The Sacramento State men?s basketball team walked off the floor after a home loss on Friday knowing that it would be the last time this season that it would happen after a meaningful game.

The Hornets who were looking to claim the final Big Sky Conference Tournament spot, watched their chances disappear earlier than most expected.

With the 81-71 loss to Eastern Washington University coupled with Portland State University?s 88-79 upset victory over Northern Arizona, the Hornets were officially eliminated from the conference tournament.

“I?m very disappointed that we didn?t make it but then again, the program has never been to this point,” Hornet coach Jerome Jenkins said. “Eastern Washington is a better team who is second in the Big Sky Conference. The kids fought hard and may have panicked a little bit.”

PSU forward Anthony Lackey shot the Vikings past Northern Arizona scoring 31 points with seven three pointers. Portland State finished the season with four consecutive wins jumping the Hornets in the season standings.

Against Eastern Washington, the Hornets jumped out to a 20-19 lead with 8:11 remaining in the first half but watched their lead disappear.

Five layups and 10 free throws gave the Eagles a 40-34 lead going into halftime.

The Eagles scored 19 of the team?s 40 first-half points from the free-throw line. The Hornets, who had seven more shot attempts in the half, were kept in the game by guard Joel Jones who had 11 first-half points.

Hornet turnovers and missed 3-point attempts allowed the Eagles to begin the second half with an 8-2 run to take a 48-36 lead with 17:02 left in the game. More layups and free throws allowed the Eagles to get the lead as high as 17 before the Hornets made a run.

The Hornets shrunk the lead to 10 points with 7:18 left but could not make a serious rally. Late free throws by the Eagles permitted the Hornets from making a comeback, as the Hornets were only able to cut the Eagles deficit down to eight.

Hester led the Eagles with 22 points while Alvin Snow scored 20. Brown finished the game with 14 points with most of his points coming from late free throws.

Hornet guards Rene Jacques and Joe Dawson struggled, finishing a combined 6-of-24 from the floor. Joel Jones led the Hornets with 23 points and five rebounds.

On Saturday, the Hornets faced Portland State in the final game of seniors Jay Richardson, Troy Selvey, Ronnie Walton, and Jacques? Sac State careers. It wasn?t the way that the seniors would have wanted to leave the school, as the Hornets lost 74-67.

The Hornets jumped out to a 16-10 lead with 12:55 remaining. The lead would not last, as Lackey led the Vikings on an 8-0 run. The teams traded baskets going into halftime with the score tied at 39.

The Vikings pulled away from the Hornets to take a nine-point lead at 58-49. The Hornets made a run capped off by a Richardson 3-pointer to take a one point lead with seven minutes remaining.

That?s when the Hornets had trouble scoring, as they were only able to score 5 points in the final seven minutes while Lackey lead the Vikings to the victory.

Jacques led the Hornets with 16 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from the 3-point line.

“I?m really disappointed (that the Hornets didn?t make it to the tournament) because it was the first time for me in the four year process to make it,” Selvey said. “We had a lot of talent but it took us a while to gel.”

Selvey and Jenkins believe that next year the Hornets will make it to the BSC tournament. The team will return nine players from this year?s squad.