The Hornets trailed by eight points (64-56) with 6:32 remaining in the contest, before Sacramento State went on its run which lasted for more than three minutes of the second half and culminated in a four-point lead (69-65) with 2:47 to play. Sophomore Alex Bausley hit a three-pointer during the run, and Freeman knocked down a pair of treys, including a three-pointer as the shot clock expired to give Sacramento State the four-point lead.

Utah Valley State quickly tied the game as consecutive jumpers from Ronnie Price made the score 69-69 with 1:32 left. Price, who entered the game as the nation’s third-leading scorer, finished the contest with a game-high 26 points. The Wolverines had an opportunity to take the lead, but Freeman stole the ball from Price with 30 seconds to play, and threw to Bausley who converted a fast-break lay-up to give the Hornets a 71-69 lead with 26 seconds remaining.

Utah Valley State had a pair of chances to tie in the waning moments of the game, but a contested lay-up from Benjamin Davoe (0:05) and a tip by David Heck (0:03) both fell off the mark as the Hornets won their third game of the season (3-9) and improved to 3-2 at home.

Utah Valley State, which hails from Orem, Utah, and is currently in its second year of Div. I status, dropped to 4-8 this season. Utah Valley State is now 2-4 against Big Sky Conference teams this season, including victories over Weber State (71-58) and Montana State (80-60).

The game marked the first Sacramento State win after trailing with five minutes left in regulation since an 85-81 double-overtime victory over Northern Arizona during the 2002-03 season. Sacramento State trailed by as many as 10 points (60-50) in tonight’s contest, but outscored the Wolverines, 21-9, during the final 10 minutes of the contest.

Freeman finished with a season-high 16 points (6-of-10 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the three-point line), including five assists, three steals and a career-high four three-pointers. The junior scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half. For the eighth time this season, junior Jason Harris led the Hornets in scoring (19 points) as the swingman went 5-of-10 from the floor and 8-of-12 from the free-throw line while also tallying six rebounds and a game-high tying five steals. Harris has now combined for 15 steals over his last four games.

Two other Hornets finished with double figures in points, comprised of Bausley (14 points, a team-high seven rebounds, two assists and two steals) and senior Jameel Pugh (10 points and five rebounds). Sacramento State won the game despite Utah Valley State knocking down 54.5 percent (24-44) of its shots, including 7-of-11 (63.6 percent) from beyond the three-point line. Sacramento State forced 23 Wolverine turnovers, including eight in the final 10 minutes of the contest.

The Hornets shot 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from beyond the three-point line, easily the team’s best output of the season. Of the Hornets’ 31 rebounds, 18 came on the offensive glass, including five from junior center Aaron Perry and four from Bausley. Perry also added a career-high four blocked shots. Sacramento State led for the entire first half, before Utah Valley State took its first lead of the game at 42-40 early in the second half.

Joining Price in double figures for the Wolverines were Sylvester Allison (10 points and five steals), Pierre Thomas (10 points) and Matt Peterson (10 points). Price, who entered the game averaging 25.7 points per contest, scored his 26 on 9-of-14 shooting, but did commit eight turnovers during the contest.

Sacramento State will now enter Big Sky Conference play for the first time this season as the team travels to Portland State (Jan. 6) and defending conference champion Eastern Washington (Jan. 8) next week. The Hornets finished a program-best tied for second place in the Big Sky standings last season.