Coming off an 83-80 victory over Montana in which the team went 14-of-14 from the free-throw line in the second half, the Sacramento State men''s basketball squad plays its final home game of the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 19, against Montana State. Tipoff against the Bobcats is at 7:05 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on KTKZ 1380 AM and www.hornetsports.com with Steve McElroy handling the play-by-play.

The Hornets (10-15, 6-6) have won eight of their last nine games at home, and are now 9-3 in the friendly confines of the Hornets Nest. Sacramento State is 5-1 at home against conference competition and has won nine of its last 10 regular-season home games against Big Sky teams. The Hornets have had success against Montana State over the years, defeating the Bobcats at home five-consecutive times with each of those victories coming by at least six points. In addition, Sacramento State has knocked Montana State out of Big Sky Tournament contention on the final day of the regular season each of the last two years (88-75 home win in 2002-03; 80-74 road victory in 2003-04).

At 6-6, Sacramento State is currently alone in fourth place in the conference standings with just two games left on the schedule (Feb. 26 at Northern Arizona). With the win over Montana, the Hornets are now just a half game behind the third-place Grizzlies (6-5). The top six squads in the eight-team league advance to the Big Sky Tournament, with the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds hosting a quarterfinal game. The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds receive a first-round bye. If the season ended today, Sacramento State would host Weber State (6-7) in the first round.

With the current logjam that is the Big Sky standings, Sacramento State could finish anywhere between second and seventh place. With one more win, the Hornets would clinch a spot in the Big Sky Tournament for the third-consecutive season (after missing the tournament each of the team''s first six years in the league). With wins in its last two games, Sacramento State would also clinch at least a home game in the first-round of the Big Sky Tournament.

Although the home floor has been kind to the Hornets, it has not come easy. Six of Sacramento State''s nine home wins have come by seven points or less.

Since beginning the season 1-6, Montana State (13-11, 8-3) has reeled off victories in 12 of its last 17 games. The Bobcats had a three-game winning streak snapped on Thursday with an 84-61 loss at Northern Arizona. The Bobcats began the conference season with three-straight road wins, but are still just 3-8 on the road this season with losses in each of their last three conference games away from home. Montana State leads the all-time series over Sacramento State, 10-7, including a 67-64 win in Bozeman over the Hornets earlier this season. However, Sacramento State has still won six of the last eight meetings between the two teams.

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 48-87 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.

For more than a quarter century, head coach Mick Durham has been a part of Montana State basketball. In his 15th season and the second-longest tenured coach in school history, Durham has a career record of 230-195. His 230 victories are the most ever by a Big Sky coach. A longtime assistant at Montana State before being named head coach in 1990, Durham also played four years for the Bobcats (1975-80).

A Look at the Hornets'' Last Game

DaShawn Freeman was one assist shy of a triple-double (25 points, nine assists and a career-high 10 steals) and the Hornets went a perfect 14-of-14 from the free-throw line in the second half as Sacramento State defeated Montana, 83-80, on Thursday at the Hornets Nest.

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 also received double-digit 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 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 never led.

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) and ice the game.

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 (17.2 ppg) and second in scoring against Big Sky competition (19.7 ppg), ranks among conference leaders (all games) in scoring, rebounding, steals, offensive rebounds, free throws, free throws attempted and free-throw percentage. That includes third in offensive rebounds (2.38 per game), free throws attempted per game (7.83) and steals (2.04 spg).

Harris had his streak of 12-consecutive games with double-figure points come to a close against Montana when he scored just eight points because of constant foul trouble. The Henderson, Texas, native has still led or shared the team lead in scoring 16 times and already has nine games with at least 20 points. His nine 20-point efforts ties him for the second most in Sacramento State Div. I history (Rickie Glenn in 2000-01) and is just one game shy of the school record of 10, set by Charlo Davis in 1991-92.

Harris has 188 free-throw attempts this season, breaking the Sacramento State Div. I record of 177, set last year by Joseth Dawson. Harris attempted a Div. I (1991-pres.) record 19 free-throw attempts on Feb. 5 against Portland State and is on pace to finish with 204, one shy of the program single-season record of 205 (set in 1965-66 by Lynn Livie). He is also on pace to convert 148 free throws, which would rank as the top Div. I single-season mark and place him second in program 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 six players in Sacramento State Div. I history in points (447, 2nd), steals (53, T-4th) and field goals (135, 6th). His average of 17.2 points per game would rank just below Charlo Davis'' Div. I season record of 18.0 ppg (set in 1991-92).

High-Flying Pugh

Last 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.

Pugh, who is the first Sacramento State player to participate in the annual competition, is currently averaging 14.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. The 6-5, 225-pound child development major 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.

Pugh, who earned his first-ever Big Sky Conference Player of the Week award on Jan. 31, has put together one of the more impressive seven-game stretches in recent memory. Over his last seven contests, Pugh is averaging 22.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.7 three-pointers and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 47.2 percent (51-108) from the field and 46.5 percent (33-71) from beyond the three-point line. He has five 20-point games during that stretch after tallying just one 20-point game over his first 15 games of the season.

Pugh''s 33 three-pointers over the seven-game stretch comes after converting just 12 three-pointers during his first 15 games of the season.

In the Hornets'' win over William Jessup, 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.

Pugh has scored in double figures in 12 of his last 14 games, and ranks fifth in the Big Sky in scoring and fourth in scoring against conference competition (16.4 ppg).

Through his first 15 games of the season, Pugh was shooting just 32.8 percent (58-177) from the field while averaging 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. Pugh, who missed games against Fresno State, Saint Mary''s and UC Riverside with a stress fracture in his foot, has dramatically improved those numbers during the seven-game stretch.

Home Sweet Home

As much as the Hornets have struggled on the road this year (1-12), the team has more than held up its end of the bargain at home. Sacramento State is 9-3 at home this year, including victories in eight of its last nine games on the home floor. The Hornets had won a program-record eight-straight Big Sky home games dating back to last season prior to losing to Portland State, 71-66, on Feb. 5.

Below is a breakdown of Sacramento State''s home-road disparity, including the team averaging 13 more points at the Hornets Nest compared to the road (75.0-62.0).

Home Away

Points Per Game 75.0 62.0

Points Allowed Per Game 69.4 75.3

Field-Goal Percentage .418 .356

Three-Point Percentage .356 .285

Free Throw Attempts 26.3 19.8

Rebounds Per Game 36.9 33.8

Turnovers 14.3 16.4

Forced Turnovers 19.5 17.8

Assists Per Game 14.4 9.1

Steals Per Game 11.5 8.7

Blocked Shots Per Game 3.9 2.5

Fouls Per Game 20.2 25.4

Good Bye Shooting Slumps

Through the first 15 games of the season, it appeared Sacramento State would never find its shooting touch. In fact, the Hornets were shooting just 35.7 percent from the field, 28.8 percent from behind the three-point line and 63.4 percent from the free-throw line during that 15-game stretch which saw the team go 4-11.

However, the Hornets have been a much different squad over the last 10 games, shooting at least 40.0 percent from the field eight times after doing so just four times through the first 15 games. During the last 10 games, the team is shooting 42.9 percent (258-602) from the floor, 36.2 percent (84-232) from the three-point line and 72.3 percent (180-249) from the charity stripe. Not coincidentally, the team is 6-4 over the 10-game stretch, a marked improvement over the team''s 4-11 record through the first 15 contests.

Nail Biter Frenzy

This season, Sacramento State has continually shown a knack for playing in close contests. In fact, 10 of the Hornets'' games this year have been decided by five points or less. The Hornets are 5-5 in such situations, with four of the victories (4-1) coming at home.

Of Sacramento State''s 12 Big Sky games this year, nine have been decided by six points or less with the Hornets winning five of those games. Each of the team''s last three games have been decided by three points or less, including games being decided at the buzzer at Weber State (57-55 loss) and Idaho State (99-97 overtime win).

Beekman Coming On Strong

Through his first 12 games of the season, junior center Zane Beekman had only two blocks and was averaging just 8.2 minutes per game. However, Beekman has become a defensive force over his last 12 games, averaging 1.5 blocked shots while playing 12.2 minutes per game during that span. That includes performances at Eastern Washington and home against Portland State where he had four blocked shots.

Beekman, who transferred to Sacramento State from Illinois Central College prior to the season, has also scored at least six points in three of his last four games after accomplishing the feat just once over his first 20 games. He has at least two blocked shots in four of his last five games and has changed opponents'' shots on numerous occasions where he did not get charged with a block.

Including a season-high 19 minutes on Thursday against Montana, Beekman has played at least 15 minutes in five of the last six games.

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 is nearly healed from a two-month bout with a hamstring injury, is averaging 15.3 points, 5.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game over his last six contests. That includes a career-high 27-point night against Northern Arizona and Thursday''s performance in which he missed a triple-double by one assist (25 points, nine assists and a career-high 10 steals). His 10 steals were the most in single-game program history and tied for the second-best mark in Big Sky history.

Playing the best basketball of his Hornet career, the 5-11, 170-pound point guard is averaging career highs in points (9.7 per game), rebounds (3.3), assists (4.8), steals (2.9), three-pointers (22), free throws (80) and free throws attempted (100).

He currently ranks among the top six Big Sky leaders in four different categories (all games). That includes first in steals (and ninth in the nation), third in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.49), and fourth in free-throw percentage (.800).

Earlier this year, Freeman became the Sacramento State Div. I (1991-pres.) career leader in assists (313) and steals (192). 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 10.04 per game this year. A total of three Hornets currently rank among the top nine Big Sky leaders in steals, including Freeman, Jason Harris (third with 2.04 per game) and Jameel Pugh (ninth with 1.32).

Hornet Notables

The Hornets are now 5-0 when scoring at least 80 points...sophomore Alex Bausley leads the team with four double-doubles, and ranks 18th in the league in scoring (10.5 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (5.4 rpg)...Sacramento State has won five of its last seven games and seven of its last 11...the Hornets have never clinched a Big Sky Tournament berth earlier than the team''s final game of the regular season.

A Look at The Last Meeting

Montana State’s Branden Miller hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with 3.7 seconds left to give the Bobcats a 67-64 victory over Sacramento State on Jan. 20 in Bozeman, Mont.

The Hornets, who had an eight-point lead (54-46) with 9:42 remaining in the game, had a chance to tie, but Alex Bausley’s desperation three-pointer fell off the mark as time expired.

In his first game of the season, Sacramento State junior Chris Lange had a team-high tying 13 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals. Lange’s third three-pointer of the game gave the Hornets their largest lead of the night at eight points (54-46). However, Montana State quickly responded with a 6-0 run to cut the lead to two points with 7:28 left. No team led by more than four points the rest of the way.

Ja’Ron Jefferson, who had a game-high 17 points, eventually hit two free throws at the 3:42 mark and another with 3:07 remaining to give the Bobcats a 62-60 lead. A put-back by Lange tied the score at 62-62 with 1:56 to play. On Montana State’s next possession, Nick Dissly slammed home Jefferson''s errant runner in the lane to put MSU back on top, 64-62, with 1:46 left.

The Hornets’ DaShawn Freeman responded with two free throws to tie the score with 1:15 remaining. Sacramento State had a chance to take the lead, but Lange''s 3-point attempt fell short with 39 seconds remaining. MSU called a timeout with 11.6 seconds remaining to set up Miller''s game-winning shot.

Joining Lange in double figures for the Hornets were junior Jason Harris (13 points and six rebounds), senior Jameel Pugh (11 points and a game-high tying nine rebounds) and Bausley (10 points, including a pair of three-pointers). Sacramento State, which entered halftime with a 39-34 lead, shot 38.6 percent (22-57) from the field and 40.0 percent (8-20) from the three-point line. The statistics for both teams were fairly even across the board, except Montana State converted two more field goals than the Hornets (24-of-54) and shot 44.4 percent for the game.

Miller finished with 13 points for Montana State, including three three-pointers. Marvin Moss and Al Beye each finished with nine rebounds.

A Look at the Bobcats

Montana State is allowing just 66.3 points per game, the top mark in the Big Sky. In addition, the Bobcats'' defense has limited the opposition to a .417 field-goal percentage as only seven teams have eclipsed the 70-point plateau against Montana State this year.

Montana State is averaging a Big Sky-best 7.8 three-pointers per game and has attempted 561 treys, also the most in the conference. That includes a school-record tying 14 three-pointers and 35 attempts against Wyoming.

Who’s Up Next

Sacramento State concludes the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Northern Arizona. The Hornets have enjoyed recent success in Flagstaff, Ariz., with victories each of the last two years on NAU''s home floor. That includes last year''s 110-97 win in Flagstaff, tying for the 13th-most points in program history.