SACRAMENTO -- Idaho led for over 36 minutes of clock, and Sacramento State was limited to a season-low 45 points, as the Vandals beat the Hornets, 61-45, on Monday evening at the Nest.
Sacramento State held a 30-21 advantage in the rebounding department (including 13 offensive rebounds), but Idaho shot 54% (22-41) from the field and a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line. The Vandals scored 22 points off turnovers, and rode a large halftime lead (37-20) to the victory. The Hornets, who outscored Idaho in the second half (25-24), shot 33% (15-46) from the field and allowed the Vandals 32 points in the paint.
Sacramento State (6-17, 2-8), which crossed the midway point of the conference season this evening, has just eight games left on the regular season schedule. Tonight began a stretch that will see the team play three times over six days, including later this week on the road at Idaho State and Weber State.
Idaho (9-14, 3-7) won its second straight road game, and was coming off an impressive 81-75 win at Montana State on Saturday. Entering this evening, each of the last four meetings between the Hornets and Vandals had gone into overtime or been decided by three points or fewer.
Sacramento State used four freshmen and a sophomore in their nine-man rotation. That included a starting lineup made up of three underclassmen (two freshmen, one sophomore).
For the first time all season, a Hornet did not score in double figures.
Zee Hamoda led the team with eight points, five rebounds and three steals.
Austin Patterson added eight points, a pair of assists and a block.
Three freshmen scored six points, including
Alex Kovatchev (6 pts, 6 reb),
Emil Skytta (6 pts, 3 ast) and
Bowyn Beatty (6 pts, 5 reb). Sophomore
Duncan Powell had five points and six rebounds (four offensive), and
Jacob Holt posted three points, three rebounds and three blocked shots.
Of Idaho's 61 points, 30 came from their bench, including EJ Neal who led all players with 15 points.
Sacramento State is back in action later this week on Thursday at Idaho State, and Saturday at Weber State. Both games will start at 6 p.m. PT.
