SACRAMENTO -- Five Hornets scored in double figures, led by senior Ethan Esposito's double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) as Sacramento State cruised to a 73-57 win over Idaho on Saturday morning in the Nest.

After Idaho scored the first six points of the game, Sacramento State immediately responded with a 17-6 run over an eight-minute stretch to claim a 17-12 lead. Five different Hornets scored during the run, which included Bryce Fowler scoring nine of the team's first 11 points. Sacramento State eventually extended the lead to nine points at half (30-21), and led by double figures for all but 59 seconds of the second half. The Hornets led by as many as 22 points before settling for the 16-point victory.

The two teams were playing for the second time in three days, as Sacramento State posted a 77-55 victory over the Vandals on Thursday night. This week's games were the Big Sky openers for both teams (and the season openers for Idaho), and the squads will not play another conference game until after the New Year.

Dating back to last season, Sacramento State has won three straight against Idaho, and Thursday's 22-point margin of victory was the program's largest in a Big Sky opener.

Sacramento State has won its first two Big Sky games of the season for just the third time since joining the conference in 1996. The 2005-06 and 2014-15 teams also accomplished the feat. The Hornets have started the season with a 3-0 overall record for the third straight year. In addition, all three victories this season have come by at least 16 points.

Once again, the Hornets depth was on full display as Sacramento State has now seen at least four players score in double digits in all three games. Today, it was five as Esposito was joined by Fowler (17 points, 3 steals ), Christian Terrell (15 points, 4 steals), William FitzPatrick (13 points, 3-of-8 from 3FG) and Deshaun Highler (10 points, 6 assists, 2 steals).

Both Fowler and Terrell have scored at least 15 points in every game this season. Fowler is averaging a team-high 16.0 points on 54% shooting and Terrell is averaging 15.3 points on 73% (19-26) from the field and 67% (6-9) from the 3-point line. Terrell played his first three collegiate seasons at UC Santa Barbara and never made more than five 3-pointers in any season.

Sacramento State has five players averaging double figures in points, including Esposito (13.0 ppg), FitzPatrick (11.0 ppg) and Highler (10.5 ppg). The Hornets have also gotten off to a nice start despite four players out with injury, including last year's starter at point guard, Brandon Davis.

Today, the Hornets held big advantages over the Vandals in points off turnovers (24-6) and second chance points (12-0). Sacramento State shot a well-rounded 47% (28-60) from the field, 40% (8-20) from the 3-point line and 82% (9-11) from the free throw line. The Hornets held a 35-29 advantage in rebounding, and used 10 steals to force Idaho into 17 turnovers. The Vandals shot 44% (20-46) from the field and 31% (4-13) from distance. The Hornets are outrebounding the opposition by a massive average of 17.0 rebounds per game.

A total of 12 Hornets appeared in today's game, which included Samaad Hector finishing with six rebounds (three offensive) and two blocked shots, freshman David Jones six rebounds and one block, and Spencer Monteiro (two rebounds, one steal, one assist).

For Idaho, Scott Blakney had 12 points and DeAndre Robinson 10 points and five rebounds.

The Hornets do not return to action until a scheduled road game at Santa Clara on Dec. 12. However, with the COVID-19 restrictions recently placed on Santa Clara county, that game will need to be placed elsewhere. Any schedule changes going forward can be found on hornetsports.com, or on Sacramento State Men's Basketball Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts.