Sacramento State Hornet guard #16 Prophet Johnson shoots a free throw in the 2nd half with 11:11 remaining in the game at the Hornet Pavilion on Monday, Feb. 2nd, 2026 (photo by the author Michael Villanueva)
By Michael Villanueva
SACRAMENTO – On SACTOWN Sports Night, Sacramento State defeated Weber State 104-90 to extend its winning streak to three games and maintain its dominance at the Hornet Pavilion. The Hornets came out strong and never looked back, playing their best basketball of the season. They controlled the game from beginning to end with a combination of early offensive bursts and disciplined second-half execution. Hornets are 5-0 at home in Big Sky play for the 2nd time ever.
The Hornets started the game with Prophet Johnson, Mark Lavrenov, Shaqir O’Neal, Mikey Williams, and Jahni Summers in the backcourt. Lavrenov had anchored Sacramento State on both ends of the court with four double-doubles in his previous six games, while Williams was one of the Big Sky’s leading scorers going into the contest with an average of 20.6 points per game. Tijan Saine Jr., Duce Paschal, Nigel Burris, Viljami Vartiainen, and Malek Gomma were the players that Weber State used to respond. Saine Jr. led the Wildcats with 15.9 points per game, while Gomma controlled the glass with 7.1 rebounds per game.
Shaqir O’Neal, a forward for Sacramento State, opened the game with a stunning three-pointer that sent the crowd into an uproar. The Hornets made four of their last five field goal attempts and played smart basketball with efficient ball movement, taking a 12-9 lead in the first five minutes. Sacramento State went on a 6-2 scoring run early in the game, but the Wildcats quickly reacted with four straight field goals to maintain a competitive score. With backdoor cutters and high screens, both teams began to establish a rhythm. However, the Hornets had a momentary slump, going scoreless for two minutes and making consecutive errors, which allowed Weber State to narrow the lead to 22–21.
Summers began a rapid run with back-to-back three-pointers to drive a 15-3 run that included five consecutive field goals, and Sacramento State immediately regained control with a 7-0 run after making three consecutive shots in a minute and a half. With six minutes left in the first half, the Hornets increased their lead to 33–24.
After that, Sacramento State scored 28 points in the last seven minutes of the first half, putting the game well out of reach. The streak included a three-pointer from Hornet Madi Arman, which gave Sacramento State three consecutive three-pointers and put Weber State in a scoring bind that lasted over three minutes. The Hornets kept up their impressive shooting, making twelve of their thirteen field goal attempts at the end of the half and six straight three-pointers. Summers scored 17 points to start the Hornets’ offensive early, and Sacramento State led 53–32 at the half. The Hornets would also finish with 9 threes in the 1st half.
Mark Lavrenov drove to the rim for a layup to give the Hornets their first basket of the second half, but O’Neal soon got into foul trouble and committed his fourth personal foul. Weber State scored right away, making four consecutive field goals and six of their final ten tries, while Sacramento State started slowly, lasting almost three minutes without scoring. In response, the Hornets maintained control by attacking the basket, drawing fouls, and making clutch free throws. Although Weber State’s determination and ability to get into the lane allowed the Wildcats to score more points in the second half than in the first, Sacramento State’s lead was cut to 9 points, 70-61.
Weber State put pressure on the Hornets with their aggressive defense and baskets in the paint, cutting the advantage to 83-68 with almost seven minutes remaining. Sacramento State maintained its composure as it continued to drive to the rim, draw fouls, and make free throws, despite the Wildcats scoring 42 points in the paint during the half. Weber State attempted a comeback late in the game with its sixth three-pointer of the half, but Sacramento State finished the game with confidence thanks to the Hornets’ discipline and beneficial turnovers.
Prophet Johnson, who scored 35 points and energized the offense with constant scoring from the perimeter and in transition, was the driving force behind the Hornets’ win. With nine rebounds and 18 points throughout Sacramento State’s scoring runs, Mark Lavrenov dominated the paint. Jahni Summers, who coordinated the offense and made big three-pointers that fueled the Hornets’ shooting runs, contributed five assists.
Prior to the game, Sacramento State guard Prophet Johnson was named the College Insider National Player of the Week for helping the Hornets stun Montana and Montana State, both of which were in second place in the Big Sky Conference, at home. Zach Chappell was the last Hornet to get this national award in 2022. Chappell is now the assistant general manager of the Hornets.
With their third consecutive win, Sacramento State upped its home-court record to 9-1 and reinforced its standing as one of the top 6 schools in the Big Sky Conference. The Hornets will host first-place Portland State at 7 p.m. on February 7, 2026, in another major Big Sky game, hoping to build on their home-court success and continue their climb in the conference standings.
The Hornet Pavilion is buzzing with record-breaking crowds and momentum on their side. Just the Hornets hope to move this momentum and play it into road games, as the Hornets still haven’t won on the road. However, the team loves to play and thrive in their nest. Saturday’s game will conclude the team 4-game homestand.
Sports Radio Service 