SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State went on a 22-7 run over the game's final 7:44, but Bryce Fowler's game-winning 3-point attempt rimmed out at the buzzer as the Hornets fell to Montana State, 68-66, on Saturday afternoon at the Nest.

Though Fowler's 3-point attempt was off the mark, the fifth-year senior had a monster game. That included a career-high 32 points on 13-for-23 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. He had 21 points in the second half, and scored 12 of the Hornets' 22 points during the furious final run. He also scored each of the Hornets' last eight points, and his final 3-point attempt was on line, but just nicked the front him, hit the backboard and fell out.

The 32 points are tied for the ninth best mark in Sacramento State's Div. I era (1991-pres.), and Fowler accounted for 48 percent of the Hornets' offensive productions.

The loss dropped Sacramento State to 3-5 overall and 0-2 in the Big Sky Conference, which includes a 65-58 defeat to Montana on Thursday. The Hornets will now go more than three weeks before playing at home again - Dec. 28 vs. Menlo. The Hornets will spend the next three weeks in non-league play before resuming the Big Sky sechedule on Dec. 30.

The last three matchups with Montana State have been decided by two points or less, including the two teams splitting a pair of games last year in Bozeman.

Montana State, which was coming off an overtime loss Thursday at Northern Colorado, improved to 5-4 overall, and 1-1 in league. The Bobcats have played a number of close games on the road this year, including an overtime defeat at Colorado, and three-point loss at New Mexico.

Sacramento State's only lead was 2-0, as Montana State led for over 37 minutes of game clock. That included a 20-point advantage with 12:28 to play in the game. However, the Hornets kept battling, and chipped away at the deficit. Things looked bleak after Xavier Bishop's bucket gave MSU a 61-44 lead with eight minutes to play.

A Fowler jumper at the 7:44 mark was the first bucket in a 22-7 run that would see the Hornets hold Montana State without a field goal the final 5:49. In fact, each of MSU's last five points came from the free throw line. Five different Hornets scored during the run, including 12 from Fowler who could not be stopped.

In the final sequence, with 4.7 second left on the clock, Jubrile Belo had just knocked down a free throw to give the Bobcats a 68-66 lead. With both teams out of timeouts, Fowler took the inbounds pass and raced 60 feet where he pulled up from the left wing for a good look at his 3-point attempt. The buzzer sounded with the ball in midair, and narrowly missed as the Bobcats escaped with the win.

Sacramento State had big advantages in points off turnovers (22-11) and second chance points (11-2). However, both teams attempted 18 free throws with Montana State making 13, and the Hornets converting 11. MSU also shot 50% from the field with seven made 3-balls, while the Hornets 43% with five made treys. After trailing by 14 points at halftime, Sacramento State outscored the Bobcats, 39-27, in the second half.

Fowler was one of two Hornets in double figures as Deshaun Highler had a season-high 11 points off the bench with three assists and four steals. Highler played nearly 17 minutes in the second half, as his energy was a big factor in the team's comeback. Jonathan Komagum had six points, six rebounds, two steals, and was a +6 in plus/minus during his 35 minutes of action. William FitzPatrick had six points and five rebounds, and Cameron Wilbon four points and seven rebounds.

True freshman Marcus Greene continues to get more playing time with each game, and is now in the Hornets' primary rotation as he finished with four points, two rebounds and a team-best +8 plus/minus in 14 minutes. Zach Chappell added four rebounds and two steals, but was held scoreless.

Four Montana State players scored in double figures (all starters), led by Jubrile Belo's 18 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Abdul Mohamed had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The Hornets return to action when they play their third and final Pac-12 Conference opponent of the season. Sacramento State will take on Oregon State in Corvallis next Saturday at 4 p.m. The Hornets have already played Utah and nationally ranked Arizona earlier this season. Sacramento State will play just twice over the next couple weeks, including a matchup at UC Riverside on Dec. 19.