Updated

John Dickson scored 18 points and Konner Veteto had 17 as Sacramento State opened its season with a 96-62 victory over UC Merced on Friday night.

The Hornets shot almost as well from the field (54.4 percent) and from 3-point range (46.7 percent) as they did from the free-throw line (61.4 percent), where they hit 27 of 44 shots.

Sacramento State also got 13 points from Mikh McKinney, 12 from Joe Eberhard and 11 from Jackson Carbajal.

Ryan Edwards had 19 points and Aki Chambers 18 for UC Merced (0-2), an NAIA school.

The Bobcats stayed close in the first half, leading 26-25 midway through the period. Sacramento State then went on a 16-2 run en route to a 43-35 lead at halftime.

McKinney opened the second half with a jumper and the Hornets led by double digits the rest of the way.