With the victory, Saint Mary’s improved to a season-high four games above .500 (8-4). The Gaels have now defeated the Hornets in nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams and lead the all-time series, 29-6. Sacramento State dropped its sixth-consecutive game while falling to 1-7 this year.

Sacramento State senior Jameel Pugh missed his second-consecutive game with a stress fracture in his right foot as the Hornets played the contest with just 10 active players (including seven first-year players).

The Gaels shot 44.6 percent (25-56) from the floor while Sacramento State shot a season-low 24.6 percent (14-57) as the team had trouble all night getting into the scoring column. The Hornets also went just 6-of-16 from (37.5 percent) from the free-throw line.

Collins’ 18 points came with seven rebounds while Kickert also added seven boards. Paul Marigney (10 points) rounded out the Gaels with double figures in points as Saint Mary’s also outrebounded Sacramento State, 42-38.

Sacramento State was led by Alex Bausley’s 11 points as each of the sophomore’s points came in the first half. That snapped a string of five-consecutive games in which Jason Harris has led the Hornets in points. Harris finished with nine points, and junior DaShawn Freeman finished with five points, four assists, two steals and a team-high seven rebounds.

Both teams exchanged baskets early on until a three-pointer from Bausley gave the Hornets their first and only lead of the night at 8-7 with 13:55 to play. A little later in the half, Saint Mary’s used a 9-0 run to extend a 13-12 lead to 22-12 with 8:46 to play. The Hornets got a lay-up from Aaron Perry to stop the bleeding, but the Gaels then went on a 9-4 to run to close the half and entered the break with a 31-19 lead.

Eight of Saint Mary’s first 13 points of the game came after offensive rebounds as the Gaels controlled the glass (21-14) during the first stanza. Bausley scored 11 of the Hornets’ 19 points during the half, including three three-pointers.

Saint Mary’s opened the second half on a 9-4 run and took a 40-23 lead with 16:27 to play. The Hornets closed to within 13 points (40-27) after a three-pointer from Jason Harris and a free throw from DaShawn Freeman, but that was as close as the Hornets would get the rest of the night. The Gaels added a 16-0 run midway through the second half to put the game out of reach.

Sacramento State concludes its season-long three-game road trip on Monday, Dec. 20, at UC Riverside as three of the Hornets’ first nine games this season are on the road. Sacramento State returns home on Wednesday, Dec. 22, as the team hosts Great Falls at 7:05 p.m.

GAME NOTES - Junior center Aaron Perry went 0-for-4 from the free-throw line during the game and is now 0-for-10 from the charity stripe this year...the Gaels were in the free-throw bonus each half as the Hornets have now committed at least seven fouls in each half of every game this season...Sacramento State’s six made free throws tied for the lowest output against any team this season (Michigan)...Jason Harris has knocked down at one three-pointer in all but one game this season.