Helena, Mont. ? Despite their best efforts, Sacramento State players have gotten themselves into a sticky situation.

Several of the Hornets greased their jerseys with nonstick cooking spray on the sideline during their 31-24 loss at Montana last weekend, the Big Sky Conference said Thursday.

Before determining a punishment, the league and Sacramento State are trying to figure out how many players used the spray and whether coaches knew.

Todd Goodrich, a University of Montana photographer, said he saw two Sacramento State players spraying each other near the end of the first half.

During the second half, Goodrich saw two more players spraying each other with a can of PAM and snapped several photos.

“They were pretty blatant about it,” Goodrich said. “Right there on the sidelines.”

In photo above, a gang of Montana defenders pile on Sacramento State runner Derard Barton.