Hornets Struggle to Clean Up Glass in Loss to Vandals

Sacramento State men's basketball team falls to Idaho Vandals at home, putting their Big Sky Conference tournament hopes in jeopardy.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 6:25pm

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The Sacramento State Hornets men's basketball team lost 86-80 to the Idaho Vandals at home, their fifth straight defeat. The Hornets struggled on the glass, getting outrebounded 49-28, which head coach Mike Bibby cited as the key factor in the loss. Sophomore guard Arman Madi made his first career start for the shorthanded Hornets, who continue to deal with injuries this season.

Why it matters

This loss puts the Hornets in a difficult position heading into the Big Sky Conference tournament, as they will now have to play in the opening round instead of receiving a first-round bye. The rebounding disparity highlighted the Hornets' ongoing defensive struggles, which have plagued them all season despite their high-scoring offense.

The details

The Vandals jumped out to an early 22-11 lead, but the Hornets responded with a 10-0 run to make it a one-point game. From there, neither team led by more than six points the rest of the way. The Hornets were without sophomore guard Mikey Williams for the fourth straight game due to injury, and his absence has forced a rotation of players to start in his place, including Madi's first career start. Freshman guard Romari Robinson has also seen increased playing time recently due to his defensive effort.

  • The Hornets lost their fifth straight game on February 23, 2026.
  • The Big Sky Conference tournament is quickly approaching.

The players

Mike Bibby

Head coach of the Sacramento State Hornets men's basketball team.

Arman Madi

Sophomore guard for the Sacramento State Hornets who made his first career start in the game against the Vandals.

Romari Robinson

Freshman guard for the Sacramento State Hornets who has seen increased playing time due to his defensive effort.

Biko Johnson

Senior guard for the Idaho Vandals who scored 25 points, including six made three-pointers, in the game against the Hornets.

Mikey Williams

Sophomore guard for the Sacramento State Hornets who has missed the last four games due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“I'm tired of showing fight, I want to win some of these games. It's just little stuff, we got no plays at the end of the game.”

— Mike Bibby, Head coach

“The boards take effort, and we're not putting in the maximum effort on defense. We rebound, we win this game.”

— Mike Bibby, Head coach

“I think it's a credit to my hard work and the coaches just believing in me. It didn't really feel much different from coming off the bench, but it was kind of cool to get one under the belt.”

— Arman Madi, Sophomore guard

“He's really good on defense. He's smart, he's strong and he knows how to play the angles.”

— Mike Bibby, Head coach

“In high school I was more of a scorer, but I realized that for me to go to college I have to sit up there and play defense too. It's a new role, I'm embracing it. I'm fine with the role as long as we just win.”

— Romari Robinson, Freshman guard

What’s next

The Hornets will go on a two-game road trip to Montana, facing the Montana Grizzlies on Thursday and the Montana State Bobcats on Saturday. These will be their last two chances to earn a road win before the Big Sky Conference tournament.

The takeaway

This loss puts the Hornets in a difficult position heading into the Big Sky Conference tournament, as they will now have to play in the opening round instead of receiving a first-round bye. The team's struggles on the glass and on the defensive end have been a consistent issue all season, despite their high-scoring offense.