National exposure is something the Hornets have been yearning for. This year, for good or bad, they’ll get it.

“That’s what we’ve been waiting for,” senior point guard DaShawn Freeman said. “Coach (Jerome) Jenkins and I have talked about this for four years.”

The Hornets first hit the national stage last year when former guard Jameel Pugh made the college slam-dunk contest on ESPN, where he placed second.

Unlike that specialty event, this year’s team will get the exposure during games.

Saturday, Sacramento State visits the University of Nevada-Reno.Nevada, ranked No. 22 in the Associated Press preseason poll, is coming off a 2-0 exhibition season. The Wolf Pack beat Division II Humboldt State 78-72 on Saturday. Leading Nevada will be junior Nick Fazekas. The 6-foot-11 Fazekas was last season’s Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, averaging 20.7 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

“You can’t be the best until you beat the best; I believe we can win every game,” Freeman said.

Senior forward Chris Lange also said the team is going into the game ready to compete.

“We aren’t there to collect a check and go home,” Lange said. “It’s just a name on a jersey.”

The Hornets also went 2-0 in the exhibition games, beating Simpson College 101-69, then Notre Dame de Namur 72-54 on Friday.

Four Hornets scored in double figures Friday, led by junior Alex Bausley’s 13.

The 18-point win was not exactly what the Hornets were looking for as they were outscored in the second half 35-33.

Jenkins said that the team had a lot of players out of position and that the defensive rotations and shot selection needed work.

He also said that the team didn’t run much set offense because they don’t want to show other teams what they have in store for them.

“We want to keep everything close to the vest,” Jenkins said.

Before the Hornets go to Nevada, they will play in the Guardian’s Classic in Texas.

Sac State took on Samford University on Tuesday; results were not available by press time.

If the Hornets beat Samford, they will take on the winner of the Southern versus Texas matchup on ESPNU today. The Longhorns are ranked No. 2 nationally.

“We are going to keep pushing the ball (on offense),” Freeman said. “We are going to keep pressing on defense.”

After Nevada, Sac State will play their only home game of the month, taking on William Jessup at 7:05 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Hornets Nest.

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Robert Alvis can be reached at [email protected]