Sacramento State guard #1 Mikey Williams shoots a midrange jumper to tie up the score, 69-69, against Montana State Bobcats on January 29th, 2026, at the Hornet Pavilion in Sacramento, CA. (photo by Michael Villanueva)

By Michael Villanueva

SACRAMENTO – In an exciting Big Sky Conference game on Thursday night at Hornet Pavilion, Sacramento State defeated Montana State 83-80 to begin its season-long four-game homestand. The Hornets defeated the Bobcats in the closing seconds of a tough game to improve to 7-1 at home and capture their seventh victory of the year. Fans were on the edge of their seats the entire time as Sacramento State used home-court energy, clutch plays, and key performances to win. The game had five lead changes and six ties.

Montana State was 13-8 overall and 7-1 in conference play going into the game, while the Hornets were 6-13 overall and 2-5 in Big Sky play. After a two-game losing run, Sacramento State returned home and used its home-court advantage and intensity to take control at key points, ending the Bobcats’ four-game winning streak. For a squad that had gone 49 days in a row without a home game earlier in the season, the win was very meaningful. The Hornets’ return to Hornet Pavilion and their eventual win were all the more meaningful during that time, which featured a seven-game road trip and the third-longest home-game break among Division I teams.

All 15 players on Sacramento State’s roster are new to the program this season, yet the Hornets showed unity and grit throughout the game. Mikey Williams, Jahni Summers, Shaqir O’Neal, Prophet Johnson, and Mark Lavrenov, their starting five, led the effort. Mark Lavrenov finished the game with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the Hornets in the paint, while Prophet Johnson led the way with 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Williams helped Sacramento State keep control in the crucial closing minutes by contributing crucial scoring.

The leadership team at Sacramento State played a crucial role in directing the new roster. In his debut season, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal was the general manager, and head coach Mike Bibby went back to his hometown. In a Big Sky Conference game, the two assisted in leading a newly formed squad to a big win at home. Sacramento State’s Sikh Night, which honored Sikh culture and showcased the team’s strong identity in the newly renovated Hornet Pavilion—a section of The WELL transformed into the program’s current home—marked the end of a 66-year tenure at The Nest.

Montana State selected a starting lineup with Chris Hodges, Christian King, Jed Miller, Davian Brown, and Patrick McMahon. Jed Miller led the way with 25 points as the Bobcats, who are renowned for their shooting, made nine three-pointers in the second half after making six in the first. Montana State was unable to overcome the Hornets’ home-court energy and clutch performance, even though they scored 42 points in the second half and kept the game close with several ties and lead changes.

The Hornets led 45-38 at the half after controlling the opening half. Christian King, forward for the Bobcats, opened the score early with a jumper following a Hornets turnover, but Sacramento State soon recovered. In the first 19 minutes, Mark Lavrenov scored 12 points on flawless 5-of-5 shooting and pulled down 5 rebounds, while Prophet Johnson scored 17 points with 3 rebounds and 4 assists. The Hornets’ excellent three-point shooting—more than 50% in the first half—along with Lavrenov’s tenacity and unrelenting hustle in the paint allowed Sacramento State take a 10-point lead, which was sealed by an important 7-0 scoring run.

Montana State was determined to recover from their shooting in the 1st half after halftime, and the Bobcats’ shooting allowed them to do so. However, Sacramento State remained calm, relying on solid performances from Johnson, Lavrenov, and Williams, as well as the passion of their home crowd, to overcome the Bobcats’ charge. The Hornets sealed the hard-fought 83-80 victory in the closing minutes by stopping Montana State’s comeback.

The Hornets will try to build on this win in their upcoming home game against the University of Montana Grizzlies on January 31 at 7 p.m. at Hornet Pavilion in Sacramento, California.