The Sacramento State men’s basketball team defeated Southern Utah University 84-73 Thursday, improving its overall record to 11-11 and 5-8 in the Big Sky Conference.

Hornets trailed by 14 points with 6:58 left in the first half but cut the lead down to 1 point at halftime.

Sac State then outscored Southern Utah 52-40 in the second half, which included going 6 for 11 from 3-point range.

“We stressed this is a really physical, tough team and you’re going to have to stay the course,” head coach Brian Katz said. “It’s going to be a heavyweight fight and you’re going to have to stay strong and it is going to be the battle of the wills.”

Junior center Joshua Patton, second in the Big Sky in field goal percentage, had a game high 22 points and 13 rebounds.

Postgame interview with Joshua Patton who finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/hDnpnPeBz4

— Dominique Walker (@DomoWalk) February 15, 2019

“My coaches tell me to be aggressive, they want me to go out and play my best every night,” Patton said. “I’ve been struggling the past couple games but my coaches kept believing in me and my teammates kept believing in me and I just went out there and played my game tonight. “

The Hornets have struggled shooting from three all season and rank last in the Big Sky by only making 5 threes a game. But on Thursday, guard Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’afa made 5 three-point field goals by himself.

“Definitely boost my confidence, man. I’ve been struggling nearly this whole year,” Mauriohooho-Le’afa said. “Credit to my teammates for giving me the ball right where I need it and all I had to do was knock it down.”

Ethan Esposito with the jump hook to put the Hornets up by 3. The score is now 46-43 with 13:54 remaining in the game. pic.twitter.com/wKla1f2N49

— Dominique Walker (@DomoWalk) February 15, 2019

Mauriohooho-Le’afa finished with 18 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.  

Senior point guard Marcus Graves struggled shooting, going 4-15 from the field, but still finished with 19 points.

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“We had guys really step up tonight Bryce (Fowler), JP (Joshua Patton) they really picked me up when I was playing bad,” Graves said. “Then I knocked down those free throws at the end to help us get the win.”

Sac State will play again Northern Arizona at the Nest on Feb. 16.

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