SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — Prophet Johnson scored 29 points to propel Sacramento State to an 83-69 victory over Northern Arizona in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Thursday at Colberg Court. The Hornets (5-11, 1-2) used a dominant second half, outscoring the Lumberjacks 49-30 after trailing 39-34 at halftime. Johnson keyed the surge, and Sacramento State capitalized on 18 points off 13 Northern Arizona turnovers. Traivar Jackson led the Lumberjacks (6-12, 0-3) with 18 points. Sacramento State shot 11 for 23 from 3-point range and 18 for 20 from the free-throw line to secure the win. Attendance was 2,298.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half performance, fueled by a career night from Prophet Johnson and a decisive surge after halftime, propelled Sacramento State to an 83-69 victory over Northern Arizona in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Colberg Court. The Hornets, who trailed by five at intermission, outscored the Lumberjacks 49-30 over the final 20 minutes to snap a three-game skid and improve to 5-11 overall. Northern Arizona dropped its fourth consecutive contest, falling to 6-12. The game’s pivotal shift occurred early in the second half. After a back-and-forth first period that saw Northern Arizona take a 39-34 lead behind 14 first-half points from Traivar Jackson, Sacramento State emerged from the locker room with renewed defensive intensity. The Hornets forced a series of turnovers and capitalized with a 14-2 run that flipped the script entirely. The catalyst was Johnson, a junior guard from Dayton, Ohio. After scoring 12 points in the first half, he erupted after the break, attacking the rim and drawing fouls while also connecting from deep. His driving layup with 13 minutes remaining capped the critical run, giving Sacramento State a 56-54 lead it would not relinquish. Johnson finished with a career-high 29 points, adding four assists and a steal in 37 minutes. Northern Arizona’s offense, which had been efficient in building its halftime advantage, sputtered against the heightened Sacramento State pressure. The Lumberjacks committed 13 turnovers, which the Hornets converted into 18 points. Sacramento State also won the battle from beyond the arc, making 11 of 23 three-point attempts compared to Northern Arizona’s 7 of 22, and were nearly flawless at the free-throw line, hitting 18 of 20. Jackson, a forward from Anchorage, Alaska, led the Lumberjacks with 18 points and seven rebounds. Karl Poom of Tartu, Estonia, added 14 points off the bench. But Northern Arizona managed only four assists as a team, struggling to generate consistent ball movement against Sacramento State’s active hands, which produced eight steals. The Hornets received key contributions beyond Johnson. Mark Lavrenov of nearby Rocklin scored 11 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots, while point guard Taj Glover of Atlanta directed the offense with seven assists. Jayden Teat, a local product from Sacramento, provided a spark with 12 points, all from three-point range. Sacramento State’s offensive efficiency was stark in the second half, scoring 49 points on just 66 total possessions for the game, an offensive rating of 124.8. Northern Arizona, which scored 69 points on 68 possessions for a 101.2 rating, was held to 30 points after halftime. The announced attendance was 2,298. The victory moved Sacramento State to 5-11, while Northern Arizona fell to 6-12. Both teams continue conference play Saturday, with the Hornets hosting Northern Colorado and the Lumberjacks traveling to face Portland State.

Preview: Northern Arizona at Sacramento State SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to reverse early conference slides will meet Thursday when the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks visit the Sacramento State Hornets in a Big Sky men’s basketball matchup. The game at Colberg Court pits struggling squads looking to gain footing in the league standings. Northern Arizona (6-11 overall) enters having lost four straight, including a 79-81 home defeat to Idaho State on Saturday. Sacramento State (4-11) has dropped five consecutive games, most recently a 69-96 road loss at Portland State on Jan. 10. A key matchup will feature Northern Arizona guard Chris Komin against Sacramento State’s high-scoring Mikey Williams. Komin is coming off a 16-point performance against Idaho State but has been inconsistent in recent outings. Williams, however, has been on a prolific scoring run for the Hornets, averaging 29.0 points over his last three games. He poured in 34 points at Idaho State on Jan. 1 and 29 at Portland State. Northern Arizona’s recent losses have featured defensive struggles, allowing an average of 78.5 points during their four-game skid. Karl Poom, who scored 22 points in the loss to Idaho State, provides a secondary scoring option alongside Komin. Sacramento State’s losing streak has been marked by similar defensive issues, conceding an average of 96.4 points over its last five contests. The Hornets will need more support for Williams; Mark Lavrenov posted 11 rebounds against Portland State. Both teams have faced challenging non-conference schedules, with road losses to power-conference opponents like Arizona State (Northern Arizona) and Baylor and UCLA (Sacramento State). Thursday’s contest represents a critical opportunity for either team to build momentum. The Lumberjacks continue a road swing at Portland State on Saturday. The Hornets remain home to host Northern Colorado on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST at Colberg Court.