DICKSON SHINES IN MEN’S BASKETBALL EXHIBITION VICTORY OVER MENLO
11/5/2009
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- True freshman John Dickson had 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and two steals to lead Sacramento State to a 63-45 victory over Menlo in a men’s basketball exhibition game Thursday evening at the Nest.
Among Dickson’s seven made field goals included three thunderous dunks, one coming on an alley-oop pass where he had to duck out of the way in midflight to avoid hitting his head on the rim. The San Francisco, Calif., native and Fairfield High School product finished 7-of-13 from the field in 27 minutes before fouling out with 1:10 to play.
The contest served as the first and only exhibition game Sacramento State will play during the preseason. The Hornets open up the regular season schedule next Friday, Nov. 13, at Rice as part of a three-day, three-game tournament. Sacramento State will also play Houston Baptist and South Alabama at the tournament.
All but one of Sacramento State’s 15 players appeared in tonight’s game, and the newcomers combined to score 30 of the team’s 63 points. The Hornets, who never trailed during the game, outscored Menlo in the paint (30-16), point off turnovers (25-7), fast break points (10-2) and bench points (36-5).
Six different Sacramento State players had at least seven points, including senior point guard Mike Marcial (nine points, four rebounds, two steals), junior point guard Sultan Toles-Bey (eight points, two steals and a game-high six assists), seniors Antonio Flaggs (seven points, game-high nine rebounds) and Justin Eller (seven points, five rebounds) and junior Michael Selling (seven points, seven rebounds).
The Hornets shot 40.0 percent (24-60) from the field, but struggled from both the three-point line (2-for-18) and free throw line (13-of-24). Sacramento State’s defense limited the Oaks to 30.0 percent (15-for-50) shooting from the field while forcing 22 turnovers. In fact, nine different Hornets had at least one steal and the team finished with 14.
The Hornets, who opened up a lead as large as 20 points before settling for the 18-point victory, also outrebounded Menlo, 45-34. That included 17 offensive rebounds they were able to convert into nine second-chance points. Sacramento State did not allow Menlo to score a field goal during the final 8:45 of the game, and zero Oaks players shot better than 50.0 percent from the field.
“Tonight was a typical first game of the season where both teams were a little sloppy,” Sacramento State second-year head coach Brian Katz said. “We didn’t play great and we have a lot of things to work on, but overall, there were some bright spots and we will continue to improve.”
Menlo, which is an NAIA school from Atherton, Calif., was led by Tim Kees’ game-high 21 points as he accounted for nearly half of the team’s offensive production. Drew Davis added 11 points and five rebounds.
Sacramento State does not play inside the friendly confines again until the home opener against Bethany on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7:05 p.m. The Hornets play just twice more at home this month (including Nov. 28 vs. UC Riverside).
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- True freshman 
