The victory for the Hornets (14-9, 5-4) snapped a season-worst four-game losing streak and allowed the team to make up ground on Northern Arizona, Montana and Montana State, who each lost tonight. Northern Arizona is now in first place with an 8-1 conference record, followed by Montana (6-3), Montana State (6-3), Sacramento State (5-4) and Eastern Washington (5-4). With the loss, Portland State dropped to 8-14 overall and 1-8 in the Big Sky.

Sacramento State had been winless all-time (0-10) against Portland State in Portland. So far this year, the Hornets have now broken winless road streaks at San Francisco, Weber State, Southern Utah and now Portland State. The Hornets also picked up their seventh win away from home (7-7), which are the most since the 1987-88 season.

Sacramento State now assures itself of the team’s first regular-season winning percentage of .500 since 1988-89, and the team’s 14 wins are the most since 1989-90. After two weeks on the road, the Hornets will now return home next week to take on Weber State (Thursday, Feb. 9, 7:05 p.m.) and Idaho State (Saturday, Feb. 11, 7:05 p.m.).

Trailing, 53-52, Portland State’s Tyler Hollist scored on a lay-up to give the Vikings a 54-53 lead and ignite a 9-2 spurt. Ryan Sommer’s three-pointer capped the run and gave the Vikings their largest lead of the night at six points (61-55) with 8:03 remaining.

After Josh Neeley hit a jumper to make it 63-57, the Hornets scored eight-straight points with senior DaShawn Freeman’s three-pointer capping the run to give Sacramento State a 65-63 lead with 4:01 remaining in the contest.

Sacramento State would not trail again as the two teams combined for just one field goal over the final four minutes. The Vikings’ Anthony Washington made a pair of free throws with 1:43 left to tie the game at 65-65, but junior Alex Bausley answered with a jumper to put the Hornets back on top, 67-65, with 1:20 remaining.

On Portland State’s ensuing possession, Freeman came up with a steal, forcing the Vikings to foul in the final minute. However, during the final 27 seconds of the contest, the Hornets missed the front end of a 1-and-1 situation twice to give PSU an opportunity. After Freeman missed the front end with 27 seconds left, PSU had a three-point attempt by Juma Kamara (0:17) fall off the mark. The Hornets grabbed the rebound and Jason Harris was fouled and sent to the free-throw line. He then missed the front end, but sophomore Justin Williams grabbed the offensive rebound and made 1-of-2 free throws with 3.6 seconds remaining. PSU was unable to get a shot off during its final possession.

Joining Woods in double figures for the Hornets were Freeman (12 points and two steals) and junior Haron Hargrave (13 points, four assists and two steals). Sacramento State shot 44.1 percent (26-59) from the field and 36.8 percent (7-19) from beyond the arc. Freeman (3-of-6), Woods (2-of-4) and Hargrave (2-of-5) combined for each of the team’s three-pointers. Woods finished the game 6-of-10 from the floor and recorded his sixth game of the season with double figures in points.

Sacramento State’s defense also forced 18 Portland State turnovers while the Hornets committed just 11 miscues.

Sacramento State, which took its largest lead of the night at nine points (21-12) with 11:22 remaining in the first half, also got nine points from senior Jason Harris and eight points, two assists and two steals from Bausley. Nine different Hornets scored at least two points. For the first time in 15 games, Sacramento State head coach Jerome Jenkins did not use every active player on the roster as Chris Lange, Zane Beekman and Aaron Perry each did not play. In addition, sophomore Randy Adams was reinserted into the starting lineup for the first time since Dec. 23.

Portland State, which shot 42.3 percent (22-52) from the field, had three players in double figures, comprised of Kamara (15 points, game-high nine rebounds), Washington (13 points, five rebounds) and Neeley (10 points and a game-high three steals). The Vikings outrebounded the Hornets, 41-29, but committed nine turnovers in both the first and second halves.

The Hornets’ 5-4 Big Sky record is the team’s best after nine games since joining the league in 1996-97. Sacramento State will look to improve upon its 7-2 record at home next week. Only five games remain on the team’s regular-season schedule as the Big Sky Tournament begins on March 4.