Preview of Sacramento State at Eastern Washington Men’s Basketball

CHENEY, Wash. (Interstat) — Two Big Sky Conference teams seeking momentum will meet Saturday when the Sacramento State Hornets visit the Eastern Washington Eagles at Reese Court.

Both teams enter the Jan. 24 contest on the heels of rare victories. Sacramento State (6-11, 2-3 Big Sky) snapped a three-game skid with a 93-89 overtime win over Northern Colorado last Saturday. Eastern Washington (4-14, 2-3) earned a convincing 84-66 road win at Idaho State the same day.

The matchup features two of the league’s top offensive talents in a battle of backcourts. Sacramento State is led by junior guard Prophet Johnson, who is coming off a spectacular two-game homestand. He scored 30 points in the overtime win over Northern Colorado and added 29 points in a victory over Northern Arizona last Thursday. His scoring surge has been vital for the Hornets.

Eastern Washington will counter with sophomore guard Isaiah Moses, who has been a consistent force. Moses has scored 20 or more points in four of his last five games, including 22 points in the win at Idaho State. His backcourt duel with Johnson will be a central storyline.

Despite their overall records, both teams have shown recent signs of life in conference play. The Hornets’ two league wins came at home, and they now face the challenge of carrying that success on the road. The Eagles’ victory at Idaho State marked their first road win of the season, and they will look to protect their home court.

Sacramento State’s offense runs through Johnson, who gets support from Jahni Summers and Mark Lavrenov, each scoring 17 points in the latest win. Eastern Washington relies heavily on Moses, but received strong contributions from Alton Hamilton (15 points) and Kiree Huie (12 points, 3 blocks) in their last outing.

Defensive consistency will be key. The Hornets allowed 96 points in a loss at Portland State on Jan. 10, while the Eagles have struggled at times to contain opponents, yielding 90 or more points in several non-conference defeats.

This game represents an opportunity for either squad to climb toward the middle of the Big Sky standings. Following this contest, Sacramento State returns home for three straight games, while Eastern Washington embarks on a two-game road trip to Arizona.