Sacramento State inducted eight former players into the men’s basketball Hall of Fame before an audience of nearly 200 in the Alumni Center Wednesday night during the second annual Hall of Fame Tip-Off Banquet.

The inductees were Chuck Mobley, Don Fausset, Lynn Livie, Greg Reed, Nate Robinson, Alex Williams, Damond Edwards and Jameel Pugh. At least one player from every decade, starting with the 1950s, of Hornet basketball was inducted during the ceremony.

Six of the eight inductees attended. Mobley and Livie’s awards were accepted by others because they have died. Mobley’s award was accepted by a former teammate, while Livie’s award was accepted by his widow, Linda.

Mobley’s award was then given to current Hornet head coach Brian Katz, who pledged to do something special with it.

“We’ll do one better,” Katz said. “We’ll put it up in our locker room.”

That line got resounding applause from the near-capacity crowd.

All of the inductees said they were humbled and honored to be given a spot in the hall of fame.

“This is really a big honor,” Reed said. “I have a special feeling for being inducted with Lynn Livie – a guy that was in my era. It’s a really honor for me to be inducted with him.”

Edwards (1992-1997), expressed similar feelings.

“It actually is a very humbling experience,” Edwards said. “You always think you’re good enough to get your jersey retired or get inducted to the Hall of Fame. But when it actually happens, obviously, it’s a much bigger deal than you thought it would be.”

Maury Costa, president of the Hornet men’s basketball alumni & friends chapter, said he thought the ceremony went well.

“We’re real pleased,” Costa said. “It had a great turnout. I think we had eight quality inductees and not only that, I think they were very entertaining for the crowd. It was good electricity and enthusiasm in the room and I think this is really going to give us a lot of momentum going forward.”

Dustin Nosler can be reached at [email protected].