GAME NOTES: Out on the road for the second time in as many games, the Sacramento State Hornets seek their first win of the 2014-15 campaign as they clash with the UC Riverside Highlanders in non-conference play at SRC Arena.

The Hornets, who are set to host the likes of Simpson, Bristol University and Utah Valley in the coming weeks, opened the campaign against 13th-ranked Gonzaga on Friday and were blown away by the Bulldogs in a lopsided 104-58 decision.

As for the Highlanders, they were able to get their season off on the right foot two nights ago as they topped UC San Diego at home, 75-52. The team will get its first taste of the road four days from now when it drops in on Utah in Salt Lake City.

With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, UCR owns a 12-5 advantage over the Hornets, according to Sacramento State sources. The Highlanders have won all six games at home in the series.

On a night when Sacramento State head coach Brian Katz did not play Mikh McKinney due to disciplinary issues, the Hornets had their doors blown off by Gonzaga in Spokane. Dylan Garrity was the top scorer for the visitors with 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field, followed by Cody Demps with 10 points, but he converted only 3-of-9 from the floor.

As a whole, the Hornets shot just 35.7 percent from the field, 5-of-15 behind the 3-point line and turned the ball over 22 times. Sacramento, which was crushed on the glass by a 47-28 margin, allowed the Bulldogs to hit on not just 54.5 percent from the field but also 10-of-24 (.417) out on the perimeter.

On a team that finished just 14-16 a season ago, McKinney was an important piece to any success the Hornets experienced as he led the squad with 16.6 ppg and was also tops with 4.6 apg, so his return to the lineup will certainly be welcomed.

Riverside led UC San Diego by just five points at the break in the opener, but after converting only nine field goals and shooting 45.0 percent from the field through the first 20 minutes of action, the Highlanders turned up the pressure with a staggering 15-of-22 (.682) after intermission in order to cruise to the comfortable win at home.

Taylor Johns was responsible for not only 18 points and six rebounds, he also rejected five shots in 31 minutes of action for the Highlanders. Also scoring in double figures were Jaylen Bland and Nick Gruninger with 17 and 15 points, respectively, for a squad that knocked down 9-of-18 behind the 3-point line and at the same time limited the visitors to a mere 3-of-12 performance on the outside.

Assuming that McKinney will make his debut for the Hornets on Monday, the visitors certainly have a shot at a better performance, but still UCR will enjoy the creature comforts of home and that should be enough to get the Highlanders over the top.