Weber State University Athletics
Monday, March 6
Boise, ID
8:00 p.m.
Weber State University
18-14,12-6Big Sky
70
vs
64
#6 Sacramento State
14-18,7-11Big Sky
1
2
F
Sacramento St.
25
39
64
Weber St.
41
29
70
Photo by: Robert Casey
Wildcats beat Hornets in Big Sky Quarterfinals
3/6/2023 10:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Weber State beat Sacramento State 70-64; WSU will play Montana State Tuesday at 9 p.m. in the semifinals.
BOISE, Idaho - Weber State never trailed and won its first game of the 2023 Big Sky Tournament with a 70-64 victory over Sacramento State Monday night in the conference tournament quarterfinals.Â
The Wildcats advance to the semifinals and will take on No. 2 seed Montana State on Tuesday at 9 p.m. on ESPN2. The game is a rematch of last season when the two teams met in the semifinals.Â
In Monday's win, the Wildcats shot 55 percent from the field and jumped out to a big lead in the first half. The Wildcats shot 64 percent in the first half, scored the first seven points of the game, then later had a 10-0 run and led 21-7 with 10:33 to play in the half.Â
WSU had a 12-2 run and led by 16 at 39-23 and led 41-25 at halftime.Â
The Wildcats led by 12 with 2:22 to play after a Dillon Jones 3-pointer, before a 7-0 Sacramento State run cut the WSU lead to five with 47 seconds left. But Weber State made four free throws in the final 25 seconds to seal the win.Â
Three Wildcats scored in double figures with Jones leading the way with 18 points. He tied his season-low with five rebounds but led the Wildcats with four assists.Â
KJ Cunningham had a career-high 16 points on 6 of 7 shooting. Steven Verplancken also added 16 points and was 7 of 9 fro the field. Alex Tew added nine points for the 'Cats.Â
Sacramento State won the rebounding edge 28-18 but Weber State had a season-low six turnovers and was 10 of 12 from the free throw lin.Â
"Really proud of our team tonight," said WSU head coach Eric Duft. "We knew we had to score tonight against Sacramento State and the guys stepped up and made some really big plays. It was a good performance from the team all the way around from start to finish."
The Wildcats advance to the semifinals and will take on No. 2 seed Montana State on Tuesday at 9 p.m. on ESPN2. The game is a rematch of last season when the two teams met in the semifinals.Â
In Monday's win, the Wildcats shot 55 percent from the field and jumped out to a big lead in the first half. The Wildcats shot 64 percent in the first half, scored the first seven points of the game, then later had a 10-0 run and led 21-7 with 10:33 to play in the half.Â
WSU had a 12-2 run and led by 16 at 39-23 and led 41-25 at halftime.Â
The Wildcats led by 12 with 2:22 to play after a Dillon Jones 3-pointer, before a 7-0 Sacramento State run cut the WSU lead to five with 47 seconds left. But Weber State made four free throws in the final 25 seconds to seal the win.Â
Three Wildcats scored in double figures with Jones leading the way with 18 points. He tied his season-low with five rebounds but led the Wildcats with four assists.Â
KJ Cunningham had a career-high 16 points on 6 of 7 shooting. Steven Verplancken also added 16 points and was 7 of 9 fro the field. Alex Tew added nine points for the 'Cats.Â
Sacramento State won the rebounding edge 28-18 but Weber State had a season-low six turnovers and was 10 of 12 from the free throw lin.Â
"Really proud of our team tonight," said WSU head coach Eric Duft. "We knew we had to score tonight against Sacramento State and the guys stepped up and made some really big plays. It was a good performance from the team all the way around from start to finish."
Win and Advance!
— Weber State MBB ?? (@WeberStateMBB) March 7, 2023
On to the semis! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/wvy2zTDlPe
???????????? ???? ??#WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/aEZgxo3ENo
— Weber State MBB ?? (@WeberStateMBB) March 7, 2023
ÂCoach Duft, KJ Cunningham and Dillon Jones after the win. #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/5IhZOGjmAc
— Weber State MBB ?? (@WeberStateMBB) March 7, 2023
Team Stats
SacSt
Weber
FG%
.531
.549
3FG%
.368
.267
FT%
.833
.833
RB
28
18
TO
15
6
STL
2
9
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
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