EBERHARD’S 20 POINTS LEADS MEN’S BASKETBALL TO EXHIBITION WIN OVER SIMPSON

11/2/2011

Junior Joe Eberhard finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two blocked shots

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Four Sacramento State players scored in double figures, led by newcomer Joe Eberhard’s 20 points, as the Hornets defeated Simpson, 79-65, in a men’s basketball exhibition game Wednesday evening at The Nest.

The game marked Sacramento State’s lone exhibition contest of the year as the Hornets open up the regular season next Friday, Nov. 11, against Menlo at 7:35 p.m. followed by a Sunday matinee against Central Arkansas (1 p.m.)

Sacramento State led the entire way as the Hornets shot 44.6 percent (25-56) from the field and 74.2 percent (23-31) from the free throw line while holding a commanding edge in the rebounding department (47-34). In addition, the Hornets accounted for 20 assists, nine blocked shots and six steals. The team also limited Simpson to 37.9 percent shooting (25-66) from the floor and 3-of-14 (.214) from beyond the arc.

Eberhard, who scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half, also finished with eight rebounds, six assists, two blocked shots and a steal in 33 minutes. The Newport Beach, Calif., native shot 6-of-9 from the field, 3-of-4 from the three-point line and 5-of-7 from the charity stripe. At one point early in the second half, he knocked down three three-pointers over a two-minute span.

Joining Eberhard in double figures for the Hornets were senior Walter Jackson (12 points, nine rebounds, four blocks and two steals), and juniors John Dickson (11 points, five rebounds and two blocks) and center Konner Veteto (11 points, eight rebounds). Veteto, who is a transfer from UC Riverside, shot 4-of-6 from the field and 3-of-3 from the free throw line.

Sacramento State freshman Dylan Garrity had nine points, nine assists, four rebounds and just two turnovers in 30 minutes. The highly decorated point guard from Huntington Beach’s Edison High School went 1-of-2 from the three-point line and 6-for-6 from the free throw line. A total of 11 Hornets appeared in the game and 10 of those players scored. Sophomore center Pete Rakocevic added two points and seven rebounds in 11 minutes of play.

“Tonight was a typical first game of the season, and we worked off some of the rust,” Sacramento State fourth-year head coach Brian Katz said. “We didn’t play great and made a lot of mistakes (23 turnovers), but sometimes you have to win ugly. The first time the lights go on and guys are a little nervous about the first game of the season, performances like this happen. We will work hard in practice this week and get prepared for (next week’s opponents) Menlo and Central Arkansas.”

Simpson, which is an NAIA team that plays in the California Pacific Conference, had three players score in double figures, led by Bryan Castillo’s 14 points.

Of the Hornets’ 47 rebounds, 16 came on the offensive glass, including three each from Jackson, Dickson, Eberhard and Rakocevic. Junior shooting guard Jordan Estrada, who transferred from the Bay Area’s Diablo Valley College, played a game-high 34 minutes.