The Beavers, which scored 29 of the game’s final 45 points, improved to 5-4 on the season. Oregon State took advantage of a large foul disparity in which Sacramento State was whistled for 14 more fouls (23-9) than the Beavers. Oregon State went to the free-throw line 23 times compared to just four times for Sacramento State. The Beavers converted 14 of those opportunities, including a pair from David Lucas to give Oregon State a 76-73 lead with 26 seconds remaining.

Sacramento State had a chance to tie the game in the waning moments, but the Hornets were denied an opportunity as a scrambling Oregon State defense forced the Hornets into a turnover with 1.8 seconds to play. The Beavers then ran out the clock to end the contest. The Hornets, who were never in the bonus during the entire game, dropped to 4-6 with the loss.

Sacramento State buried a season-high tying 12 three-pointers (two short of the school record), including five from senior Brandon Guyton. The Hornets shot 50.9 percent (29-57) from the field and 46.2 percent (12-26) from beyond the three-point line. Sacramento State, however, was forced into 24 turnovers compared to just 13 for Oregon State.

With the score tied, 71-71, with 1:54 remaining in the contest, Oregon State’s Jim Hanchett stole the ball from Hornet point guard DaShawn Freeman and assisted on a three-pointer from Chris Stephens, giving the Beavers a three-point lead (74-71) with 1:20 left. Sacramento State’s Joel Jones followed with a lay-up to cut the lead to one point (74-73) with 46 seconds on the clock. Oregon State, which had been in the bonus since the 11:02 mark of the second half, drove the length of the floor and dished to Lucas who was fouled underneath the basket by Tony Champion. Lucas made both free throws, capping a 24-point effort in which the junior went 9-of-16 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.

Stephens finished with 18 points, while Hanchett (13 points) and Angelo Tsagarakis (10 points) rounded out the Oregon State payers in double figures. The Hornets had four players in double figures comprising Guyton (5-of-13 from the three-point line), senior Joel Jones (12 points, 5-of-11 shooting), freshman Alex Bausley (11 points, 5-of-7 shooting) and senior Joseth Dawson (10 points, 4-of-5 shooting). Six different Hornets hit at least one three-pointer, including Jones and Dawson who each had two. Bausley now has 29 points over his last three games after combining for 11 points during his first seven games of the season.

Freeman finished with a career-high tying eight assists while Bausley and Guyton led the Hornets with five rebounds apiece.

After Oregon State opened the game by scoring four of the first five points, Sacramento State responded by going on an 13-4 run to take a 14-8 lead with 13:26 to play. During that run, Guyton had three of his four first-half three-pointers. The Hornets would extend their lead to 27-18 (7:05) on another Guyton three-pointer. Both teams traded baskets the rest of the half until Sacramento State went into the break with a 41-31 lead.

The Hornets shot 61.5 percent (8-13) from beyond the three-point line in the first half as 24 of the team’s 41 first-half points came via three-pointers. Oregon State was whistled for just three fouls during the entire period as the Hornets went to the free-throw line only two times.

The Hornets wore their brand new gold uniforms with green trim for the second time this season and are now 1-1 when wearing the new digs. The team broke out the new uniforms in its victory over UC Irvine last Saturday.

The Hornets will play five of their next six games at home, including this Saturday, Dec. 27, against the 49ers of Long Beach State at 7:05 p.m. Sacramento State has not faced Long Beach State since the 1961-62 season. The Hornets also have upcoming home games against UC Riverside (Dec. 29), and open up Big Sky Conference play at home against Northern Arizona (Jan. 10), Portland State (Jan. 15) and Eastern Washington (Jan. 17).