On Saturday, March 1, 2025, the Sacramento State Hornets faced off against the Montana State Bobcats for their final game at The Nest, concluding their tenure at the 70-year-old gym with a disappointing 60-87 loss. The Nest had been the Hornets' home court since 1955, serving as the battleground for countless games, but the venue has not been particularly kind to them lately, reflecting their struggles throughout the season with a dismal record of 7-23.
Since the Hornets transitioned to Division I back in 1991, they only managed to secure three winning seasons, making their tenure at The Nest feel bittersweet. The alumni reunion event during the game saw various former players returning to pay tribute to the arena and the memories made within its walls. Despite the loss, head coach Michael Czepil was grateful for their support. "It was great to see all the ex-players and folks around the program come back," said Czepil. "It’s special for them to spend some time in a place where they’ve made so many memories. I love the Nest, and I think it’s a great place to play college basketball.”
The Hornets came out with energy, quickly taking the lead with senior forward Jacob Holt playing a pivotal role by scoring or assisting on the team's first 10 points, establishing a promising 10-5 advantage early on. Many hoped the team might close the chapter at The Nest with positive momentum. Unfortunately, the Bobcats had different plans. Known for their three-point shooting prowess, Montana State capitalized on Sacramento State's defensive lapses, particularly with their shooting guard, Tyler Patterson, who was scorching hot beyond the arc, drilling eight of 12 attempts.
Cepil pointed out the shortcomings of their defense during the match, noting, "We were slow in our rotations. For their best shooter to get 12 attempts off, it means we’re just a step slow." This defensive struggle allowed Montana State to connect on 14 three-pointers, shooting at 60%. The Hornets were already facing issues with turnovers, and the Bobcats took advantage, converting eight first-half turnovers by Sacramento State for 13 points, culminating with the Bobcats finishing the half on a 7-1 run, taking command with a 45-34 lead.
Coming out for the second half, Sacramento State looked to replicate their performance against Montana earlier in the week, where they managed to outscore the conference leaders. But Montana State came out swinging once again, scoring on their first two possessions to quickly extend their lead to 16 points. A layup from Holt temporarily stopped the bleeding, but the Hornets struggled to maintain consistency.
Sophomore guard Emil Skytta stepped up along with Holt to provide some offense during the latter part of the game, as the duo combined for 19 of the Hornets' 26 second-half points. Skytta reflected on the things they could have improved, saying, “I think we just lost our juice. I feel like everybody came out great. They started getting easy ones from 3-point land, and it took its toll on us.”
With the fourth quarter playing out, the Hornets continuously fell short against the relentless Bobcats, whose 3-point shooting extinguished the hope for the crowd assembled to celebrate senior night and the final game at The Nest for the team they loved.
Jacob Holt, who expressed his disappointment over the outcome of his last home game, nevertheless conveyed gratitude for his time spent at the university. "I was so thankful when ‘Zep’ was the first one to recruit me here out of the portal. I’ve had a great time during my two years here. I’ve grown a lot, as a person and as a basketball player. I can’t thank the Sac State community enough for supporting us through the years. Stinger for life," Holt remarked passionately.
Looking forward, Sacramento State has one game left on the schedule, set to take place against Portland State on Monday, March 3, 2025, at 7 p.m. This matchup serves not only as an opportunity for the Hornets to gain momentum heading toward the Big Sky Tournament on March 8 but also as one last chance for the Hornets to leave their mark as they transition from The Nest.