Coming off an 86-75 victory over Northern Arizona on Thursday, Idaho State (9-14, 3-7) is currently in a two-way tie for seventh place in the league standings with Northern Arizona. The Bengals sit just one game behind Sacramento State, making Saturday''s game that much more important. Idaho State owns a 16-6 all-time record against the Hornets in a series that dates back to the 1951-52 season.

Meet the Coaches

Jerome Jenkins is currently in his fifth season at Sacramento State. Since taking over a struggling program in 2000-01, the Hornets have improved their overall and conference records each season (5-22, 2-14 in 2000-01; 9-19, 3-11 in 2001-02; 12-17, 5-9 in 2002-03; and finally 13-15, 7-7 last season).

Jenkins, who has led the Hornets to the Big Sky Tournament each of the last two years, has a 47-87 record during his tenure as head coach. In 2003-04, he led the Hornets to numerous Div. I program records including most wins (13), most conference wins (seven), highest finish in the Big Sky Conference (tied for second), best winning percentage (.481), most home victories (10), most conference wins at home (five) and the most bench points in a game (71 at No. Arizona).

The 37-year old coach came to Sacramento State prior to the 1999-2000 season and served as the team’s top assistant coach that year. Jenkins previously had worked two seasons as an assistant at Eastern Washington (1997-99). Prior to working at EWU, he spent four seasons at Diablo Valley College, where he was an assistant coach (1993-95) and associate head coach (1995-97).

A native of Los Angeles, Jenkins was an all-conference point guard at L.A. City College as a freshman before playing his sophomore season at Southwestern Oregon CC. He then transferred to Regis University in Denver, Colo., where he played his final two seasons. While with the Rangers, he was twice named all-conference.

Currently in his seventh season at Idaho State, head coach Doug Oliver has compiled a 75-116 record during his stay with the Bengals. The third-longest tenured coach in Idaho State men''s basketball history, Oliver has led the Bengals to the Big Sky Tournament semifinals each of the last two seasons. Prior to his arrival, Oliver was an assistant at Stanford (1986-98), Utah (1985-86) and Boise State (1976-80). In his 17 years as an assistant coach, the teams he helped coach combined for a 299-203 record, including seven NCAA Tournament appearances.

A Look at the Hornets'' Last Game

Weber State''s Coric Riggs stole the ball from Sacramento State''s Jason Harris with 2.5 seconds to play and raced three quarters of the court to score as time expired, giving the Wildcats a 57-55 victory over the Hornets Thursday evening at the Dee Events Center.

Riggs’ shot sparked controversy as Sacramento State vehemently protested that the shot came after the buzzer had sounded. Referees Sam Gibson, Chris Rastatter and Gregg Morstein ran off the floor at the conclusion of the game as the Hornets argued the call.

A basket by Sacramento State''s Alex Bausley put the Hornets up 55-53 with 32 seconds to play. After a timeout by Weber State, the Hornets’ DaShawn Freeman fouled Brett Cox, who went to the free-throw line and drained both foul shots. Sacramento State then took possession of the ball with 14 seconds left before Harris turned the ball over on a behind-the-back dribble with 2.5 seconds to play.

No team led by more than five points during a game which featured nine lead changes. Sacramento State, which shot 42.6 percent (20-47) from the floor, had three players score in double figures comprised of Harris (11 points), Bausley (11 points) and Freeman (10 points, seven rebounds and six assists). The Hornets took their first lead of the second half at one point (42-41) after Freeman knocked down a pair of free throws with 8:38 left on the clock.

No team led by more than three points during the final 6:47 of the contest as Weber State finished the game shooting 45.0 percent (18-40) from the floor and outrebounded the Hornets, 31-27. The Wildcats were led by Lance Allred''s 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Riggs added 17 points.

A Look at the Hornets

Harris Leading The Charge

Not only has junior swingman Jason Harris made a case for Big Sky Newcomer of the Year honors, the first-year player from Chaffey Junior College is now making a statement as one of the league''s top players. Harris, who is third in the league in scoring (17.4 ppg) and second in scoring against Big Sky competition (20.7 ppg), ranks among conference leaders (all games) in scoring, rebounding, steals, assists, blocked shots, offensive rebounds, free throws and free throws attempted. That includes second in offensive rebounds (2.45 per game) and free throws attempted per game (7.8), third in steals (2.1 spg) and tied for 10th in rebounding (4.8 rpg).

He has scored at least nine points in all but one game this season and has posted double-figure points in each of his last 11 games. In addition, he has scored at least 21 points in five of the last seven games.

The Henderson, Texas, native has led or shared the team lead in scoring 16 times and already has eight games with at least 20 points.

With just six more free-throw attempts, Harris will have 178 this year, which would break Joseth Dawson''s Sacramento State Div. I (1991-pres.) record of 177 free-throw attempts (set last season). Harris attempted a Div. I record 19 free-throw attempts last Saturday against Portland State and is on pace to finish with 203, a mark that is two attempts shy of the school single-season record of 205 (set in 1965-66 by Lynn Livie). He is also on pace to convert 144 free throws, which would rank as the top Div. I single-season mark and place him third in school history.

On his current pace, Harris, who missed the William Jessup game with the flu, would also finish the regular season ranked among the top four players in Sacramento State Div. I history in points (452, 2nd) and steals (53, T-4th). His average of 17.4 points per game would rank just below Charlo Davis'' Div. I season record of 18.0 ppg (set in 1991-92). Harris is also averaging a team-high 33.6 minutes per game.

Pugh Named to ESPN''s Slam Dunk Contest

On Friday, it was announced that senior Jameel Pugh will represent Sacramento State in ESPN’s 17th-Annual College Slam Dunk and Three-Point Championship.

The competition will take place on Thursday, March 31, in St. Louis at a site to be determined. It will be televised that night from 9-11 p.m. EST on ESPN, and will air several additional times throughout the weekend. The event will consist of the top eight dunkers from around the nation as Pugh was the first contestant to be invited. The competition, which leads into the Final Four weekend, will also feature the top eight men’s and women’s three-point shooters.

Pugh, who is the first Sacramento State player to participate in the annual competition, is currently averaging 13.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. The 6-5, 225-pound child development major has established himself as one of the nation’s top dunkers during both his high school and college playing days.

The Sacramento, Calif., native was named the World’s Best Dunker in 2000 by Slam Magazine. He was also named the 33rd-best dunker of all time by the same publication. Prior to transferring to Sacramento State in 2002-03, Pugh played two seasons at UMass where he won both Midnight Madness slam dunk competitions.

Prior to scoring just four points at Weber State on Thursday, Pugh, who earned his first-ever Big Sky Conference Player of the Week award on Jan. 31, had recorded one of the more impressive four-game stretches in recent memory.

Over the four-game stretch (Jan. 25-Feb. 5), Pugh averaged 25.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 50.8 percent (33-65) from the field and 51.1 percent (23-45) from beyond the three-point line.

He averaged 5.8 three-pointers per game during the stretch after converting just 12 three-pointers during his first 15 games of the season. In fact, he had at least four three-pointers in all four games, and his eight three-pointers against William Jessup tied a school record.

Also in the William Jessup game, Pugh scored a Sacramento State Div. I (1991-pres.) single-game record 40 points to go along with a career-high four steals. He went 15-of-22 from the field and 8-of-13 from beyond the three-point arc. He also set Sacramento State Div. I records for field goals made. His 40 points were the third most in school history and the most by any member of the Big Sky this year.

Against Portland State, he tallied 19 points, seven rebounds and two steals. He had 24 points and a season-high tying nine rebounds against Eastern Washington, and 20 points, four rebounds and two steals vs. Northern Arizona.

Pugh had his streak of eight-consecutive games in double figures come to an end at Weber State, but still ranks sixth in the Big Sky in scoring (13.3 ppg) and scoring against conference competition (14.8 ppg).

Through his first 11 games of the season, Pugh was shooting a woeful 29.1 percent (37-127) from the field while averaging 9.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game. However, Pugh has dramatically improved those numbers over his last nine games. During that span, the Sacramento native is averaging 18.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 45.8 percent (55-120) from the field and 43.8 percent (28-64) from beyond the three-point line.

Pugh''s season thus far is very similar to last year in which he averaged 11.8 points and 1.8 steals on 51.0 percent shooting over his final 12 contests. During his first 16 games of the 2003-04 season, he averaged 7.4 points and 0.8 steals on 37.7 percent shooting.

Home Sweet Home

As bad as the Hornets have been on the road this year (0-12), the team has more than held up its end of the bargain at home. Sacramento State is 8-3 at home this year, and just had its seven-game home winning streak snapped last Saturday in the loss to Portland State. The Hornets had also won a program-record eight-straight Big Sky home games dating back to last season prior to Saturday''s loss.

Below is a breakdown of the Hornets'' home-road disparity, including the team averaging 74.3 points per at home compared to just 59.3 on the road.

M.V.-Free

Along with Jason Harris, junior point guard DaShawn Freeman has been one of the most valuable players on Sacramento State''s roster this year. Freeman, who has played the last two months of the season with a hamstring injury, is averaging 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game over his last four contests. That includes a performance against Northern Arizona on Jan. 29 where the Oakland, Calif., native tallied a career-high 27 points to go along with five rebounds and seven assists.

Although Freeman has not played more than 30 minutes in a game since suffering the injury on Jan. 6 at Portland State, the third-year player still ranks among the top six Big Sky leaders in three different categories. Those include first in steals (and 15th in the nation with 2.70 spg), fourth in assists (4.35 apg) and sixth in free-throw percentage (.778).

Freeman has scored in double figures five times in his last six games after accomplishing the feat six times during his first 17 games of the season.

Playing the best basketball of his Sacramento State career, the 5-11, 170-pound point guard is averaging career highs in points (9.2 ppg), rebounds (3.4 rpg), assists (4.4 apg), steals (2.7 spg), three-pointers (20), free throws (70) and free throws attempted (90).

In addition, he is shooting 44.4 percent (8-18) from the three-point line over his last seven games after shooting just 30.0 percent (12-40) in his first 16 games.

Earlier this year, Freeman became the Sacramento State Div. I (1991-pres.) career leader in both assists (294) and steals (181). He currently has 62 steals this year and is on pace to finish the regular season with a career-high 73.

In Sacramento State program history, Freeman now ranks second in steals and fourth in assists. The program record for steals is 210, set by Pat Wallace (1989-93).

Freeman is not the only player that thrives under head coach Jerome Jenkins’ defensive intensity. As a team, the Hornets have led the Big Sky in steals each of the last four years, and easily lead the conference with 9.74 per game this year. A total of three Hornets currently rank among the top 10 Big Sky leaders in steals, including Freeman, Jason Harris (third with 2.05 per game) and Jameel Pugh (10th with 1.25).

A Changed Man

One season removed from a year in which he averaged just 2.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game, sophomore forward Alex Bausley has grown leaps and bounds this season. The Los Angeles native is now averaging 10.3 points (third on the Hornets) to go along with a team-leading 5.1 rebounds per game.

Bausley had double-doubles (points and rebounds) against both Idaho State (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Weber State (11 points, 11 rebounds), and has a team-high three double-doubles this season. The 6-6, 235-pound second-year player is now eighth in the Big Sky in rebounding.

Bausley, who dropped 35 pounds from his playing weight of 270 last season, has scored in double figures 13 times this season (including six of the last nine games) and has led the team in scoring seven times. The sophomore paces the team with 40 three-pointers and is averaging 1.74 made per game (ninth in the Big Sky).

Hornet Notables

Jameel Pugh is shooting 43.8 percent from the field at home this season compared to just 27.7 percent on the road.

A Look at The Last Meeting

Alex Bausley scored a team-high 18 points – including the Hornets’ first eight points of the game – to go along with a career-high tying 10 rebounds as Sacramento State defeated Idaho State, 61-59, on Jan. 13, 2005, at the Hornets Nest.

Joining Bausley in double figures for the Hornets were senior Jameel Pugh (16) and junior Jason Harris (13). Aaron Perry led all players with a career-high 14 rebounds (including eight on the offensive glass). Six of Pugh’s 16 points came via highlight-reel dunks, including two alley-oops. For Bausley, the double-double was the second of his career and second this season. Harris went 7-of-13 from the free-throw line, including 3-of-4 during the final 25 seconds of the game.

Sacramento State dominated in the rebounding department as the Hornets held a 47-29 advantage, including 20 offensive rebounds. Idaho State got a game-high 22 points from Jeff Garner (16 in the second half), but that was not enough as the Bengals shot just 33.3 percent (16-48) from the field and 65.7 percent (23-35) from the line.

The Hornets opened the game on fire, racing out to a 15-2 lead (14:45). The Hornets held a double-digit lead for a good portion of the first half until a 5-0 run by Idaho State to close the half erased what was a 30-20 Sacramento State lead.

Both teams exchanged baskets during the first five minutes of the second half until Idaho State went on a 12-4 run over a six-minute span to take its largest lead of the night (two points) at 45-43 with 9:39 remaining. Neither team would lead by anything more than five points the rest of the way.

Both teams exchanged baskets until the Hornets eventually scored back-back buckets (lay-up from Bausley and two free throws from Pugh) to take a 55-50 lead with 1:21 left. Idaho State closed to within three points on a jumper from Nate Rede, but Pugh quickly responded with a 20-footer (0:59). Idaho State closed to within three points on two more occasions during the final minute, but Sacramento State was able to knock down its free throws to put the Bengals away.

A Look at The Bengals

• Since losing its first five games of the conference season, Idaho State has won three of the last five Big Sky games to get back in the race. The Bengals have won three-straight Big Sky home games, including a 72-69 victory over first-place Portland State on Jan. 22.

• Despite being a freshman, guard Logan Kinghorn ranks third on the team in scoring (10.2 ppg) and is shooting 48.0 percent from the field. Including a 34-point performance at Montana on Feb. 5, Kinghorn has scored in double figures in five of his last eight games.

Who’s Up Next

• Sacramento State wraps up its home portion of the regular season with games next week against Montana (Feb. 17) and Montana State (Feb. 19). Earlier this season, Montana defeated the Hornets, 84-72, in Missoula after closing the contest on a 7-0 run over the last 1:52, and 18-7 over the final 5:05 of the contest. Sacramento State beat the Grizzlies at home, 76-67, last year.