Derek Lambeth led the team with 18 points. |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. --- LyRyan Russell scored 24 points and added nine rebounds and six assists to lead EA Sports to an 83-80 victory over Sacramento State in an exhibition game Wednesday night in Hornet Gym.Russell, who played collegiately at San Francisco, was 7-for-10 from the floor, including 5-of-8 from three-point range. The guard also added five free throws for his 24 points.
Sacramento State led 80-78 with just over one minute remaining in the game. Pax Whitehead tied the score with a layup and was fouled on the play. The former Vanderbilt standout made the free throw to give EA Sports an 81-80 advantage. After a Hornet miss, Jono Metzger-Jones made one of two free throws to extend EA Sports’ lead to two with just 29 seconds remaining.
On Sacramento State’s next possession, senior Raashad Hooks drove to the basket but his shot fell off the rim. Cedric Thompkins attempted to tap the ball in three times before Alvin Stephenson grabbed the rebound and was fouled. Stephenson made his first of two free throws to seal the game.
The Hornets had three players in double-figures led by Derek Lambeth (18 points). Junior Brandon Guyton contributed 14 points — nine of which came on three three-pointers — and Jimmy White finished with 10. Thompkins paced the team with a game-high 10 rebounds.
Metzger-Jones (14) and Dewayne Fontana (10) joined Russell in double-figures for EA Sports.
Sacramento State concludes its exhibition season on Sunday against TCS at 1 p.m. The team’s first regular season game comes on Nov. 25 at Loyola Marymount.
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