Big Sky foes will collide when the North Dakota Fighting Hawks (14-12) challenge the Sacramento State Hornets (11-15) at Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Action begins at 3:00 pm ET on Saturday, Feb. 27.
The Fighting Hawks enter this game hoping for similar success after barely hanging on to beat Portland State 80-77 on Thursday. Quinton Hooker was the game’s leading scorer with 38 points on 15-for-20 shooting. The Hornets, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their 72-67 loss against Northern Colorado on Thursday. Cody Demps had a game-high 18 points.
Justin Strings has upped his play for the Hornets, averaging 17.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.0 block, and 1.6 three-pointers over the past five games.
Notes
The North Dakota Fighting Hawks have a defensive rating of 97.9 (ranked 57th), while the Sacramento State Hornets have an offensive rating of 104.9 (ranked 202nd).
Sacramento State has an average field goal percentage of 44.8%. North Dakota is a poor 3-8 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The North Dakota Fighting Hawks and the Sacramento State Hornets both rank higher in average field goal percentage when compared to their effective field goal percentages. North Dakota is 180th and 111th in the nation for eFG% and FG% respectively, while Sacramento State ranks 160th and 146th in these categories.
Sacramento State ranks 77th in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.23. North Dakota is ranked lower at 178th with an A/TO of 1.05.
Sacramento State ranks 266th in offensive rebounds, while North Dakota ranks at 51st in defensive rebounds.
North Dakota has forced an average turnover percentage of 20.5% this season. Sacramento State is an even 3-3 when its TO% is 20.5% or higher.
