DaShawn Freeman and Jameel Pugh scored 25 points each as Sacramento State earned a significant 83-80 comeback victory over Montana on Thursday night at the Hornets Nest.

The Hornets (10-15, 6-6) overcame a 35-24 first half deficit and Montana’s 59.3 percent shooting from the field in a high-stakes Big Sky Conference match-up between the third place Grizzlies (12-12, 6-5) and fourth place Hornets.

The game was tied at 75 with just 27 seconds left when Jason Harris was fouled after grabbing an offensive rebound and converted both bonus free throws. The Hornets converted 8-of-8 free throws in the last 27 seconds to earn the win.

Freeman just barely missed a triple-double with 10 steals and nine assists on top of his points.

“I just felt like I couldn’t let us lose,” said Freeman, who shot 7-of-12 from the field including 9-of-9 from the line and two 3-pointers.

“DaShawn is stepping up big,” Pugh said. “We need his presence.”

Pugh continued to play well, connecting on 9-of-19 shooting, including four 3-pointers and seven rebounds.

Montana’s power forward, Kamarr Davis scored a game-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting.

Head coach Jerome Jenkins, who was suspended for last Saturday’s game at Idaho State, said he was emotional before the game because he wasn’t sure how he could act.

“I asked all three officials before the game, and they all said I could be myself,” Jenkins said.

Sac State remains in fourth place in the Big Sky, just a half of a game behind the Grizzlies and a half game up on fifth place Weber State (6-7). The top six teams advance to the Big Sky Tournament.

Jenkins said he knew the Hornets would need a win tonight if they had a chance at earning that third spot in the conference tournament.

“The goal coming in was getting that third spot,” Jenkins said.

The third and fourth place teams host first-round conference tournament games, but the Hornets could still wind up somewhere between second and seventh place in a tight conference.

The Hornets will finish its final homestand of the season against Montana State on Saturday’s senior night.

“We owe Montana State,” Freeman said. “They hit a buzzer beater to beat us on their floor.

“Pride and playoffs are on the line.”

The Hornets — winners of seven of its last eleven games — are now 9-3 at home this season and 19-7 over the last two seasons.

“We play our best ball at home,” Pugh said.

The team will then travel to Northern Arizona to play its last game on the conference schedule.

The Hornets shot 42 percent from the field against the Grizzlies and shot 90 percent on 18-of-20 free throws. The Hornets converted 31.8 percent (7-of-22) from behind the arc.

Alex Bausley scored 11 points on 5-of-17 shooting in 28 minutes. Harris scored 8 points — including 6-of-6 free throws — in a limited 16 minutes due to foul trouble.

The Hornets trailed 44-42 at the half.

Sac State forced 23 turnovers while only committing 10.