Men’s basketball kicks off

Under the aura of yellow lights in Hornet Gym, USK Prague met Sac State in a frantic battle.

Sac State fell to the visitors 88-86 as point guard Rame Batta’s desperation three pointer fell short as time ran out.

The pre-game ceremony was a diplomatic show as the teams were introduced and the players and coaches exchanged gifts.

The diplomacy stopped at tip-off.

The referees blew their whistles all night long as both teams were in foul trouble early in both halves.

Prague had three players foul out in the game. Sac State’s sophomore leaper Arinze Anouro, sophomore guard Rene Jacques and freshmen guard Jim Brewer also fouled out while three other Hornets were in foul trouble.

Even head coach Tom Abatemarco fell victim to the whistle, getting called on a technical foul for only the second time in as many years.

Both teams were in the bonus early and in the true European style of fundamental basketball, Prague drained 34-of-43 free throws while Sac State struggled from the line, hitting only 24-of-39.

Jacques was the game’s leading scorer with 22 points, but he made only two of nine shots from the field. He also led the Hornets with four assists before committing his last foul to stop the clock and force Prague to the line.

Abatemarco expressed his discontent with the foul trouble but was pleased with the defense.

“Our effort was good, especially defensively,” he said. “We have a good future and some of the young kids showed some good signs.”

Prague shot better than Sac State from behind the three-point line, nailing 42 percent to the Hornets’ 20 percent.

Abatemarco admits his team has been struggling with their offense in practice.

“We haven’t been in a good flow,” he said. “Tonight we ran some set plays and I expected us to have more trouble with this veteran team.”

Prague’s 7-foot center Daniel Cyrulik ate up the paint and made all 10 of his free throws before getting nailed with a pair of technical fouls. He left the game after going 5-for-9 from the field with 21 points and nine rebounds.

Brewer started the game but Batta had the ball in crunch time, hitting from behind the arc to bring the Hornets within three of the lead. He pulled up again and missed to end the game.

Brewer watched from the sideline, but was confident with the ball in his teammate’s hands.

“I have all the confidence in my teammates,” Brewer said. “I knew the first play we called and I knew he was going to knock the shot down. We were off-balance but we did accomplish a lot.”

Sac State will start the regular season Nov. 19 at Memorial Auditorium against Menlo College.