Sacramento State, which trailed only once (3-2 with 17:25 remaining in the first half) during the entire game, forced UC Irvine into 20 turnovers and a 31.4 percent (16-51) field-goal percentage. The Hornets did not shoot much better from the field (36.5 percent), but knocked down eight three-pointers and shot 72.0 percent (18-25) from the free-throw line.

With the victory, Sacramento State snapped its four-game losing streak and improved to 4-5 overall this season. UC Irvine, which had its three-game winning streak come to an end, dropped to 5-4.

Senior Brandon Guyton led Sacramento State with 12 points as 10 different Hornets cracked the scoring column. Guyton buried a game-high four three-pointers, and is now averaging 3.1 threes per game this season. Senior Joseth Dawson (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Hornets as the shooting guard went 6-of-6 from the free-throw line during the final 1:22 of the contest and finished a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe for the game.

Sacramento State used an early 16-4 run to push its lead to 18-7 with 10:38 remaining in the first half. UC Irvine trailed by at least seven points for the remainder of the half until the Hornets went into the break with a 28.17 lead. The Anteaters closed to within three points (42-39) of the Hornet lead after a pair of free throws from Jeff Gloger with 7:46 remaining in the contest. The Hornets, however, responded with back-to-back three-pointers from freshman power forward Alex Bausley to push the lead back to nine points (48-39) with 6:07 remaining.

UC Irvine closed to within four points of the lead with 1:50 left, before the Hornets iced the game at the free-throw line. The Anteaters would get no closer than four points the rest of the way. Bausley finished with eight points and six rebounds in 14 minutes as the freshman went 2-of-3 from beyond the three-point line and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe.

Sacramento State won for the first time this season when being outrebounded as UC Irvine held the advantage on the glass, 47-33. The Hornets, however, tallied nine steals as a team (including a team-high three from junior E.J. Harris) as the Anteaters finished with six more turnovers (20-14) than Sacramento State.

Mike Efevberha led UC Irvine with 11 points while Matt Okoro also finished in double figures with 10 points. Adam Parada posted a game-high 15 rebounds and blocked two shots. Gloger tallied nine points, eight rebounds and four steals, but committed a costly turnover with the Anteaters trailing by four points (58-54) with 30 seconds to play.

Sacramento State returns to action on Monday, Dec. 22, as the team travels to Corvallis, Ore., to take on the Beavers of Oregon State. The Hornets return home for games against Long Beach State (Dec. 27) and UC Riverside (Dec. 29).