Before the season began, Hornets senior Jameel Pugh talked about wanting to have a better year playing at home.

He got off to a great start, scoring a career-high 25 points in the Hornets first win of the season, a 74-67 non-conference home victory against Southern Utah University on Monday night.

All it took was a little motivation from teammate and best friend, senior point guard E.J. Harris, to get him going.

“I cussed him out in the first half,” Harris said. “I had to get him going somehow.”

Pugh says Harris is always the first one to get in his ear when he isn’t playing well. “He is my motivation on and off the court,” Pugh said. “He knows how to motivate me more than anyone.”

Pugh shot 8-of-15 from the field and hit 4-of-7 in 3-pointers including two in the game’s final minutes. During a stretch midway through the second half, Pugh scored 12 straight Hornets points.

“Coach Jenkins talked about handling pressure and taking over,” Pugh said. “I wanted to dominate out there.”

Harris also finished with a career high in points (14) on 5-of-8 shooting including three 3-pointers. All of Harris’ 3-pointers came during an 11-0 run of his own to close out the first half.

Southern Utah rallied from a 21-point deficit in the second half to close it to 69-66 on a Curtis Lincoln lay-up with a just two minutes remaining, but Pugh answered right back on a 3-pointer that ultimately put the Thunderbirds out of reach.

“This was a great learning lesson for our guys,” head coach Jerome Jenkins said. “I know some of the guys thought it was over, but it’s never over until that final buzzer goes off.”

Alex Bausley was the third Hornet to finish with a career high — both in points (12) and rebounds (10). It was the first double-double of his career. His previous career highs were 11 and nine respectively.

Sac State opened with an early 17-4 lead through the game’s first five minutes. The Hornets led 39-21 at the half. The Hornets never trailed in the contest.

The Hornets shot 45.5 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range. It was an improvement from their first game at Michigan where the Hornets shot just 33.3 percent and 26.7 percent from 3-point range.

Jason Harris, Aaron Perry, Bausley, DaShawn Freeman, and Pugh started for the Hornets. It was the same five that started in the season opener at University of Michigan. Jenkins hopes to settle into a regular starting lineup throughout the season.

Freeman had five points, five assists and five steals. Jason Harris had nine points, five rebounds and four assists.

Sac State outrebounded Southern Utah 37 to 30.

The Hornets forced 24 turnovers, but turned it over 23 times.

Sacramento State bounced back from a 70-49 opening season loss to Michigan. The Hornets are now 1-1 and have won its last six home openers. The Thunderbirds drop to 1-1 on the season.

The Hornets were 10-4 at home last season.

The Hornets play next at Long Beach State on Nov. 27 at 1:05 p.m.