POCATELLO, Idaho -- Idaho State had 56 second-half points, and converted on 14-of-30 (47%) shots from distance in a 97-84 victory over Sacramento State on Thursday evening at Reed Gym.

The game marked the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams. The Hornets begin the conference season with three straight games on the road, which is part of a current seven game road trip.

The loss overshadowed a huge night from dynamic guard Mikey Williams, who was brilliant from start to finish. The sophomore finished with a career-high 34 points, the most by a Big Sky player this season, and tied for sixth most in the Hornets' Div. I era (1991-pres.). He shot 13-of-23 from the field, 3-for-7 from distance, and 5-of-7 from the free throw line.

He had 18 points in the first half, and 16 more in the second half. It marked his second 30+ point game of the year, and he has now dropped 18+ points in each of the last four games while raising his scoring average to 16.3 ppg. The 34 points were 10 more than any other player on the floor, and he also added three rebounds, two assists and a steal.

However, it was not enough against an Idaho State squad that put up a season-high 97 points. After the Hornets scored the game's first two points on a pair of Williams free throws, the Bengals went on a 9-0 run and proceeded to lead for 37 minutes of game clock. 

The loss dropped the Hornets to 4-9 overall, and 0-1 in league play. Sacramento State which has seen six players miss games due to injury this season, played without senior forward Jeremiah Cherry (15.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg) for the seventh straight game. The Hornets are now 1-6 with Cherry out of the lineup after going 3-3 when he was healthy.

Idaho State, which improved to 8-6 overall and 1-0 in league, also improved to 5-1 at home. The Bengals have won five of their last seven games.

After trailing, 41-32, at halftime, Sacramento State closed to within two points (45-43) of the deficit with 16 minutes to play. However, that was as close as the Hornets would get. The Bengals immediately responded with a 13-4 run and led by at least eight points the rest of the contest.

ISU converted on six more shots from the field (SAC 41%, 26-63; ISU 49%, 32-65) and nine more 3-balls (SAC 5-19; ISU 14-30). The Bengals had a season-best 19 assists on their 32 made buckets and held a 19-11 advantage in points off turnovers. Sacramento State went 27-for-37 from the free throw line as six different players made multiple freebies. Sacramento State had a 52-point second half after scoring 32 before the break.

Four Hornets scored in double figures, including a pair that narrowly missed double-doubles. Prophet Johnson had 14 points and nine rebounds, Arman Madi had career highs in points (10), rebounds (9) and steals (2), and Mark Lavrenov added 12 points and four boards. Both Shaqir O'Neal and Jayden Teat had six points, and Brandon Gardner two points and three rebounds. O'Neal was a +4 plus/minus in 14 minutes.

Sacramento State is back in action on Saturday at Weber State. The Hornets and Wildcats tip at 6 p.m. PT. 

NOTABLES
• Sacramento State is 9-21 in its opening game of Big Sky Conference play since joining the league in 1996-97
• Gardner made his first start of the season tonight
• This evening marked the 65th meeting in the series against Idaho State. The series began in 1951