The Hornets, who have now won three Big Sky games in a row for the first time since joining the league in 1996-97, improved to 10-11 overall and 4-4 in the conference. The 4-4 mark is also Sacramento State’s best conference record after eight games since joining the Big Sky. In addition, the win moved the Hornets into fourth place in the Big Sky standings.

Northern Arizona (12-9, 5-3) suffered just its third conference loss of the season as the Lumberjacks are tied with Idaho State for second in the standings, two games behind Eastern Washington. The Hornets’ 110 points were the most the Lumberjacks have allowed at home since giving up 111 to Montana State during the 1974-75 season.

The last time Sacramento State scored 110 points in a game was during the team''s inaugural Div. I season (1991-92) in a 110-106 victory over Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The victory also snapped a seven-game road losing streak as the Hornets had not won away from home since a 78-71 overtime victory over Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 29.

Dawson, junior Jameel Pugh (career-high tying 22 points, 9-of-14 shooting from the field) and senior Joel Jones (20 points, 6-of-12 shooting, 4-of-8 three-pointers) combined to score 72 of the team’s 110 points. Dawson went 7-of-9 from the field and a perfect 14-of-14 from the free-throw line as the Hornets posted season highs in points, field goals (35), free throws made (28) and free-throw percentage (.848, 28-33), while tying a season high with 12 three-pointers.

After going into halftime with a 43-38 lead, the Hornets posted a program-record 67 points in the second half, while knocking down 21-of-23 free throws in the process. Sacramento State finished the game shooting 54.7 percent (35-64) from the field and 46.2 percent (12-26) from beyond the three-point arc. A total of seven different Hornets had at least one three-pointer, including two apiece from Dawson and senior Brandon Guyton.

Free throws and three-pointers were the difference in the game as NAU shot 54.4 percent (37-68) from the field, but knocked down five less three-pointers (7-for-18) and 12 less free throws (16-for-21) than the Hornets. The Lumberjacks had five players score in double figures, led by Aaron Bond’s 21 points.

NAU opened the game on an 8-0 run before Sacramento State answered with a 31-11 run to take a 12-point lead (31-19) with 8:45 left in the first half. The Lumberjacks got within one point (39-38) on a Kodiak Yazzie three-pointer, but the Hornets closed the half with a Guyton three-pointer and a free throw from sophomore Chris Lange to go into the break with a five-point lead.

Both teams traded baskets for the first 10 minutes of the second half until Bond scored five unanswered points to get NAU back within one point of the Hornets’ lead (66-65) with 9:39 remaining in the contest. However, a three-pointer from DaShawn Freeman and a dunk from Cedric Thompkins put Sacramento State back up six points (71-65) with 8:25 remaining. The Lumberjacks would get no closer than four points the rest of the way as Jones’ 18 second-half points led the way.

The Hornets, who never trailed during the final 31 minutes of the contest, opened up a lead as large as 16 points in the second half before settling for the 13-point victory. Thompkins led all players with 10 rebounds as he is now averaging 7.5 rebounds per contest in Big Sky play.

Sacramento State returns to action for a pair of Big Sky Conference road games next week against Eastern Washington (Thursday, Feb. 12) and Portland State (Saturday, Feb. 14). Earlier this season at the Hornets Nest, Sacramento State beat Portland State (76-64) while losing to Eastern Washington (68-62).

MISCELLANEOUS BULLET POINTS FOR SATURDAY''S WIN

- The Hornets have now won three Big Sky games in a row for the first time since joining the conference in 1996-97.

- Sacramento State’s 4-4 conference record is the team’s best mark after eight games since joining the Big Sky.

- Joseth Dawson (30 points), Jameel Pugh (22) and Joel Jones (20) became the first Sacramento State trio to each score at least 20 points in a game since the program joined the Div. I ranks in 1991-92.

- Sacramento State’s 110 points ties the Div. I-era for most points in a game. The 110 points also ties for the 13th-best output in program history.

- The Hornets’ 67 second-half points set the program record for most points in a half.

- Joseth Dawson’s 30 points are the most by a Hornet since Dawson did it himself at Portland State on Feb. 1, 2002.

- Joseth Dawson’s 14 free throws were the most by a Hornet without a miss in the school’s Div. I history (1991-pres.). His 14 free throws were also the second-most in Div. I history (15 by Sedessa Fisher vs. Eastern Washington, Nov. 29, 1997)

- Sacramento State’s 110 points were the most allowed by Northern Arizona since allowing 111 to Montana State in the 1974-75 season.