Sacramento State earned its first conference win of the season while improving to 4-11 and 1-2 in the Big Sky. The Hornets have now split their last six games after opening the season with a 1-8 record. In addition, Sacramento State improved its winning streak at home to three games and is now 4-2 inside the Hornets Nest. Idaho State lost its fourth in a row while falling to 6-9 and 0-3 in the conference.

Joining Bausley in double figures for the Hornets were senior Jameel Pugh (16) and junior Jason Harris (13). Hornet junior Aaron Perry led all players with a career-high 14 rebounds (including eight on the offensive glass). Six of Pugh’s 16 points came via highlight-reel dunks, including two alley-oops. Harris went 7-of-13 from the free-throw line, including 3-of-4 during the final 25 seconds of the game. For Bausley, the double-double was the second of his career and second this season.

Sacramento State dominated in the rebounding department as the Hornets held a 47-29 advantage, including 20 offensive rebounds (three more than the team’s average entering the game). Idaho State got a game-high 22 points from Jeff Gardner (16 in the second half), but that was not enough as the Bengals shot just 33.3 percent (16-48) from the field and 65.7 percent (23-35) from the free-throw line.

The Hornets opened the game on fire, racing out to a 15-2 lead (14:45) as Bausley buried consecutive three-pointers to open the Hornets’ scoring and added two more free throws to give Sacramento State the quick 8-2 lead. Bausley would finish the game with a career-high eight free throws in nine attempts. The Hornets held a double-digit lead for a good portion of the first half until a 5-0 run by Idaho State to close the half erased what was a 30-20 Sacramento State lead. In fact, the Hornets were held scoreless during the final 3:42 of the first stanza as Idaho State closed to within five points (30-25) at halftime.

Both teams exchanged baskets during the first five minutes of the second half until Idaho State went on a 12-4 run over a six-minute span to take its largest lead of the night (two points) at 45-43 with 9:39 remaining. Gardner engineered the run with seven points, including one of his game-high three three-pointers.

Neither team would lead by anything more than five points the rest of the way as Sacramento State responded with a pair of free throws from Perry to tie the score at 45-45 with 8:38 left. Both teams exchanged baskets until the Hornets eventually scored back-back buckets (lay-up from Bausley and two free throws from Pugh) to take a 55-50 lead with 1:21 left. Idaho State closed to within three points on a jumper from Nate Rede, but Pugh quickly responded with a 20-footer allowing the Hornets to reclaim a five-point lead (0:59). Idaho State closed to within three points on two more occasions during the final minute, but Sacramento State was able to knock down its free throws to eventually put the Bengals away. Gardner hit a three-pointer at the buzzer as Sacramento State was able to squeak out the two-point victory.

Junior point guard DaShawn Freeman was able to play 12 minutes on a strained hamstring as E.J. Harris started for the second-straight game in Freeman’s place. Sacramento State finished with a season-high six blocked shots as six different players had one block each.

The Hornets continue their brief two-game homestand with another Big Sky contest this Saturday, Jan. 15, against Weber State at 7:05 p.m.