SACRAMENTO -- Callum McRae had 21 points and 15 rebounds, and Cameron Wilbon added 14 points and six boards to help propel Sacramento State to a 70-65 victory over Idaho State on Saturday evening at the Nest.

The Hornets led the final 17:54 of the contest, but had to survive some tense moments late. After a fast break dunk from Akol Mawein gave the Hornets what looked like a comfortable 64-57 lead with 53 seconds left, Idaho State immediately responded with a Jay Nagle 3-ball. Sacramento State would then miss the front end of a 1-and-1, and the Bengals responded with another bucket to slice their deficit to 64-62 at the 26-second mark.

Things got even crazier when ISU forced a Hornet turnover with 23 seconds left, giving the Bengals a chance to tie or take the lead. However, Sacramento State forced a five-second call on the ensuing inbounds, and followed with a Hunter Marks fast break dunk to go up, 66-62, with 21 seconds left. Sacramento State forced an ISU miss, and a pair of McRae free throws put the game away.

Sacramento State outscored Idaho State in the second half (37-31), and controlled the glass with a 39-29 rebounding advantage. That included 12 offensive boards resulting in eight second chance points. The Hornets shot 52% from the field in the second half, and 44% for the game. The contest featured 10 lead changes and six ties, and the largest ISU lead was five points. The largest Hornet lead was 10 points with 5:45 to play.

The win was important as it vaulted Sacramento State (13-15, 6-9) into a two-way tie for sixth place in the Big Sky Conference standings. The Hornets have just three games left in the regular season (all on the road), and the top six teams in the league will receive a bye in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament in Boise on March 4-8.

Essentially, the battle for the final two first round byes are between three teams - Sacramento State (6-9), Idaho State (6-9) and Portland State (6-8). The Vikings are hosting Weber State this evening.

Tonight marked the final home game of the season, and Sacramento State finished with a 9-4 record in the Nest. Hornet seniors Rick Barros III, Xavier Ford, Zach Chappell, Marks and McRae were honored prior to the game.

Idaho State dropped to 9-19 overall and 6-9 in league play. The Hornets were able to avenge a 65-61 road loss to the Bengals in Pocatello on Jan. 19. Amazingly, each of the last seven games between Sacramento State and Idaho State have been decided by five points or less.

The Hornets' 13 overall wins are the most in three years for the program, and two more than all of last season (11-18). Sacramento State has also matched its conference win total from a year ago (6-14).

After shooting 54% in the first half, Idaho State was limited to 32% shooting after halftime. The Hornets also held sizable advantages in points in the paint (36-24) and fast break points (13-5). Fourteen of those paint points were scored by McRae who finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in 35 minutes. He notched his ninth double-double, which is the new Sacramento State Div. I era (1991-pres.) single-season record.

McRae was joined in double figures by Wilbon (14 points, six rebounds, three assists) and Akol Mawein (12 points, four rebounds, two blocks). Wilbon provided a spark in the second half, as nine of his points and four rebounds came after halftime. McRae almost had a double-double in the second half alone (13 points, 9 rebounds). All four of Mawein's rebounds were on the offensive glass.

Gianni Hunt had nine points (3-for-5 from 3PT) and two assists, Hunter Marks seven points and four rebounds, and Zach Chappell posted seven points, three rebounds and four assists. Marks was a +15 in plus/minus, easily the highest rating by any player on the floor.

Sacramento State's final three road games will come over a grueling five-day stretch in which the team will play at Montana State (Feb. 23), Montana (Feb. 25) and Portland State (Feb. 27). Should the Hornets earn a top six seed, they would begin the Big Sky Tournament on Monday, March 6. Anything lower than the sixth place spot, and Sacramento State would begin the single-elimination tourney on Saturday, March 4.