SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State junior Pablo Gonzales’ three-point attempt fell just short as time expired to allow Idaho State to take a 74-71 victory on Saturday at Memorial Auditorium.
The win improved the Bengals to 8-19 overall and 3-13 in the Big Sky Conference. The Hornets, who were playing their final home game of the season, fell to 9-16 overall and 3-11 in the Big Sky.
Four Idaho State starters broke double-figures in scoring led by senior Kevin Sweetwyne’s 21. Cedric Robinson (12 pts., 11 reb.) and Doug Silva (16 pts., 11 reb.) each recorded double-doubles for the Bengals.
Sacramento State was led by sophomore Arinze Anoruo with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The San Francisco native became the third Hornet player to tally a double-double this season and set new career highs in both points and rebouding.
Sacramento State built a five-point lead, 9-4, three minutes into the game but ISU scored the next six points to take a 10-9 lead with 15:12 remaining. The Hornets answered on the next possession, but the 11-10 advantage was the last the team would have in the half.
Idaho State withstood numerous Sacramento State attacks in the final five minutes of the first half to walk into the locker room with a 32-31 lead. The Bengals then opened the second period on a 6-0 run to pull ahead, 38-31.
Behind six points by Anoruo, Sacramento State responded with a 9-0 run to take its final lead of the ball game. With the score deadlocked, 40-40, ISU rattled six unanswered points and never looked back.
Sacramento State was able to trim the lead to one point on three occassions but could not find the magic for the go-ahead basket.
After Silva made one of two free throws with eight seconds left to put the Bengals up three, the Hornets called upon Gonzales to force the tie. The team ran a pick-and-roll to the left side and Gonzales was able to shed his defender but his attempt hit the front of the rim and a Jim Brewer, Jr., desperation attempt also fell short as time expired.
Gonzales ended the day with 17 points and six rebounds. Junior Rame Batta contributed 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. Senior Anthony Flood, the lone senior on the roster, chipped in eight points and three rebounds before foulling out with 1:10 left in the game.
The team will end the season next week on the road. Sacrametno State visits Northern Arizona on Thursday and Cal State Northridge on Saturday. Both games will be aired on KTKZ 1380 AM.
