A feasting of NAIA Great Falls seemed all too appropriate for the holidays, especially for a Sacramento State men’s basketball team that’s been starving for a victory in each of its last seven games.

The Hornets (2-8) defeated Great Falls of Montana, 71-49, in a non-conference contest Wednesday night.

The Argos (3-11) stayed close throughout the contest, but a 20-to-4 run by the Hornets late in the second half closed the door.

The Hornets shot a season-high 54 percent on 27-of-50 shooting. Their prior season-high came in their previous contest – a 82-74 loss to UC Riverside – where the Hornets shot 46.6 percent.

Alex Bausley scored a team-high 18 points – including four 3-pointers – and had seven rebounds in 33 minutes.

Aaron Perry scored a career-high 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting and 7-of-14 from the line. Jason Harris also scored 15 for the Hornets.

E.J. Harris scored all of his 10 points in the second half, shooting a perfect 5-of-5 from the field – all on lay-ups. DaShawn Freeman scored 10 points, had nine assists and four steals.

The Hornets led 33-22 at the half.

Jameel Pugh played limited minutes in his first action since Dec. 12 because of a stress fracture in his right foot. Pugh didn’t take any shots from the field in just seven minutes.

“The injury is small right now and pain is not really a factor,” Pugh said. “I had yet to practice since the injury, so I am still really stiff.

“I am confident in (the injury) healing.”

The Hornets shot just 12-of-33 from the line.

Jason Harris, Bausley, Perry, Freeman and freshman Schuyler McKay started for the Hornets.

The game was Sac State’s first at home since Dec. 7. The Hornets will play two more contests before beginning Big Sky Conference play. The team will travel to Oregon State on Dec. 28 and face Utah Valley State in the Hornets Nest on Dec. 30.