SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State used a 15-1 run early in the second half, and put things away by going 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final six seconds to beat Idaho State, 75-71, on Thursday evening at the Nest.
In a game the Hornets led for over 33 minutes, including the final 18:22, Sacramento State's defense limited Idaho State to 39% shooting (22-57) while the Hornet offense put up 42 second half points. The Hornets were able to win despite missing three players (two starters) to injury, and then saw
Bailey Nunn depart with injury during the contest. In fact, for a good portion of the second half, Sacramento State was playing with two walk-ons on the floor.
The injury bug did not deter the Hornets, as Sacramento State put forth a team effort that saw seven players score at least six points, and four in double figures. The Hornets shot 46% from the field (25-54) and 3-point line (10-22), and overcame Idaho State in the free throw bonus the final 15:21 of the game.
The Hornets led by as many as 15 points in the second half (58-43 with 10:46 remaining) before Idaho State began chipping away. The Bengals cut the deficit to a one-possession game with 1:28 to play after a pair of free throws made the score 69-66. Idaho State had a chance to take the lead, trailing by two points with six seconds left, Dylan Darling missed a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
The Hornets secured the rebound, and saw
Chudi Dioramma bury two clutch free throws with six seconds left to go up four points (73-69). After an ISU bucket,
Michael Wilson put things away with two more freebies with a second to play.
Sacramento State, coming off a gut-wrenching four-point loss at first-place Northern Colorado, bounced back to improve to 6-13 overall and 2-4 in the Big Sky Conference. Idaho State swept both Montana schools last week at home, but tonight's loss dropped them to 8-9 and 3-3.
As usual, these two teams were locked in a tight battle. Nine of the last 10 meetings have now been decided by five points or less. Sacramento State has won five straight at home in the series.
Julian Vaughns led the Hornets with career highs in points (21) and rebounds (7), and was a game-high +12 in plus/minus. Eleven of those points came in the second half before he fouled out with 2:37 to play.
EJ Neal had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists (+7 p/m), and both
Jacob Holt and Dioramma both had 10 points and three boards.
Wilson had eight points, and both
Lachlan Brewer and
Leo Ricketts had six points and three boards. Ricketts had played 10 minutes all season, and responded tonight with over 18 minutes (14 in the second half) while shooting 2-of-4 from distance. Both of those 3-balls came in the second half.
Deonte Williams also provided a spark with two points and three boards in six minutes, including a pair of free throws in the final 60 seconds. Nunn had five assists before exiting with 14:24 to play.
Sacramento State is back in action Saturday when it hosts Weber State at 1 p.m. After that game, the next four will be on the road.
