With the victory, Sacramento State, which had three players score in double figures, picked up a game on Montana (12-12, 6-5) and now sit just a half game behind the third-place Grizzlies. The Hornets remain all alone in fourth place in the conference standings, a half game ahead of fifth-place Weber State (6-7) with two games remaining on the regular-season schedule. With the logjam that is the Big Sky standings, the Hornets could still finish anywhere between second and seventh place in the conference standings by the end of the season. One more win by the Hornets would clinch a spot in the Big Sky Tournament for the third-straight season as the top six squads in the eight-team league advance to the conference tournament.

Montana lost the game despite a shooting a season-high 59.3 percent (32-54) from the floor and outrebounding Sacramento State, 37-31. The Grizzlies, however, were forced into 23 turnovers as Sacramento State had a season-high tying 17 steals. The Hornets shot 42.0 percent (29-69) from the field and 90.0 percent from the free-throw line (18-20) while overcoming a halftime deficit (44-42) for just the second time this season.

Besides Freeman, the Hornets, who have won seven of their last 11 games, also received double-figure efforts from senior Jameel Pugh (25 points, seven rebounds and two steals) and sophomore Alex Bausley (11 points, seven rebounds and three steals). Freeman (4-4) and junior Jason Harris (4-4) combined to go 8-of-8 from the free-throw line during the final 27 seconds of the contest to help seal the victory.

Montana led for all but 2:55 of the first half as the Grizzlies knocked down their first seven shots of the game. After Montana took its largest lead of the game at 11 points (37-26) with 6:47 remaining in the first half, the Hornets closed on a 16-7 run to trail by two points (44-42) at the break. The Grizzlies’ Kamarr Davis scored 15 of his game-high 26 points in the first half as the senior finished the game 9-of-13 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the free-throw line to go along with six rebounds.

The Grizzlies pushed their lead to five points (49-44) with 17:35 remaining in the second half, but Sacramento State responded with a 7-1 run (capped by Harris’ only field goal of the night) to take its first lead of the second half at 51-50 with 13:57 left in the contest. Sacramento State never trailed again the rest of the game as Montana tied on three occasions (including 75-75 with 49 seconds remaining), but could not get over the hump.

After Montana tied the game at 75-75, Harris grabbed an offensive rebound with 27 seconds to play before being fouled and converting both free throws. Matt Dlouhy had a chance to give Montana the lead, but his three-pointer fell off the mark (0:19) and Freeman grabbed the rebound before being fouled. Freeman, who finished the game 9-of-9 from the free-throw line, then sunk both free throws to put the Hornets up four points (79-75).

The Grizzlies responded with a lay-up from Matt Martin (0:09) before Harris was fouled on the inbound and again buried both free throws. A desperation 30-footer by Martin fell in to draw the Grizzlies back within one point (81-80) with four seconds to play. Freeman was fouled on the inbound and sunk two more free throws with two seconds left. Bausley then stole Lamarr Farr’s inbound pass as the clock expired.

Pugh knocked down four more three-pointers as the swingman is now averaging 4.7 three-pointers per game over his last seven contests. Harris, who entered the game averaging a team-high 17.6 points per contest, scored just eight points as the junior played only 16 minutes because of constant foul trouble.

Joining Davis in double figures for Montana were Andrew Straight (12 points, six rebounds), Farr (12 points, four rebounds) and Dlouhy (11 points and a team-high seven rebounds). Martin had a team-best nine assists.

Sacramento State closes out the home portion of its regular-season schedule on Saturday, Feb. 19, against second-place Montana State before closing on the road at Northern Arizona on Saturday, Feb. 26. The Big Sky Tournament begins on Saturday, March 5, with two quarterfinal games. Sacramento State seniors E.J. Harris and Pugh will be honored prior to the Montana State game for their contributions to the program.