In the last three games for the men’s basketball team, Cedric Thompkins played for a combined 21 minutes and coach Jerome Jenkins had moved him from the starting lineup, to the bench, to very deep in the rotation.

“I haven’t been real happy with Cedric lately with his play and being a senior,” coach Jenkins said. “I’ve had long talks with Cedric about his level of commitment to the program and Cedric promised this team tonight that he was committed. Whatever little time that I was going to give him, he would make the best of it.”

In 12 minutes in the second half, Thompkins, made the best of the situation. He outhussled his way to a season-high 14 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Hornets (5-6) to a 73-51 victory over Long Beach State (2-6).

“(Coach Jenkins) was just telling me the team needs me — he just kept reminding me of that,” Thompkins said.

From warming the bench to the team’s saving grace, Thompkins pulled down seven offensive rebounds in the second half and entered the game when Sac State had only a 46-40 lead. Six minutes later Thompkins had tallied eight points, eight rebounds and one blocked shot — giving the Hornets a 58-43 lead on his way to his second double-double of the season.

Sac State was led by guard Joel Jones who shot 9-of-19 from the floor and sunk two three-pointers while also converting dunks from above the rim.

While the 49er defense focused its attention on the shooting of Brandon Guyton, Jones was able to find room in the lane and from outside finishing with a game-high 21 points.

Sac State is now 2-1 since coach Jenkins inserted Guyton, known for his deadly accurate three-point shooting, and forward Chris Lange into the starting lineup.

“I went back to the guys that helped us get over the hump a year ago and the guys that have been with the program a couple of years because they know what I am all about and the level of play that they have to play at,” coach Jenkins said.

With the Hornet offense posing the threat of Guyton open on the wing, defenses must choose between tailing Guyton along the three-point line or leaving Jones to roam around the top of the key.

Long Beach’s defense may have saddled Guyton, who shot 3-of-10 from the floor, but Jones found holes in the lane and was also able to sink shots early on.

The team amassed 20 assists, six of which belonged to point guard DaShawn Freeman. The 49ers had only eight assists for the game and were led by forward Kevin Roberts’ 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The 49ers tried to run much of the offense through Roberts at the top of the key, but Sac State’s defense often forced Roberts to pass the ball or choose a bad shot.

The Hornets also limited themselves to 10 turnovers.”I think gradually our intensity has picked up…,” Jones said. “It’s contagious. The rest of the team is catching our intensity.”

Sac State will next host the University of Riverside on Monday at 7:05 p.m.