MEN’S BASKETBALL ALLOWS FEWEST POINTS SINCE 1963 IN A 66-38 VICTORY OVER CAL MARITIME

12/10/2011

Junior center Konner Veteto had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the team's 66-38 victory today

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State forward John Dickson scored a game-high 16 points and center Konner Veteto added 14 points and 10 rebounds to help lead the Hornets to a 66-38 victory over Cal Maritime in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at The Nest.

Cal Maritime’s 38 points were the fewest allowed by Sacramento State since a 37-31 loss at Humboldt State on Feb. 23, 1963. In addition, the 38 points were the lowest allowed in a Hornet win since a 55-29 win at Humboldt State during the 1961-62 season. Cal Maritime was held without a field goal the final 5:43 of the contest and did not score more than 20 points in either half. In fact, the Keelhaulers scored just three points over the final five minutes and 43 seconds.

The game, which marked the first of a season-high tying three-game homestand for Sacramento State, was never in doubt as the Hornets jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never trailed the entire way. In fact, a jumper from Veteto gave Sacramento State its first double-digit lead (13-2) with 12:59 to play in the first half, and the Hornets held a double-figure advantage the rest of the way.

Cal Maritime, which is an NAIA squad from Vallejo and plays in the California Pacific Conference, was limited to 25.9 percent (14-54) shooting from the field, including just 1-of-10 from the three-point line. The Keelhaulers were held to shooting percentages below 27 percent in each half, and Sacramento State used its size to outrebound Cal Maritime, 47-26. The Hornets scored 15 points on 14 offensive rebounds and limited the Keelhaulers to just two fast-break points.

“Tonight was a good performance from top to bottom,” Sacramento State head coach Brian Katz said. “We were fairly consistent defensively, and we played a pretty solid 40-minute game. It really feels good to be home, we play five of our next seven games at home and we need to take advantage of that scenario.”

With the victory, Sacramento State snapped a four-game losing streak while improving to 4-5 this year. Cal Maritime dropped to 6-7 with the loss. Today marked the first time the two programs had ever played during the regular season, although the two teams did meet in an exhibition game on Nov. 6, 2007.

Sacramento State finished the game shooting 42.3 percent (22-52) from the field and 82.6 percent (19-23) from the free throw line. A three-pointer from junior Jordan Estrada early in the first half extended the Hornets’ streak to 500 straight games with at least one three-pointer made, a streak which dates back to Nov. 28, 1993. Sacramento State would finish the game with three made treys, including one from Walter Jackson and Dylan Garrity.

Five Hornets grabbed at least six rebounds to help the team to a season-best 47 boards, comprised of Veteto (10), Dickson (7), Jackson (7), Garrity (6) and Julian Demalleville (6).

Dickson’s 16 points came on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line as the forward also blocked two shots. Veteto, who finished with his first double-double as a Hornet and second by a Sacramento State player this year (Joe Eberhard), shot 6-of-11 from the field and also knocked down a pair of free throws. Jackson added nine points, a block and two steals, and Garrity had nine points and game-high six assists in a game-best 33 minutes played. Garrity, who is a true freshman, has now led Sacramento State in assists in every game this season.

Eleven different Hornets appeared in today’s game and 10 of those players scored points, including four from Eberhard and Josh McCarver. Katz used the same starting lineup (Jackson, Dickson, Eberhard, Garrity and Heath Hoffman) in back-to-back games for the first time all season.

Cal Maritime was led by Howie Manzo’s nine points while Ryan Pearson added eight points and four rebounds, and Josh Greenwell also had eight points and four rebounds.

Sacramento State will take seven days off for Finals Week and return to action on Sunday, Dec. 18, when the team hosts North Dakota at 5:05 p.m.