Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Sacramento State
'Cats Extend Winning Streak to Five with Win Over Hornets
1/23/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
OGDEN, UTAH - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde would have loved this one. Weber State defeated Sacramento State 69-56 Wednesday night inside the Dee Event Center in game which had two completely different faces in each half.
The first half was all offense with both teams hitting a combined 29-49 (.592) from the field and 13-24 (.542) from the three-point line with Weber State taking a 39-35 lead into the locker room at half time.
Sac State came into the game as the worst shooting team in the Big Sky from both the field, the three-point line and the free throw line. But the Hornets came out smoking making good on 13-24 shots which included 7-13 (.538) from beyond the arc and were 2-2 from the line for good measure.
To keep pace, the Wildcats had to make 16-25 shots (.640) and 6-11 from the arc. WSU shot, and made, just one first half free throw. Only seven personals were called in the first half, four on Weber State and three on Sac State.
Both teams went into their respective locker rooms looking like the handsome Dr. Jekyll but after drinking the potion came back out as Hyde.
Sacramento State was 4-18 (.222) from the floor and scored only 10 points in the first 15 minutes of the half and scored 21 total second half points. The Hornets were 1-6 from the three-point line but did make a respectable 12-18 (.667) from the line.
The Wildcats were slightly better with 13-31 (.419) from the field but laid an egg from the three-point line going 0-9 in the second half. WSU came into the game shooting nearly 80 percent from the free throw line in Big Sky play but managed just 5-10 for the evening.
Weber State's second half surge was led by center STEVE PANOS who scored 14 of his WSU game high 16 points in the stanza. PANOS ended the evening hitting 7-10 shots from the field and tying his career rebounding high with nine. The Wildcats had a 19 -point lead at 64-45 with 4:38 remaining but were out scored 11-5 down the stretch.
DEZMON HARRIS added 13 points but saw his string of 19 straight made free throws come to an end. ARTURAS VALEIKA had 11 points and nine rebounds.
Sac State was led by CLARK WOODS who had a near-perfect evening hitting 5-6 from the field, including 4-5 from the three-point arc, and was 7-8 from the line for a game high 21 points. LOREN LEATH was the only other Hornet in double figures with 11.
It was Weber State's fifth straight win this season which is the longest by any team in the Big Sky during the 2007-08 season. The Wildcats move to 10-8 overall and 5-1 in Big Sky play. They are now tied with Northern Arizona for first place and meet the Lumberjacks on Friday (Jan. 25) at 7:05 p.m. in the Dee Events Center with the winner taking sole possession atop the Big Sky Conference leader board. Sacramento State is now 3-15 overall and 1-6 in Big Sky Conference play. The Hornets move on to face Idaho State on Friday, Jan. 25 in Pocatello, Idaho.
