With the win, Sacramento State (9-5) avoided its first multiple-game losing streak of the season and has now won eight of the last 11 games. The Hornets’ 9-5 record is the team’s best mark after 14 games in the Div. I era (1991-pres.) and the best record since the 1988-89 squad was also 9-5 at the same point in the season. Sacramento State continued its home dominance, improving to 5-0 at the Hornets Nest this year and 25-8 in the friendly confines dating back to the 2003-04 season. In addition, the Hornets have won eight-straight contests (spanning games from last year) at home against non-conference competition.

Sacramento State, which is in the midst of a season-long three-game homestand, will now open up Big Sky play with home games against Portland State (Thursday, Jan. 5) and Eastern Washington (Saturday, Jan. 7). Since joining the Big Sky in 1996-97, the Hornets had never won more than six games entering conference play until winning nine this season. In addition, the Hornets have now won 18 games in a row when scoring at least 75 points (6-0 this year).

Denver (5-6) dropped its fifth in a row (all on the road) after beginning the season with a 5-1 record. Sacramento State is now 2-0 against teams that reached last year’s National Invitational Tournament, also knocking off San Francisco earlier this season. Denver and San Francisco played each other in the first round of the NIT last year. Tonight’s game marked the first time the Hornets and Pioneers have ever faced each other.

The Hornets’ big three of Harris, Freeman and junior Alex Bausley (12 points, four rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal) combined for 55 of the squad’s 79 points. As a team, Sacramento State shot 46.3 percent on 31-of-67 shooting. The team made 9-of-25 three-point attempts and was 8-of-12 from the line. The Hornets continued their high-pressure defense, forcing the Pioneers into 17 turnovers. Freeman, who entered the contest ranked seventh in the nation in steals, remained the Big Sky Conference leader with 36 steals through 14 games. The Hornets turned the ball over a season-low eight times, comprised of four in each half.

Denver scored the game’s first four points and led 8-7 with 15:23 left in the first half. However, from that point, Sacramento State went on a 22-8 run to lead 29-16 with 8:02 remaining in the period. The Hornets maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the half and took a 37-25 lead into halftime.

The Pioneers twice pulled within 10 points in the opening minutes of the second half with the final run coming with 18:18 left in the game after a three-point play by Andrew Carpenter. Sacramento State responded with a jumper from Bausley and back-to-back dunks from Harris and Bausley, respectively, to stretch its lead to 14 points. The Hornets took their largest lead of the game at 62-42 with 9:22 left on a layup by Harris and did not lead by anything less than 11 points the rest of the game.

Harris finished the game 8-of-16 from the field and made six free throws in eight attempts en route to his second double-double of the season and third of his career. Freeman made 6-of-10 shots in the first half and concluded the contest 8-of-15 from the floor. The senior added three three-pointers in five attempts.

Yemi Nicholson led all players with 23 points and 14 rebounds. The 6-foot-11, 260-pound center was 9-of-15 from the floor, including seven dunks. He also caused havoc on the offensive glass with six rebounds. Carpenter (16 points) was the only other Denver player to score more than 10 points.

All 13 Sacramento State players appeared in tonight’s game for the sixth-straight contest as freshman Loren Leath finished with eight points and four rebounds, and senior center Zane Beekman tallied four points, four rebounds and three blocked shots in 12 active minutes.

Sacramento State will enter Big Sky play looking to improve its conference record for the sixth-consecutive season (2-14 in 2000-01; 3-11 in 2001-02; 5-9 in 2002-03; 7-7 in 2003-04; and finally 8-6 last season). The Hornets will look to increase their streak of Big Sky Tournament appearances to four-straight seasons, including serving as hosts to tournament quarterfinal games each of the previous two years.