TO YOU BY YOUR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHEVY DEALERS. AND WELCOME BACK. WELL, IT WAS BUZZING TONIGHT ON SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS CAMPUS AS HALL OF FAMER SHAQUILLE O’NEAL WAS IN ATTENDANCE. TAKE A LOOK. SENIOR NIGHT. SO THE HORNETS GENERAL MANAGER SUPPORTING HIS SON SHAQUILLE O’NEAL, ONE OF SAC STATE SENIORS, THIS EVENING. THE FINAL GAME AT HORNET PAVILION LATER THIS WEEK THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT. BUT FIRST THEY NEEDED TO DISPOSE OF THE IDAHO STATE BENGALS. SAC STATE PLAGUED BY INJURIES LOOKING TO SNAP A SEVEN GAME LOSING STREAK. SHAQUILLE O’NEAL WITH SEVEN POINTS ON THE NIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS FOLKS THERE, THE HORNETS WOULD BUILD A 17 POINT HALFTIME LEAD. ONE OF THE OTHER SENIORS, PROPHET JOHNSON GAME HIGH 20 POINTS AND TEN BOARDS. THE FRESHMAN FROM ROCKLIN, MARK LAVRENOV, SHIPS IN 19 SAC STATE WITH ARGUABLY THEIR MOST IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR. THEY GO ON TO WIN 8365. THEY EARNED THE EIGHT SEED IN THE BIG SKY TOURNAMENT AND WILL MEET UP WITH IDAHO ON SATURDAY. YEAH, IT’S A LEGEND. SO SEEING HIM PLAY, WE GOT TO WIN IN FRONT OF HIM. WE GO TALK STUFF TO US, EVERYTHING. SO WE GOT TO GET THE WIN IN FRONT OF HIM FOR SURE. I MEAN, I NEVER THOUGHT ME AND SHAQ WOULD BE WHERE WE’RE AT TODAY, YOU KNOW, FACETIME AND STUFF LIKE THAT. NEVER IN MY DAY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I STILL DON’T LIKE THE LAKERS TO THIS DAY. I PROBABLY NEVER WILL. HIS SON WAS MY FIRST RECRUIT THAT I HAD THAT WE BROUGHT ON. AND, YOU KNOW, WE BROUGHT HIM ON TO THE TEAM AS WELL. I JUST TOLD THE GUYS I WANTED TO BLOW OUT WIN. I TOLD HIM IT’S MY SENIOR NIGHT, SO I NEED TO BLOW OUT WIN. LET’S HAVE FUN, PUT ON A SHOW AND GET UP OUT OF HERE. HONESTLY, I DIDN’T REALIZE HOW FAMOUS HE WAS UNTIL I GOT A LITTLE OLDER. I STILL DON’T KNOW HOW BIG HE IS. I’M LEARNING MORE AND MORE HOW MUCH FAMOUS HE IS EVERY DAY, BUT I JUST BLOCK IT OUT. HE’S A REGULAR DUDE IN ME. HE’S MY DAD.
Shaquille O’Neal supports son at Sacramento State senior night
Updated: 11:13 PM PST Mar 2, 2026
Sacramento State’s campus was buzzing with excitement as Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal attended the Hornets’ senior night to support his son, Shaqir O’Neal, one of Sac State’s seniors, during their final game at Hornet Pavilion before the Big Sky Conference Tournament later this week. Sac State, plagued by injuries and looking to snap a seven-game losing streak, faced off against the Idaho State Bengals.Shaqir O’Neal scored seven points in front of his family, contributing to the Hornets’ efforts.The team built a 17-point halftime lead, with senior Prophet Johnson achieving a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Mark Lavrenov from Rocklin added 19 points to the scoreboard.Sacramento State delivered arguably their most impressive performance of the year, winning 83-65. The victory earned them the 8-seed in the Big Sky Tournament, where they will meet Idaho on Saturday.”I just told the guys I wanted a blowout win,” Shaqir O’Neal said. “I told them it’s my senior night so I need a blowout win. Let’s have fun and put on a show.”Asked about his dad, Shaqir said he didn’t realize how famous Shaquille O’Neal was while growing up until he got older. “I’m learning more and more how much famous he is every day, but I just block it out. He’s a regular dude to me. He’s my dad,” Shaqir said. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Sacramento State’s campus was buzzing with excitement as Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal attended the Hornets’ senior night to support his son, Shaqir O’Neal, one of Sac State’s seniors, during their final game at Hornet Pavilion before the Big Sky Conference Tournament later this week.
Sac State, plagued by injuries and looking to snap a seven-game losing streak, faced off against the Idaho State Bengals.
Shaqir O’Neal scored seven points in front of his family, contributing to the Hornets’ efforts.
The team built a 17-point halftime lead, with senior Prophet Johnson achieving a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Mark Lavrenov from Rocklin added 19 points to the scoreboard.
Sacramento State delivered arguably their most impressive performance of the year, winning 83-65. The victory earned them the 8-seed in the Big Sky Tournament, where they will meet Idaho on Saturday.
“I just told the guys I wanted a blowout win,” Shaqir O’Neal said. “I told them it’s my senior night so I need a blowout win. Let’s have fun and put on a show.”
Asked about his dad, Shaqir said he didn’t realize how famous Shaquille O’Neal was while growing up until he got older.
“I’m learning more and more how much famous he is every day, but I just block it out. He’s a regular dude to me. He’s my dad,” Shaqir said.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel