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Articles by Andrew Brown
In the hunt: TCU and South Carolina seek a berth in the Final Four
Texas Christian University and South Carolina advanced to the Elite Eight with 10 or more points, but the difference comes down to experience on one of college basketball’s biggest stages. South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley is not only familiar with the intensity that comes from being 40 minutes away from a Final Four, but she’s thrived in the pressure. In six of the past eight seasons, Staley has taken her team to the Final Four, winning three championships, most recently in 2024.
Sacramento Madness: Women’s NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen preview
For the first time since 2010, Sacramento will host games for the Women’s March Madness tournament, showcasing many of the sport’s top names in the process. The games for the Sweet 16 will be played on Friday and Saturday at the Golden 1 Center, with many highly anticipated matchups on the schedule. Minnesota vs.
Hornets head home: Seniors embrace the end
Before the buzzer went off in pregame warmups, a familiar face stood in the tunnel separating the locker rooms and the Big Sky Conference’s biggest stage. Typically a very animated presence on the sideline, head coach Aaron Kallhoff stood still. With headphones in his ears, he stared at the top-seeded Idaho Vandals warming up. Disappearing into the tunnel, his team followed suit, preparing themselves for the biggest game they’ve played all year.
Upset season: Hornets dancing leaves the Bengals prancing
Boise, Idaho (March 9, 2026) With the Big Sky tournament under way, the Hornets repeated history on Monday. Returning to Idaho less than a week from their final regular season matchup against Idaho State, the Bengals sat waiting to take revenge within the walls of Idaho Central Arena. Both sides started slow, keeping the game in single digits until the Hornets made themselves known in the paint.
Upset underway: Sac State sets up for Starch Madness
With the final home games in the rear-view mirror, Sacramento State faced one more obstacle before the Big Sky tournament: Idaho State. Flying over to Pocatello, Idaho on Sunday, the Hornets punched up, tackling the No. 4-seeded Bengals. Ranked No. 5 in the conference, the Hornets opened their Big Sky campaign against the Bengals, losing 61-46 at home. In the final game, the Hornets clawed back to get revenge in a 85-71 victory to round out the regular season.
Heartbreaking split: Hornets go 1-1 in final home stretch
As the sun set on Hornet Pavilion, the Sacramento State Hornets opened their final home stretch of the season against the Montana Griz on a high note, following a farewell to two of the Hornets’ seniors against Montana State. Feb. 26: Sac State 75, Montana 57 “I’ve been intense,” head coach Aaron Kallhoff said. “I wanted to have a good offensive output, they played from start to finish.” Before the game started, sophomore forward Brooklyn Taylor sang the national anthem.
Values and experience: First-year coach brings in both
Standing at 6-foot-6, a quiet man is hard to miss next to head coach Aaron Kallhoff’s energetic leadership on the sideline. This season, associate head coach Michael Floyd began a new chapter at Sacramento State, leaving Santa Clara, where he served as an interim and associate head coach for nine years. With 20 years of coaching experience under his belt, Floyd’s journey in the realm of basketball might not have found its way to the sideline of Sac State without long days spent with his brother.
Breaking even: the Hornets split on the road to cut four-game losing streak
With the Big Sky Conference tournament on the horizon, the Sacramento State Hornets defeated the Eastern Washington Eagles for their sixth win of conference play before a shaky outing in Idaho split their two-game road stretch. Swelling with pride after his team’s first win since January, head coach Aaron Kallhoff recalled the game with positivity. “I’m extremely proud of the group as a whole,” Kallhoff said.
Double trouble: Hornets lose back-to-back at home in fourth straight loss
Returning from halftime tied 32-32 with fourth-place Northern Colorado Bears, fifth-place Sacramento State had their eyes set on the upset. Head coach Aaron Kallhoff had choice words for how the following quarter unfolded. “Absolutely atrocious,” Kallhoff said. “We’ve got to score baskets, easy baskets.” The game was a tale of two halves with the latter half seeing the Hornets crumbling under the will of the Bears, who clawed to a 62-55 win over Sac State.
Monday night misery: Hornets catch up but can’t hold on
Before Monday night’s road game against Weber State, the last time the Hornets started a game down 0-5 was less than a week ago in a blowout loss to Montana State. The game looked as if history would repeat itself as the Hornets let go of the reins early, missing shots and failing to close out on Weber State’s shooters beyond the arc.
Streak shattered: Hornets’ big three combine for 52 to tame the Griz
On Saturday, Jan. 31, the Sacramento State women’s basketball team’s backcourt trio combined for 52 points for a win that was almost a decade in the making. Sophomore guard Rubi Gray led in scoring with 18 points, followed by 17 points apiece by redshirt senior guard Benthe Versteeg and junior guard Natalie Picton. The Hornets haven’t won a game in Missoula since 2017, making the 64-57 win a historic l and redeeming statement for the season.
Flying high from a win against Eastern Washington at home, the Hornets came crashing down in Bozeman on Thursday against the Montana State Bobcats. “We looked like we were stuck in the mud,” head coach Aaron Kallhoff said. The Hornets’ offense looked murky from the start, tossing errant floaters that ricocheted into the hands of the Bobcats under the rim. Montana State took advantage of the disorganized opening, sinking threes and finding lanes to start the game 9-0.
Hornets fly high on the glass to surpass the Eagles in Big Sky win
Two days following a quiet night after a loss to Idaho, sophomore guard Rubi Gray made sure it wouldn’t happen again in a 61-54 win on Jan. 24. “I had a bit of a bad game on Thursday night,” Gray said. “I told myself, ‘Don’t have two in a row.’ I came in looking for my shots.” Gray backed up the promise she made to herself, scoring 19 on the night. “I just told myself, ‘You’ve put in the work. Trust your shot and trust the team to find you,’” Gray said.
Vandalized: History made on a heartbreaking night
After a road trip through Arizona and Colorado, the Hornets returned home for a war against the Idaho Vandals on Thursday. In the first half, junior guard Natalie Picton led the charge, opening the game up on offense with several mid-range shots to build an early lead against the Vandals. Despite Picton’s dominance, the Vandals stayed alive via second chance opportunities, relying heavily on their offensive rebounding.
Sting Operation: Hornets axe the Lumberjacks to win three straight
Flying high over the Sierra Nevada mountains, the Sacramento State Hornets aimed their sights on knocking over the next hurdle in Big Sky play. The Hornets continued to build on their winning streak, chopping down the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in a 78-59 win on Thursday. Along with the routine film analysis, the Hornets honed in on Lumberjack redshirt freshman guard Naomi White in preparation for the game.
Divide and conquer: Hornets outmuscle the Vikings in statement win
Riding a breakthrough win against Weber State, the Hornets hosted Portland State for their third Big Sky Conference matchup in the Hornet Pavilion on Saturday, Jan. 10. Aiming to start the game strong, the Hornets packed the first punch, suffocating the Vikings’ attempts at the rim. Sophomore center Ajong Lual got the nod to start, her first for the Hornets. Lual made her presence known, accumulating four rebounds, all on the offensive glass.
Double-digit loss to double-double domination: the Hornets start 2026 1-1
The new year brings new opportunities, and for the Sacramento State Hornets, 2026 kicked off with a flurry of mixed emotions. Jan. 3: Idaho State 61, Sac State 46 Starting conference play in the second half of the season, the Hornets hosted Idaho State and quickly faced the struggles of playing catch-up after the Bengals took an early lead. In the first quarter alone, the Bengals scored 20 points in the paint, compared to just four points by the Hornets.
Skewered: Hornets pierced by Spartans in final nonconference game
Categories: The Spartans charged their way to their second victory all season, dropping the Hornets to 6-7 The Sacramento State Hornets faced their final opponent in 2025, visiting the San Jose State Spartans on Sunday, Dec. 21. Sophomore guard Rubi Gray replicated the opening performance she had against the USF Dons days earlier. Gray opened the game with a layup and a corner three to even the Hornets’ score with the Spartans’ early in the first quarter.
Overdrawn: Hornets withdraw from Chase as Dons cash in late
Categories: The Hornets cut the Dons’ 19-point lead down late but failed to close out The Sacramento State Hornets traded the Hornet Pavilion of the capital city for the enigmatic lights of the bayside Chase Center on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 17 in a “moral victory.” “We gave ourselves a chance down 19 points with five minutes left in the third quarter,” head coach Aaron Kallhoff said.
Sac State returns Home-r, routs Simpson in large Marge-in of victory
As fog continues to loom over the Central Valley, a swift and dominant victory emerged under the lights of the Hornet Pavilion on Monday, Dec. 15. The Sacramento State Hornets came home after a loss to the University of the Pacific on Thursday, Dec. 4, and had 10 days to recuperate and regain their winning rhythm that they composed early in the season. “Coming off of a 10-day break, I felt a lot of encouraging things out there,” head coach Aaron Kallhoff said.
Hornets welcomed to the jungle by Tigers in fourth straight loss
Categories: The Hornets come up short of breaking their three-game losing streak, falling to 5-5 Surrounded by a looming fog in Stockton, Calif. and the roaring fans of the University of the Pacific, the Sacramento State Hornets fell short of breaking their three-game losing streak on Thursday, Dec. 4. The lead flickered between both teams throughout the first half, with Pacific finding an answer for every point the Hornets conjured up.
Tight finish and a tough blowout: Hornets drop two at CBU
Although the Sacramento State Hornets opened the CBU Classic on Black Friday, they couldn’t buy a win all weekend. The Chattanooga Mocs stood in between the Hornets and a victorious start to the CBU Classic, hosted by California Baptist University in Riverside, California. The Hornets jumped on the opportunity to separate themselves early on, building several double-digit leads.
Titanfall: Hornets pilot their way to 5-1 start
Categories: This is the Hornets’ strongest start since their March Madness campaign in 2023 Returning from an extensive road trip around the Golden State, the Hornets landed back in the capitol and reminded everyone why they call it home. Their soon-to-be Big West Conference rivals, the Cal State Fullerton Titans, were welcomed with hostility as the Hornets snagged the lead from the opening tip and never looked back.
Waves come crashing down as the Hornets come back from 11-point deficit
Categories: The Hornets pollute the Beach in come back win on the road If Saturday’s game was a wave, then the Hornets caught it late and rode it to victory. The Hornets entered the Beach territory looking to go back-to-back on the road. With a change in venue from Long Beach State’s usual Walter Pyramid due to poor weather, the Hornets faced an aggressive host in the program’s practice gym, The Gold Mine.
Lost in their own wake: Hornets cast a gray shadow over San Diego in first road win
Categories: The Hornets secured their first win on the road against future Big West Conference rival UC San Diego The Hornets buried the Tritons into the sandy beaches of La Jolla on Wednesday evening in a 71-60 statement win on the road. The matchup between the two is one of many to come, as Sacramento State will join the Big West Conference where UC San Diego stands as the reigning champs.
Putting the season behind them, men’s tennis looks ahead to a bright future
Categories: Despite an early exit in their conference tournament, the young core is ready for the future After falling early in Phoenix, Arizona, the young Sacramento State squad hold their heads high looking forward to the future of their collegiate careers. They faced the third-seeded Montana Griz, whom they lost to 5-2 as part of the Golden State Invitational in early March.
Championship ace in a familiar place: Hornets raise the trophy once again
Sacramento State raised the Big Sky Conference trophy on Saturday, April 26, steamrolling the competition en route to their second championship win. The Hornets entered the tournament with a bye, getting an extra day to rest before facing the Idaho Vandals in the semifinals on Friday, April 25. The Hornets made quick work in the rematch against the Vandals, slamming them 4-0 to advance in the tournament. Sac State swept not only in the series but in the singles and doubles window.
Social media reacts to Sac State hiring Shaquille O’Neal as new voluntary general manager of men’s basketball
Categories: Heading into the 2025-26 season, men’s basketball is changing from bottom to top. ESPN’s Shams Charania announced NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is set to become the Sacramento State men’s basketball voluntary general manager on Monday. The former Los Angeles Lakers star’s son, Shaqir O’Neal, committed to Sac State from Florida A&M and will play under fellow NBA veteran Mike Bibby, who was announced as the head coach in March.
Sac State looks for second ring as they attempt to answer the call
Categories: The Hornets look to defend their throne after a dominant season Sacramento State looks to defend its crown as Big Sky Conference champions after posting an impressive 19-3 overall record and a 7-1 conference record. The Hornets enter the Big Sky tournament with a bye after a triumphant 4-3 victory against the Idaho Vandals on Saturday, April 19.
Sac State reloads, not rebuilds, in youth-driven title defense
Categories: Only one player from last year’s Big Sky Championship team returns, as the young squad tries to go back-to-back Sacramento State looks to repeat as champions of the Big Sky Conference on Thursday at 8 a.m., where they’ll face the Montana Griz in the first round of the tournament. The Hornets will attempt to defend their title but will have to navigate the tournament with an almost entirely new and young roster, consisting of six freshmen.
Cross Court Chronicles: Quick wins, sweet sweeps
Categories: The Hornets flipped the Tritons from the 619 in the first of two sweeps in the 916 After losses on the road against Big Sky opponent Northern Arizona University, the Hornets soared back into the win column at home this past weekend. Women’s tennis continued their familiar pattern of sweeps Saturday, while men’s tennis followed up with an unfamiliar change to its doubles lineup on Sunday.
Cross Court Chronicles: One streak extinguished while another blazes
Over the last weekend, Sacramento State won three of their four contests at home. The women’s team extended their win streak by two, advancing to five straight. Men’s tennis fell short of five straight, losing their second match of the weekend while freshman Martin Duris maintained his singles streak. Men’s Tennis The Hornets dealt the Bobcats their fifteenth loss of the season, boosting themselves to a 4-game winning streak on Thursday.
Cross Court Chronicles: Different Birds, Same Sweeps
Categories: Sac State tennis brings out the broomstick all day Saturday Both Sacramento State women’s and men’s tennis ran away with sweeps on Saturday. Saturday morning marked the women’s first 4-0 landslide, while the men’s team landed their third 7-0 victory this season. Women’s Tennis Sac State hosted Seattle for their lone match of the week. The Hornets trampled on the Redhawks’ wings early on as the hosts swept at third and second.
Cross Court Chronicles: Sac State delivers aces in handful of wins
Categories: Men’s tennis only dropped one game amid home stretch for both teams Sacramento State men’s tennis faced a busy weekend slate hosting the Golden State Invitational. The Hornets balanced out their record at 7-7, winning three of their four games with their young core prevailing in narrow victories. Women’s tennis rallied back into the win column tallying two for the weekend stretching their time at home to 2-2.
Cross Court Chronicles: Women’s tennis falls back to Earth, men’s tennis plummets in winless weekend
Categories: Sac State women’s tennis’ historic streak comes to a close, while men’s tennis lost two on the road Coming back to Sac after a 5-game stretch away, Sac State women’s tennis looked to tally another victory to their historic 7-0 record. Cal Poly and Nevada stood in the way of extending that record while men’s tennis dropped two on the road. Women’s Tennis Sacramento State was undefeated, ranking No. 49 in the nation while playing on the road since Jan. 26.
Cross Court Chronicles: Tennis tallies wins home and away amid the center of the season
Men’s Tennis Sacramento State sent Saint Mary’s packing after a dominant singles slate to clinch another victory at home on Monday. Freshman Gur Libal and sophomore Henry Lamchinniah took the lone doubles match for Sac State. Saint Mary’s won 6-3 in the second and third doubles to tally up the first point of the series. Lamchinniah took his singles matchup in three sets. He maintained his lead with hits grazing the net, keeping the Gaels’ responses limited.
Cross Court Chronicles: Sac State women’s tennis makes history while men’s tennis falters
Categories: Sac State’s women’s tennis on historic run, men’s team goes 1-1 at home Sacramento State men’s tennis started out strong in doubles but lost momentum going into singles, where UC Davis took the lead and stole the match. On the other hand, Sacramento State women’s tennis continues to trailblaze into a 6-0 streak, the best start to a season in Division I history.
Students have difficulty adjusting to the ongoing construction at The WELL
Categories: Students face changes with the closure of the Gym Box Sacramento State students are unable to use The WELL’s Gym Box since its closure on Jan. 6, for the building of the new Sac State Event Center. Prior to its closure, the Gym Box hosted all-day availability, allowing students flexibility to play basketball and badminton in accordance with their schedules. The Multi-use Activity Court is the temporary venue for sports that are impeded by the construction.
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