Tag: Montana State

Hornets Win Big Sky Game Against Montana State, 83-80, at Hornet Pavilion

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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. Sacramento State was able to go on a 14-9 run in the final four minutes. Six of those points came from guard Mikey Williams.

Hornets Prophet Johnson, Mikey Williams, and Mark Lavrenov combined for 67 points to help Sacramento State secure this win. The Hornets also shot a season high 56% from the field while also hitting eight trey’s in 18 attempts going 44%. The Hornets showed their athleticism and toughness with having 24-2 fast break total points, along with having 40 of their 83 points in the paint.

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.

Montana State able to fend off Jaylon Tyson and Cal in close game 63-60 at Haas Pavilion

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Cal Bears guard Jaylon Tyson (10) takes the ball up the floor against the Montana State Tigers at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley on Thu Nov 16, 2023 (Cal Bears photo)

By Steve Ruderman

Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023

Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California

Montana State Bobcats 63 (2-1)

California Golden Bears 60 (2-2)

By Stephen Ruderman

The Bears were unable to capitalize on their big win Monday, as the Montana State Bobcats, led by Brandon Walker and his 26-point performance, came into Haas Pavilion to prevent Cal from getting a thrilling comeback win, as Montana State held on to win, 63-60.

Jalen Cone hit an early jumper to give Cal a 2-0 lead. Montana State came back to take a 4-2 lead, and a three ball by Fardaws Aimaq gave Cal the lead back at 5-4. A layup by Brandon Walker, who would just be getting started, put the Bobcats back ahead at 6-5, and they would hold the lead the rest of the night.

Montana State looked poised to pull away with the game early, as they opened their lead to 12-5, but Cal scored six unanswered points to close it to 12-11. Despite that, the Bobcats maintained a steady lead throughout the rest of the first period, never leading by more than six.

The Bobcats led 33-27 at the half, and they started to open up their lead again at the start of the second period, as a 9-3 run gave Montana State a 44-30 lead with 15:09 remaining.

Cal slowly chipped away into the latter half of the second period, but they got even closer, as a pair of free throws by Aimaq cut the deficit to 51-49 with 4:49 remaining.

There was a lot of scoring in the final few minutes. The Bobcats pulled out to a 57-51 lead with 3:19 remaining, but Jaylon Tyson, who shined for the Bears tonight with 27 points, led the charge for, and Cal came back to make it 63-60 with just 16 seconds remaining.

Following a foul by Cone, and a pair of missed free throws by Robert Ford for Montana State, Cone missed a three that would’ve tied the game with four seconds, and that would be it, as the Bobcats won it, 63-60.

Cone’s missed three-pointer highlighted a game in which the Bears made just three three-balls, down from 13 against Bakersfield Monday. Cone, who hit seven threes on Monday, hit just one tonight. Cone was 1-for-10 from beyond the arc, and scored just eight points.

Cal ends up going 2-2 on the opening homestand, and they will head to San Juan Capistrano for the SoCal Challenge starting Monday night, when they will take on the UTEP Miners for a very-late 9:30 tipoff.