Winners of three straight and eight of its last 12 games, the Sacramento State men''s basketball squad (11-15, 7-6 Big Sky) enters its final game of the regular season this Saturday, Feb. 26, at Northern Arizona. Tipoff at the Walkup Skydome is 6:05 p.m. PST, 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 have won each of their last three games by three points or less, including their first road victory of the season on Feb. 12 (99-97 overtime win at Idaho State). Sacramento State is peeking at the right time of the season as the team is 10-7 in its last 17 games after beginning the year 1-8.

Sacramento State will bring a 1-12 road record into Saturday''s game, but the Hornets have enjoyed recent success in Flagstaff, Ariz., with victories each of the last two season on NAU''s home floor. That includes last year''s 110-97 win, tying for the 13th-most points (110) in Sacramento State program history.

With a 7-6 record, Sacramento State is currently in a virtual tie for third place in the conference standings with Montana (6-5). With a win over Northern Arizona, the Hornets would clinch a Big Sky Tournament quarterfinal home game for the second-consecutive season as the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds in the conference receive a first-round home game. Sacramento State has already clinched a spot in the Big Sky Tournament for the third-consecutive season, and can finish now lower than fifth place in the conference standings.

This year marks the earliest the team has ever clinched a spot in the Big Sky Tournament as the Hornets clinched on the last day of the regular season each of the last two years. Should Sacramento State win on Saturday, the Hornets would finish the conference season with a 8-6 record, marking the fifth-consecutive season (all under head coach Jerome Jenkins) in which the team has improved its Big Sky record (2-14 in 2000-01; 3-11 in 2001-02; 5-9 in 2002-03; and finally 7-7 last season). The Hornets'' 6-1 home record against Big Sky competition this year was the team''s best mark since joining the league in 1996.

Sacramento State could still finish anywhere between third and fifth in the conference standings depending upon Saturday''s outcome and how the rest of the games in the Big Sky shake out. A total of 128 difference scenarios remain for Big Sky Tournament seedings as the final seven games of the conference season will be played this week. Only one thing is certain in the wacky world of the Big Sky, and that is Idaho State (3-10) has been eliminated from tournament contention. Portland State (10-2) would clinch the regular-season title and the right to host the Big Sky Tournament semifinals and championship game with one victory this week.

Northern Arizona (11-15, 4-8) is battling for a Big Sky Tournament berth as the team is currently in seventh place, just one game behind sixth-place Eastern Washington (5-7). The top six squads in the eight-team league advance to the Big Sky Tournament. The Lumberjacks have been very good at home this season (8-2), including an 84-61 thrashing of Montana State last Thursday. After beginning the season with a 7-6 record, the Lumberjacks are 4-9 over their last 13 games. NAU is in danger of finishing with its first sub-.500 overall record since Mike Adras took over the head coaching duties in 1999-00.

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), and have a chance to improve upon last year''s marks.

Jenkins, who has led the Hornets to the Big Sky Tournament for three-consecutive seasons, has a 49-87 record during his tenure as head coach. This year, the Hornets have set the Div. I program record (1991-pres.) for most home conference wins (six), and tied the Div. I mark for most conference wins (seven) and most home victories (10).

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 was a two-time all-conference selection.

Mike Adras is currently in his sixth season as head coach at Northern Arizona. During his tenure, the Lumberjacks have earned an NCAA Tournament berth and played in two Big Sky Tournament championships games. Prior to becoming head coach, Adras was an assistant at NAU (1992-99) and Drake (1991-92).

A Look at the Hornets'' Last Game

Sacramento State''s DaShawn Freeman stole the ball from Montana State’s Nick Dissly with four seconds remaining in the game to preserve a 70-68 victory over the Bobcats last Saturday.

The Hornets held a one-point lead (69-68) when Dissly grabbed a rebound off Alex Bausley’s missed three-pointer (0:13) and dribbled up the floor. With four seconds left and Dissly dribbling toward the rim, Freeman stepped in front and stole the ball while narrowly staying inbounds. Freeman then passed to Jameel Pugh, who was fouled with two seconds left. After making the first free throw, Pugh missed the second before Dissly grabbed the rebound and threw up a full-court shot that drew backboard as the buzzer sounded.

Freeman, who is first in the conference in steals and ninth in the nation, finished with seven points and two steals in 19 minutes. In their final regular-season home games in a Sacramento State uniform, seniors Pugh (game-high 26 points, six rebounds and one steal) and E.J. Harris (five points and a career-high tying nine assists) both played big. Pugh went 7-of-12 from the three-point line and is now averaging 5.0 three-pointers per game over his eight contests. Junior Jason Harris joined Pugh in double figures with 13 points, four rebounds and three steals while Bausley chipped in eight points, four rebounds and three steals. Freshman Randy Adams tied Pugh for the team lead in rebounds with six despite playing just 11 minutes.

The Hornets led for the final 17:15 of the second half, including a game-high 12-point lead (57-45) with 11:51 remaining in the contest. Montana State immediately responded with a 13-5 run to draw back within four points (62-58) with 7:46 left. The Hornets never led by anything more than six points the rest of the way as a three-point play by MSU’s Marvin Moss cut the Hornet lead to one point (69-68) with 1:27 to play. MSU had a chance to take the lead with 45 seconds remaining, but Ryan Holmes’ three-point attempt fell off the mark.

A Look at the Hornets

Harris Leading The Charge

Junior swingman Jason Harris has made a serious case for Big Sky Newcomer of the Year honors as the first-year player from Chaffey Junior College is third in the league in scoring (17.0 ppg). In addition, he is second in scoring against Big Sky competition (19.2 ppg), and ranks among conference leaders (all games) in scoring, rebounding, steals, offensive rebounds, free throws, free throws attempted and free-throw percentage. That includes second in offensive rebounds (2.40 per game), free throws made (5.6) and free throws attempted (7.72), and third in steals (2.08).

Harris has scored in double figures in 20 of his last 23 games, including a season-high 31 points against Weber State on Jan. 15. The Henderson, Texas, native has 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 he is just one game shy of the school record of 10, set by Charlo Davis in 1991-92.

Harris has 193 free-throw attempts this season, shattering the Sacramento State Div. I record of 177, set last year by Joseth Dawson. In addition, he has tied the Div. I record for most free throws made (140), also set last year by Dawson. Harris attempted a Div. I (1991-pres.) record 19 free-throws on Feb. 5 against Portland State and is on pace to finish the regular season with 201, four shy of the program single-season record of 205 (set in 1965-66 by Lynn Livie).

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 (442, 2nd), steals (54, 4th) and field goals (135, 6th). His average of 17.0 points per game would rank only below Charlo Davis'' Div. I season record of 18.0 ppg (set in 1991-92).

High-Flying Pugh

On Feb. 11, 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 and was just named Big Sky Player of the Week for the second time this year, is currently averaging 14.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 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 eight-game stretches in recent memory. Over his last eight contests, Pugh is averaging 22.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 three-pointers and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 46.8 percent (59-126) from the field and 48.2 percent (40-83) from beyond the three-point line. He has six 20-point games during that stretch after tallying just one 20-point game over his first 15 games of the season.

Pugh''s 40 three-pointers over the eight-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 record 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. He finished with seven three-pointers on Saturday against Montana State.

Pugh has scored in double figures in 13 of his last 15 games, and ranks fifth in the Big Sky in scoring and fourth in scoring against conference competition (17.2 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 three games with a stress fracture in his foot, has dramatically improved those numbers during the eight-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 finished the regular season with a 10-3 record at home, including victories in nine of its last 10 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.

Dating back to last season, the Hornets are 20-7 at home compared to 4-23 on the road.

Below is a breakdown of Sacramento State''s home-road disparity, including the team averaging 12.6 more points at the Hornets Nest compared to the road (74.6-62.0).

Home Away

Points Per Game 74.6 62.0

Points Allowed Per Game 69.3 75.3

Field-Goal Percentage .413 .356

Three-Point Percentage .364 .285

Free Throw Attempts 25.2 19.8

Rebounds Per Game 37.4 33.8

Turnovers 14.4 16.4

Forced Turnovers 19.2 17.8

Assists Per Game 14.5 9.1

Steals Per Game 11.3 8.7

Blocked Shots Per Game 3.7 2.5

Fouls Per Game 19.9 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 11 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 11 games, the team is shooting 42.1 percent (94-254) from the floor, 37.0 percent (94-254) from the three-point line and 72.4 percent (194-268) from the charity stripe. Not coincidentally, the team is 7-4 over the 11-game stretch, a marked improvement over the team''s 4-11 record through the first 15 contests.

Nail Biter Frenzy

Sacramento State has continually shown a knack for playing in close contests. In fact, 11 of the Hornets'' games this year have been decided by five points or less. The Hornets are 6-5 in those situations, with four of the victories (5-1) coming at home.

Of Sacramento State''s 13 Big Sky games this year, 10 have been decided by six points or less with the Hornets winning six of those games. Each of the team''s last four games have been decided by three points or less, including victories against Idaho State (99-97 in overtime), Montana (83-80) and Montana State (70-68).

Beekman Coming On Strong

Through his first 12 games of the season, junior center Zane Beekman had only two blocked shots and was averaging just 8.2 minutes per game. However, Beekman has become a defensive force over his last 13 games, averaging 1.46 blocked shots while playing 12.4 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 five games after accomplishing the feat just once over his first 20 games. He has at least two blocked shots in four of his last six games and has changed opponents'' shots on numerous occasions where he did not get credited with a block.

Including a season-high 19 minutes last Thursday against Montana, Beekman has played at least 15 minutes in six of the last seven 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 14.1 points, 5.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game over his last seven contests. That includes a career-high 27-point night against Northern Arizona and last 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. In the Hornets'' win over Montana State on Saturday, Freeman stole the ball from Nick Dissly with four seconds remaining to preserve the Hornets'' victory.

Playing the best basketball of his Hornet career, the 5-11, 170-pound point guard is averaging career highs in points (9.6 per game), rebounds (3.2), assists (4.7), steals (2.9), three-pointers (23), free throws (80) and free throws attempted (100).

He currently ranks among the top four 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 (1.55), and fourth in free-throw percentage (.800).

Earlier this year, Freeman became the Sacramento State Div. I (1991-pres.) career leader in assists (315) and steals (194). 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 2.08 per game) and Jameel Pugh (ninth with 1.30).

Hornet Notables

The Hornets are 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 (10.4 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (5.3 rpg)...the Hornets are 10-7 in their last 17 games after beginning the year 1-8...senior E.J. Harris had a career-high tying nine assists against Montana State...after missing his first seven field-goal attempts of the season, freshman Randy Adams is 16 for his last 23 (.696) from the field.

A Look at The Last Meeting

Jason Harris (game-high 29 points), DaShawn Freeman (career-high 27 points) and Jameel Pugh (20 points) combined for 76 of the Hornets’ 92 points as Sacramento State defeated Northern Arizona, 92-88, on Jan. 29 at the Hornets Nest.

Sacramento State took an eight-point lead (86-78) with 1:19 remaining and hung on late for the victory. The Hornets shot 46.9 percent (30-64) from the field and buried a season-high 14 three-pointers (14-33, 42.4 percent). Pugh knocked down six of those three-pointers in 14 attempts.

The game was close throughout as no team had a double-digit lead during the entire contest. Northern Arizona took its largest lead of the game at six points (8-2) just four-and-a-half minutes into the contest. The Hornets, who led for the final 9:53 of the contest, held their largest lead at nine points (77-68) with 6:38 remaining.

Harris shot 10-of-20 from the field while also tallying six assists, six rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots. Freeman’s previous career high was 18 points as the junior from Oakland, Calif., shot 8-of-13 from the field, 3-of-5 from the three-point line and 8-of-11 from the charity stripe.

The Hornets shot 55.6 percent in the second half on the way to a 50-point second half (matching their largest half of the season). The Hornets posted then season highs (at the time) in points (92), three-pointers (14) and three-pointers attempted (33). The team’s 23 assists were one shy of a season high.

After Kyle Landry knocked down two free throws to give Northern Arizona a one-point lead (65-64) with 10:15 remaining in the game, Sacramento State went on a 7-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Pugh with 8:21 to play. Sacramento State never led by anything less than two points the rest of the night as Freeman buried two free throws with five seconds to play to seal the game.

Joining Harris, Freeman and Pugh in double figures was sophomore forward Alex Bausley who had 10 points and a team-high tying six rebounds.

Northern Arizona received double-doubles from Kyle Landry (23 points, 11 rebounds) and Ruben Boykin Jr. (14 points, 12 rebounds).

A Look at the Lumberjacks

• Junior DeJuan Stevens (broken jaw) and freshman Cedric Hill (ankle fracture) returned to the lineup last Thursday against Montana State. Stevens scored 12 points in 20 minutes with a season-high four steals, while Hill had six points in 12 minutes. NAU went 1-6 in Stevens’ absence with Hill missing four games during that stretch.

• Northern Arizona leads the Big Sky in scoring offense (76.3 ppg), three-pointers made (7.77 per game) and three-point field-goal percentage (.383). The Lumberjacks, however, allow opponents to average a Big Sky-worst 75.0 points per game.

Who’s Up Next

• Sacramento State will play a Big Sky Tournament quarterfinal game on Saturday, March 5, against an undetermined opponent at a site to be determined. Should the Hornets host a quarterfinal game, the contest would start at 7:05 p.m. on March 5 as part of a doubleheader with the Hornet women''s team who hosts Eastern Washington at 2 p.m.