SACRAMENTO -- In a game that featured an abundance of tense moments, potential game winners missed at the end of regulation and the first overtime, and 16 lead changes, it was Sacramento State that outlasted Montana, 89-83, in double overtime on Saturday inside the Nest.

Sacramento State's tandem of forward Ethan Esposito (26 pts, 9 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk) and guard Bryce Fowler (25 pts, 10 reb, 6 ast) combined for 51 points, which was the most by Hornet teammates in the same game since 2017. The 26 points for Esposito tied his career high (set last week), and the 25 for Fowler set a career best. Both factored in large during the extra sessions as Fowler had eight points and six rebounds in 10 minutes of overtime play while Esposito had seven points an three boards.

In reality, the game should have never gone into overtime, but the Hornets went 5-for-10 from the free throw line over the final two minutes of regulation. That doesn't count two misses on the front end of 1-and-1 situations around the five minute mark. Still, the resilient Hornets were able to over a three-point deficit in the final 40 seconds of regulation to eventually force the first extra session.

Both teams had last second chances to win prior to the second overtime. With a couple seconds remaining in regulation and the score tied at 68-68, Montana's Cameron Parker missed a contested layup, then his potential tip-in also fell off the mark at the buzzer. At the end of the first overtime and tied at 78-78, Esposito had a highly contested four-footer bounce off rim as the buzzer sounded.

That set the stage for a second overtime that saw the Hornets lead the entire way. Sacramento State scored the first four points. After Montana got back to within one point with under a minute to play, the Hornets went 5-for-6 from the free throw line over the final 39 seconds while forcing Montana into field goal misses on each of its final three possessions.

Free throws were the difference as Sacramento State went 26-for-37 (70%) from the stripe while Montana was just 13-for-17 (77%). However, a good amount of those free throws came late in regulation when the Grizzlies were fouling to help come back from a five-point deficit with under 2:30 to play.

With the win, Sacramento State snapped its eight-game losing streak against Montana. Prior to today, the Hornets' last win over the Grizzlies came on Feb. 16, 2017, in Missoula.

The Hornets improved to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big Sky, becoming just the third Sacramento State team to win at least four of its first six conference games since joining the league in 1996. The 2004-05 (4-2) and 2014-15 (5-1) teams also accomplished the feat. In addition, Sacramento State is now 5-1 at home and 82-36 inside the Nest dating back to 2012.

The Hornets and Grizzlies split the season series as Montana won Game 1 on Thursday night in the Nest by a 78-66 outcome. That night saw Montana's bench score 55 of the team's 78 points. Today, it was much different as the Griz reserves combined for 27 points. Montana, which had won four of five heading into today, dropped to 7-8 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky. All five of the Grizzlies' losses in Big Sky play have come by six points or less.

Despite shooting just 39% (27-69) from the field and 35% (9-26) from the 3-point line, Sacramento State was able to compensate by turning the ball over just seven times in 50 minutes of basketball. That includes three turnovers in the final 41 minutes. The Hornets also held comfortable advantages in second chance points (16-6), fast break points (17-6) and points off turnovers (13-7). Sacramento State held a slight edge in the rebounding department (46-43), but 16 of those boards came on the offensive glass. Montana shot 44% (32-72) from the floor and 38% (6-16) from distance.

Esposito continues to play at a high level, as he has now has three straight 20-point games, the first Hornet to accomplish the feat since Justin Strings did it four straight from Feb. 8-17, 2018. In each of those three games, he has scored at least 24 points. He played 41 minutes today, and is averaging team highs in points (18.7 ppg) and rebounds (8.2) while shooting 49% from the field. In conference play, he's upped those numbers to 20.2 points and 8.8 boards.

Fowler's previous career high had been 19 points, but he bettered that in a big way, finishing just four assists shy of the program's first triple-double. In 45 minutes, he had 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and notched the second double-double of his career.

Playing on a minutes restriction after recently coming back from injury, junior Zach Chappell was impressive, putting up 10 points and three steals in just 12 minutes. Deshaun Highler had eight points and three assists, and Brandon Davis seven points, five rebounds and three assists. Five of those points were big as Davis hit two free throws with 39 seconds left go give the Hornets an 86-83 lead in the second overtime. He also hit a 3-ball with 36 seconds left in the first overtime to give the Hornets a brief two-point lead. William FitzPatrick played all 50 minutes while tallying nine points and six rebounds. He buried 3-of-6 from long distance, and has now played at least 40 minutes in three of the last four games. The 50 minutes are the most played by a Hornet in a single game during the Div. I era (1991-pres.).

David Jones added seven rebounds, Elijah McCullough four points and Samaad Hector four rebounds and two blocks.

For Montana, Brandon Whitney led all players with 28 points and Parker finished with 20 points. Parker accounted for 20 of the Montana bench's 27 points.

Sacramento State is back in action next week for a two-game road series at Eastern Washington. The Hornets will play the Eagles on Thursday at 6 p.m., and Saturday at 11 a.m.