The Hornets (6-8, 0-1) were badly outrebounded, 42-30, and shot just 13-of-22 (59.1 percent) from the free-throw line. Northern Arizona, which tallied 17 offensive rebounds resulting in numerous second-chance points, won for the fifth time in six games while improving to 8-6 overall and 1-0 in the Big Sky.

The Lumberjacks shot 46.7 percent (28-60) from the field and 47.1 percent (8-17) from beyond the three-point arc. Conversely, the Hornets shot 41.0 percent from the floor (25-61), including just 30.3 percent (10-33) in the second half. No Sacramento State player had more than six rebounds as Northern Arizona’s Hayes, Bond and Stephen Garnett (seven rebounds) almost combined to match Sacramento State in rebounds by themselves.

The Hornets were led in scoring by seniors Joel Jones and Joseth Dawson as both finished with 16 points. Jones went 5-of-10 from the floor, including 4-of-6 from the three-point arc. Sophomore DaShawn Freeman scored 10 points to go along with six assists, five rebounds and a game-high four steals.

Northern Arizona erased a 28-22 Sacramento State lead by going on a 14-0 run (spanning 5:37) to take a 36-28 lead with 4:10 left in the first half. The Lumberjacks increased their lead to a game-high nine points with 1:22 left in the half before back-to-back three-pointers by Brandon Guyton and Freeman (at the halftime buzzer) got the Hornets within three points (43-40) at the break. Guyton scored all 11 of his points in the first half as the senior went 0-for-3 in the second half.

The Hornets and Lumberjacks traded baskets for the first seven minutes of the second half as Sacramento State took its final lead of the game (56-54) with 12:46 to play on a jumper from Dawson. Northern Arizona, however, responded with a 10-0 run to take an eight-point lead (64-56) with 8:47 to play. The Hornets went 0-for-5 with two turnovers during NAU’s run as Hayes scored five of the Lumberjacks’ 10 points

Sacramento State pulled to within two points of NAU’s lead (66-64) on a three-pointer from Dawson, but Kelly Golob immediately responded with a three-pointer to put the Lumberjacks back on top by five points. The Hornets would get no closer than within four points of the lead the rest of the way.

Joining Bond and Hayes in double figures for Northern Arizona were Golob (13 points, 3-of-5 three-pointers) and Ruben Boykin (11 points, 5-of-7 shooting). The Lumberjacks went 16-of-21 from the charity stripe, including 13-of-16 in the second half.

Sacramento State knocked down 10 three-pointers in the game (10-of-26), but could not overcome a free-throw shooting performance that saw the team go just 9-of-16 from the charity stripe in the second half.

The Hornets continue Big Sky play next week as the team hosts Portland State (Thursday, Jan. 15, at 7:05 p.m.) and Eastern Washington (Saturday, Jan. 17, at 7:05 p.m.). Both Eastern Washington and Portland State are 1-1 in Big Sky play as the Eagles defeated Montana State while the Vikings defeated Montana tonight.