The Sacramento State Hornets lost to the Eastern Washington Eagles Thursday night 59-57. Late free throws by Eagles’ guard Trey Gross gave the Eagles the late two-point lead with 2.6 seconds remaining in regulation, which ultimately gave the Hornets the home loss.

Gross finished the game with eight points and two blocks.

The loss by the Hornets brings their record to 4-17, 2-8 in the Big Sky Conference whereas the Eagles win brings their record to 9-16, 4-7. “We’ve got to buck down defensively,” said Hornets’ guard Clark Woods, who led the team in scoring with 16 points and also added four rebounds and four assists. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get that tonight.” “That second half really messed us up,” he said.

The Hornets had a six-point lead at the end of the first half with help from the Eagles’ 12 turnovers early in the game, but in the second half the Eagles handled the ball better by only committing two turnovers to win the game. “Our defense wasn’t as good as I would like it to be, but we struggled with that all year long with our young team,” Hornets coach Jerome Jenkins said. “We have a young, immature team, so we play well in spurts.” “Basketball is a game of runs,” said forward Justin Williams, who finished the game with 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

“In the second half, it just seemed like our defense wasn’t quite as effective and strong as it was in the first half,” Williams said. “That’s what we’ve got to do in the second half.” Hornets’ forward Jason Davis and forward/center Wandji Aboubakar fouled out of the game in the final minutes of regulation. The Hornets’ next game will be at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday at home against Portland State.

Alexander Villanueva can be reached at [email protected]