When Weber State knocked the Hornets out of the Big Sky Tournament last season, Jason Harris was in Southern California, finishing his final semester at Chaffey junior college.

This time around, when the Wildcats returned to the Hornets Nest for their first conference match-up of the season, the junior transfer was the difference.

Harris scored a career-high 31 points – including four 3-pointers – to lead the Hornets (5-11, 2-2) to a 78-72 victory over Weber State (5-11, 1-4).

“I am just doing what (Jenkins) tells me to do,” Harris said. “We have to protect our house. This is a big win.”

Harris, averaging 16 points, connected on 10-of-16 from the field and 4-of-6 from behind the arc. Harris also grabbed nine rebounds and three steals. Harris’ point total was the most for a Hornet since Joseth Dawson’s 32 points at home against the Wildcats last season.

“(Harris) is doing everything I ask him to do,” head coach Jerome Jenkins said.

The Hornets led by as many as eight points in the first half, but the Wildcats rallied in the half’s closing minutes to within two at 35-33.

Both teams battled through the second half and, after an E.J. Harris 3-pointer, were tied at 61 with five minutes remaining.

With just less than three minutes remaining, and the game tied at 65, Jason Harris came on backside help defense, blocking Jamaal Jenkins shot and recovering the ball. Jason Harris then heaved the ball up court to a sprinting Jameel Pugh who finished with a one-hand slam.

The Hornets would extend their lead to 70-65 on their next possession after Jason Harris drove baseline and converted on an and-one lay-up.

An Alex Bausley 3-pointer and five-of-six free throws preserved the victory.

“It’s a big win for the program,” Jenkins said. “We are trying to turn this into a rivalry.”

The Hornets came into the contest with a 1-19 record against the Wildcats, the lone victory coming last season in a regular season home game. Weber State knocked the Hornets out of the Big Sky Tournament last season, 68-62, at the Hornets Nest.

Jameel Pugh scored 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 2-of-6 3-pointers, but played just 21 minutes due to foul trouble.

Bausley earned a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds in 38 minutes.

E.J. Harris logged seven assists.

Sac State shot 42.9 percent from the field and 32 percent in 3-pointers. The Hornets came into the game shooting just 34 percent and 26 percent from 3-point range.

The Hornets turned the ball over just six times in the contest – the lowest turnover total for the team since Feb. 6, 1997. Weber State turned it over 18 times.

Lance Allred, the 6-foot-10, 270 pound Weber State center, had 16 points and 21 rebounds. Coric Riggs scored 23 points for the Wildcats.

Sac State has now won four in a row on their home floor and six straight conference home games dating back to last season.

“Our goal is to win all home games,” Jenkins said. “Our motto is to ‘protect our house.’ We are trying to win all home games.”

DaShawn Freeman, still nursing a hamstring injury, played just 16 minutes.

“It hurts,” Freeman said. “It was killing me after I made my first move.”

Freeman scored 8 points — including 6-of-8 free throws — but will continue to play limited minutes and practice lightly until the hamstring is healthy.

The Hornets have been playing with a limited roster of 10 players – including Freeman – all season. Senior point guard James Payne will miss the remainder of the season because of academics, while junior forward Chris Lange will return for the Hornets in the team’s next contest.

Jenkins says he believes his team will start winning on the road too. The Hornets next contest is at Montana State on Jan. 20 at 6:05 p.m.