SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)—Geoff Payne had 29 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals to help Southern Utah erase an eight-point deficit in the second half to beat Sacramento State 57-53 on Wednesday night.
Orlando Griego had seven points and seven rebounds for the Thunderbirds (1-1).
Loren Leath had 14 points and two steals and Vinnie McGhee had 10 points and seven assists for the Hornets (1-2).
Donald Thomas’ basket gave the Hornets a 42-34 lead midway through the second half, but the Thunderbirds battled back to take a 53-50 lead on one free throw by Rick Roberts and two free throws by Payne with 2:18 left.
Roderick Adams tied it with a 3-pointer on the Hornets’ next possession, but a basket by Roberts, a free throw by Griego and two more free throws by Payne in the last 1:39 sealed it.
The Thunderbirds led 11-10 on a basket by Tyler Quinney early in the first half before Sacramento State put together a 15-7 run to make the score 25-18 with 2:30 left. The Hornets hit five 3-pointers and forced 15 Southern Utah turnovers to lead 29-24 at the half.
