Preview: Portland State at Sacramento State, Men’s Basketball

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging Portland State team visits a Sacramento State squad riding its own wave of momentum in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball clash Saturday at Colberg Court.

The Vikings (15-6, 8-2 Big Sky) have won seven of their last eight games and sit near the top of the conference standings. Their lone loss in that stretch was a 64-60 setback to Montana on Jan. 29. They are coming off an 88-65 rout of Idaho State on Monday, led by 30 points and seven assists from guard Jaylin Henderson.

Henderson has been the engine for Portland State, averaging 16.1 points and 6.1 assists in conference play. He torched Sacramento State for 26 points and five assists in the first meeting.

The Hornets (9-13, 5-5), however, have found a rhythm after a difficult start. They have won three straight games, including a 104-90 victory over Weber State on Monday where guard Prophet Johnson exploded for a career-high 35 points.

Johnson has been sensational during the winning streak, averaging 29.3 points per game. This is a stark contrast to his performance in the Jan. 10 loss in Portland, where he was held to six points.

Sacramento State will seek to avenge that 96-69 defeat, a game where Portland State shot 54% from the field and dominated from the opening tip. The Vikings have won the last four meetings in the series.

The matchup features two of the conference’s hottest guards in Henderson and Johnson. Portland State’s success is built on balance and efficiency, while the Hornets will rely heavily on Johnson’s scoring burst and home-court advantage.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. PST Saturday. Following this contest, Portland State travels to face Northern Arizona on Feb. 12, while Sacramento State visits Northern Colorado on the same date.