Sacramento State Hornets Triumph Over Montana Grizzlies
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 10:00 PM ET · Hornet Pavilion
Sacramento State Hornets 86, Montana Grizzlies 79, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Montana Grizzlies vs Sacramento State Hornets?
Sacramento State Hornets beat Montana Grizzlies 86-79 at Hornet Pavilion on January 31, 2026.
Who was favored in Montana Grizzlies vs Sacramento State Hornets?
Montana Grizzlies were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -162 (about 62% implied). The underdog won.
In an exciting matchup, the Sacramento State Hornets secured an 86-79 victory against the Montana Grizzlies at Hornet Pavilion. This win marks a significant achievement for the Hornets, who improved their record to 9-13, while the Grizzlies fell to 13-11. The game showcased a strong performance from Sacramento State, particularly in the second half, where they maintained composure under pressure to clinch the win.
Sacramento State entered the game with a recent record of 3-7 over their last ten games, but they were on a one-game winning streak after defeating the Montana State Bobcats 83-80 on January 30. The Hornets averaged 79.2 points scored per game while allowing 86.1 points during this stretch. Their home record stood at 3-0, indicating a solid performance at Hornet Pavilion, contrasting sharply with their away struggles, where they had lost seven consecutive games prior to this match.
On the other hand, the Montana Grizzlies came into the game with a record of 7-3 over their last ten games, riding a four-game winning streak that included a 64-60 victory against Portland State on January 30. The Grizzlies averaged 74.3 points scored and allowed 70.9 points during their recent games. They had a balanced home record of 4-0 and an even away record of 3-3, demonstrating their ability to compete both at home and on the road.
Historically, Sacramento State had struggled against Montana, with a head-to-head record of 0-2 in their previous meetings during the 2025 season. In their last encounter on February 1, 2025, the Hornets lost 59-87, and they also fell 54-60 in their earlier meeting on February 28, 2025. This context added an extra layer of importance to the game, as Sacramento State sought to break their losing streak against their rivals.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details, but the absence of key players can often influence the dynamics of such matchups. The market had priced the game with Montana as a 3.5-point favorite according to DraftKings, indicating expectations for a close contest. The total points line was set at 155.5, reflecting the anticipated offensive capabilities of both teams.
The conditions at Hornet Pavilion were conducive to a competitive game, with fans in attendance supporting the home team. As the game progressed, viewers witnessed critical scoring plays that highlighted the intensity of the matchup. Notable moments included a layup by Prophet Johnson that brought the Grizzlies within striking distance at 81-74, and a three-point jumper by Tyler Thompson that narrowed the gap to 81-77.
Despite the Grizzlies' efforts to mount a comeback, Sacramento State maintained their lead through effective free-throw shooting by Mikey Williams and Jahni Summers, who each contributed crucial points in the final minutes. The final score of 86-79 reflected the Hornets' ability to execute under pressure and close out the game successfully.
Overall, this fixture proved to be a significant turning point for Sacramento State, who not only secured a much-needed victory but also gained confidence against a rival team that had previously dominated them. The Hornets' performance at home, combined with their recent form, suggests they may be turning a corner as they look to build momentum for the remainder of the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MONT -3.5 | 155.5 o -105 / u -115 | Montana Grizzlies -162 · Sacramento State Hornets +136 |
Leaders
- PointsProphet Johnson26Sacramento State Hornets
- AssistsMikey Williams8Sacramento State Hornets
- ReboundsProphet Johnson7Sacramento State Hornets
- PointsTe'Jon Sawyer31Montana Grizzlies
- AssistsMoney Williams8Montana Grizzlies
- ReboundsTe'Jon Sawyer7Montana Grizzlies
Recent form
Sacramento State Hornets
Last 10: 3-7Streak W179.2 scored · 86.1 allowed per game3-0 at home
- W83-80vs Montana State BobcatsJan 30
- L67-75at Eastern Washington EaglesJan 24
- L76-86at Idaho VandalsJan 23
- W93-89vs Northern Colorado BearsJan 18
- W83-69vs Northern Arizona LumberjacksJan 16
- L69-96at Portland State VikingsJan 10
- L82-95at Weber State WildcatsJan 4
- L84-97at Idaho State BengalsJan 2
- L88-100at Cal State Northridge MatadorsDec 23
- L67-74at California Baptist LancersDec 21
Montana Grizzlies
Last 10: 7-3Streak W474.3 scored · 70.9 allowed per game3-3 away
- W64-60at Portland State VikingsJan 30
- W69-60vs Idaho State BengalsJan 24
- W81-65vs Weber State WildcatsJan 23
- W98-72at Northern Arizona LumberjacksJan 20
- L67-76at Montana State BobcatsJan 18
- L65-66at Eastern Washington EaglesJan 10
- W79-73at Idaho VandalsJan 9
- W88-79vs Northern Colorado BearsJan 3
- W78-64vs Northern Arizona LumberjacksJan 1
- L54-94at Louisville CardinalsDec 20
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland State | 20-11 | - | 13-5 |
| Montana State | 18-14 | 1 | 12-6 |
| Eastern Washington | 14-19 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Northern Colorado | 20-12 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Montana | 18-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Weber State | 16-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Idaho | 21-15 | 4 | 9-9 |
| Sacramento State | 10-21 | 8 | 6-12 |
| Idaho State | 13-20 | 8 | 5-13 |
| Northern Arizona | 10-22 | 9 | 4-14 |
| UC Irvine | 23-12 | - | 15-5 |
| Hawai'i | 24-9 | 1 | 14-6 |
| UC San Diego | 23-11 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Cal State Northridge | 20-14 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 18-16 | 3 | 12-8 |
| UC Davis | 19-14 | 4 | 11-9 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 18-14 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Cal Poly | 14-19 | 5 | 10-10 |
| Long Beach State | 10-22 | 9 | 6-14 |
| UC Riverside | 10-22 | 10 | 5-15 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 8-24 | 13 | 2-18 |
Box score
| Stat | Montana Grizzlies | Sacramento State Hornets |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 28-58 | 29-59 |
| Field goal % | 48 | 49 |
| Three-pointers | 7-19 | 11-24 |
| Three-point % | 37 | 46 |
| Free throws | 16-21 | 17-24 |
| Free throw % | 76 | 71 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 30 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 22 |
| Assists | 15 | 22 |
| Steals | 5 | 11 |
| Blocks | 2 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 20 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 12 |
| Points in the paint | 42 | 34 |
| Fouls | 17 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 17 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 9 | 86 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half42-54Shaqir O'Neal makes 24-foot three point jumper (Mark Lavrenov assists)
- 2nd Half44-54Te'Jon Sawyer makes layup (Tyler Thompson assists)
- 2nd Half44-56Mikey Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half45-56Kenyon Aguino makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-56Kenyon Aguino makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-58Prophet Johnson makes layup
- 2nd Half46-61Arman Madi makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half48-61Te'Jon Sawyer makes 3-foot dunk (Money Williams assists)
- 2nd Half49-61Money Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-61Money Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-64Arman Madi makes 25-foot three point jumper (Mikey Williams assists)
- 2nd Half50-66Jahni Summers makes 8-foot jumper (Mikey Williams assists)
- 2nd Half53-66Te'Jon Sawyer makes 24-foot three point jumper (Grant Kepley assists)
- 2nd Half55-66Money Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half56-66Money Williams makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half56-68Jahni Summers makes layup (Arman Madi assists)
- 2nd Half58-68Te'Jon Sawyer makes layup (Money Williams assists)
- 2nd Half58-70Arman Madi makes layup (Mikey Williams assists)
- 2nd Half58-71Arman Madi makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half60-71Money Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half60-72Prophet Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-72Connor Dick makes layup
- 2nd Half64-72Te'Jon Sawyer makes layup
- 2nd Half65-72Tyler Thompson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-74Jahni Summers makes layup (Arman Madi assists)
- 2nd Half66-74Money Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-74Money Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-74Tyler Thompson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Money Williams assists)
- 2nd Half70-76Jahni Summers makes 3-foot dunk (Prophet Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half70-79Prophet Johnson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Mikey Williams assists)
- 2nd Half72-79Te'Jon Sawyer makes layup
- 2nd Half74-79Te'Jon Sawyer makes layup (Money Williams assists)
- 2nd Half74-81Prophet Johnson makes layup
- 2nd Half77-81Tyler Thompson makes 23-foot three point jumper (Money Williams assists)
- 2nd Half79-81Money Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half79-82Mikey Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-83Mikey Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half79-84Jahni Summers makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-85Mikey Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half79-86Mikey Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Sacramento State Hornets, below favours Montana Grizzlies.
Venue
- Hornet PavilionSacramento, CA
- Attendance3116
- OfficialsNate Melson, Jason Alabanza, Michael Mojica
Elsewhere
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- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond