With 15 seconds remaining in the game, San Jose State University?s Ryan Davis drove the lane and scored the go-ahead bucket to give the Spartans a 62-60 victory over Sacramento State.

Behind Cedric Thompkins? team-high 19 points, the Hornets nearly abolished any lingering memories of the 20-point drubbing the Spartans handed them a year ago.Thompkins, who also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, is leading the Hornets in total points through the first four games of the season.Even in defeat, head coach Jerome Jenkins was pleased with his team?s performance.

“We played our hearts out and had a lot of growth from our previous game,” Jenkins said. “We made a few mistakes that hurt us, but overall, I am very pleased with our performance.”

Trailing by as many as 12 points late in the first half, Sac State answered with a 13-2 run just before intermission, pulling within one, 31-30.The Hornets came out running in the second half, scoring nine straight points, to go up 43-34.

“Our defense allowed us to make such runs,” Jenkins said.

With less than five minutes remaining in the game, it was the Spartans? turn to jockey for position. Trailing by nine, San Jose answered back with a 26-8 run of their own, taking a 60-51 lead.

The Spartans? Phil Cavert sparked the comeback, scoring eight straight points, including two 3-pointers.Cavert, who netted a game-high 20 points, joined Thompkins as the only players to score in double digits.

Turnovers and poor shot selection allowed the Spartans to retake the momentum and the lead, Jenkins noted.However, the Hornets were far from finished.

Inside the final minute of play, Sac State mounted one final flurry. The Hornets? Joe Dawson finished a three-point play with 49 seconds left to knot the score at 60-60.Yet, that?s as close as the Hornets would get.

Just 30 seconds later, Davis drove the lane and converted what would be the game-winning bucket.Despite scoring just 60 points of their own, Jenkins was pleased with the Hornet defensive efforts.The Spartans shot just 40 percent , while turning the ball over 19 times.

“If we can (hold opponents to 60 points), there won?t be too many teams that will beat us,” Jenkins said.

The Hornets traveled to St. Mary?s College Tuesday, but results were not available at presstime. Their next game is scheduled for next Monday against Southern Utah University at home.