SACRAMENTO, Calif.---  In their final exhibition game of the 2022-23 season, the Stan State Warriors lost to the Sacramento State Hornets 72-51 in the battle of the halves.  The Warriors outscored Sac State 27-19 in the first half, but the Hornets outscored Stan State 53-24 in the second half to take the victory.  Marlon Short and Jeremiah Jones each had eight points to lead the way for the visitors. 

FIRST HALF: A Benno Zecic jumper capped a 10-1 run by the Warriors in the first eight minutes of the game.  Stan State held the Hornets without a basket until the 11:37 mark of the first half when Austin Patterson scored a lay-up in the paint.  The Hornets cut Stan State's lead to 10-7, but the Warriors increased their lead to 17-9 on an old-fashioned three-point play by Kobe Ordonio with seven minutes left in the half.  A Travion Williams' lay-up increased Stan State's lead to double digits (21-22) with just 4:35 on the clock.  A lay-up by Callum McCrae cut the Warrior lead to seven, but a free throw by Jeremiah Jones gave the guests a 27-19 lead heading into the locker room.

SECOND HALF:  Sac State (7-6) came out on fire to begin the second half and went on a 10-1 run to take a 29-28 lead in the first five minutes of the new stanza.  A jumper by Kobe Ordonio off a pass from Marlon Short stopped the Hornet run.  The Hornets increased their lead to 52-34 on a three by Hunter Marks with 7:46 left in regulation.  A three by Jeremiah Jones off a pass from Isaiah Jones cut the Hornet lead to 52-40, but the Hornets outscored the Warriors 20-11 in the final six minutes to take the 72-51 victory. 

JJ:  Jeremiah Jones paced the Warriors with 11 points.  Jones went four-for-seven from the field including three-for-five from the three-point land.  Micah Boone added seven points while grabbed four rebounds off the bench for Stan State.  Three players scored six points each in Kobe Ordonio, Benno Zecic and Matt Bender.

11/20:  Once again, the Warriors had 11 assists on 20 made baskets this evening.  Benno Zecic had four to lead the way followed by Baljot Sahi and Marlon Short each with two.  Three Stan State players had one assist each in Will Pallesi, Jeremiah Jones, and Isaiah Jones.

11:  Stan State recorded eleven steals this evening.  Will Pallesi and Benno Zecic each had three followed by Travion Williams and Kobe Ordonio each with two.  Marlon Short added one for Stan State.

DEFENSE: The Warriors held Sac State to just 20% shooting from the field including 19% from three-point range in the first half to key their eight-point lead at the half.  For the game, Stan State held the Hornets to 44% shooting from the field including just 41% from three-point range.  The Warriors forced 16 turnovers by their opponents.

FINAL EXHIBITION GAME:  This evening was Stan State's third and final exhibition game of the 2022-23 season.  The Warriors also played Fresno State out of the Big West and the University of the Pacific out of the West Coast Conference earlier this season.

UP NEXT: The Warriors will return to CCAA play on Sunday, January 1 for 3pm game with Chico State at The Fitz.  This will the beginning of a season-long five game homestand for the Warriors.  After hosting Chico State this Sunday, the Warriors will entertain Cal State East Bay on Jan. 5 at 7:30pm and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Jan. 7 at 3pm.  They will conclude their home stand against No. 12 Cal State San Bernardino (Jan. 12 at 7:30pm) and Cal Poly Pomona (Jan. 14 at 3pm).