Portland, OR – Gianni Hunt scored seven points in the final 1:21 of the game for Sacramento State as the Hornets erased a three-point deficit and beat Portland State, 76-74, at Viking Pavilion.
 
The Hornets' win moved them into sixth place in the final Big Sky Conference standings while the Vikings moved from sixth to seventh. That means PSU (12-18, 6-11) will have to play a first-round game in the Big Sky Conference Tournament this Saturday against eighth-seed Northern Colorado (11-19, 6-12). That game will tip off at 7 p.m. PT and can be seen on ESPN+. Portland State will not play a makeup game with Montana from last week's postponement because it will not affect the final matchups in the tournament.
 
Sacramento State (14-17, 7-11) avoids the first round and moves on to the quarterfinals on Monday against Weber State (17-14, 12-6).
 
Monday's game had a lot riding on it for post-season implications, and from an intensity standpoint it did not disappoint. The teams were evenly matched and the largest lead of the night was a mere six points by Portland State. There were 16 ties and 13 lead changes in the contest.
 
PSU's Cameron Parker was the feature player in the first half, scoring on a series of drives and once from outside. Parker had 15 points and three assists by halftime, making 6-8 shots from the field. Sacramento State's 7-1 big man Callum McRae was nearly as good with 13 points on 5-5 from the field. 
 
The Hornets shot .571 from the field in the half in taking a 38-36 lead.
 
The lead changed hands seven times in the second half. Sacramento State took its largest lead of the game at 64-59 with 5:37 to go on a Cameron Wilbon dunk.
 
But the Vikings charged back, scoring on their next five possessions in a row. Jorell Saterfield made a three-pointer and later dunked on a fast-break pass from Isaiah Johnson. Then Johnson went to work, making a pair of free throws and scoring on a nifty move inside. That put the Vikings back on top 70-67. 
 
When Johnson made two free throws with 1:59 on the clock, the Vikings led 72-69. 
 
That's when Hunt took over. First, he scored on a drive to the basket. Following an empty possession by the Vikings, Hunt buried a three-pointer - the only three of the game for the Hornets - and they led 74-72 with 32.9 seconds to play.
 
Hunter Woods was fouled on the Vikings' next possession and he calmly sank both free throws to tie up the game again. 
 
After a Sacramento State timeout, the Hornets ran the clock down for a final shot. Hunt made a hard drive to the hoop and was fouled at the rim by Kendall Munson. He proceeded to make both free throws for a 76-74 lead with 3.6 seconds on the clock. 
 
Portland State raced up court, but a 25-foot, game-winning attempt by Keshaun Saunders bounced off the front iron and the Hornets had the win.
 
Parker led the Vikings in scoring for the 15th game in a row, getting 21 points with seven assists. Johnson scored a career-high 17 points, making 5-8 from the field and 7-10 at the line. He added three rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. Saterfield finished with 13 points, all coming in the second half, and five rebounds.
 
McRae led the Hornets with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Hunt scored 15 points and had five assists.
 
Sacramento State finished the game shooting .527 from the field and out-rebounded the Vikings, 33-25. PSU shot .473 from the field.
 

GAME NOTES

• Portland State is now 5-3 in games decided by four points or less this season.
• Bobby Harvey stretched his three-pointers-made streak to 26 straight games with a first-half three. The school record is 35 games, held by Brian Towne.
• With four made free throws, Cameron Parker has tied the school record of 191 made in a season. 
• Prior to the game, Portland State honored seniors Cameron Parker, Mikal Starks and Jacob Eyman playing their final home game.
• The Big Sky Conference Tournament takes place in Boise, ID, Mar. 4-8.

 

The Big Sky Conference Tournament Bracket
Idaho Central Arena, Boise, ID (All times Mountain)

 
First Round – Saturday, March 4 (all times Mountain)
Game 1: Northern Arizona vs. Idaho – 5:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 2: Portland State vs. Northern Colorado – 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
 
Second Round – Sunday, March 5
Game 3: Eastern Washington vs. Game 1 Winner – 5:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 4: Montana State vs. Game 2 Winner – 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
 
Third Round – Monday, March 6
Game 5: Montana vs. Idaho State – 5:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 6: Weber State vs. Sacramento State – 8:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
 
Semifinals – Tuesday, March 7
Game 7: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner – 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU and ESPN+)
Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner – 9:00 p.m. (ESPN2 and ESPN+)
 
Championship – Wednesday, March 8
Game 9: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner – 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2 and ESPN+)