IDAHO STATE SNAPS MEN’S BASKETBALL’S HOME WINNING STREAK, BAUSLEY RECORDS 1,000 POINTS
1/6/2007
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Idaho State’s John Ofoegbu (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Nicholas Rhodes (13 points, 11 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles to lead the Bengals to a 73-58 victory over Sacramento State in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Saturday evening at the Hornets Nest.
The Bengals outrebounded the Hornets, 49-18, while limiting Sacramento State to a .367 field goal percentage (22-60). Rhodes’ eight offensive rebounds were more than Sacramento State had offensively as an entire team. The Bengals scored 28 points in the paint, and had 20 second-chance points.
With the victory, Idaho State improved to 7-8 overall and is the lone team in the Big Sky with an undefeated conference record (2-0). Coupled with last year’s 72-71 win over the Hornets in Sacramento, Idaho State has now defeated the Hornets on two-straight occasions after Sacramento State had won the four previous meetings between the two teams.
Sacramento State had its four-game home winning streak snapped as the Hornets fell to 7-9 overall and 2-2 in the Big Sky. The Hornets had just defeated defending two-time Big Sky Tournament champion Montana on Thursday night.
About the only bright spot for the Hornets came with 4:29 remaining in the contest when senior Alex Bausley knocked down a three-pointer, giving the fourth-year forward 1,000 career points. Bausley, who was a first team all-Big Sky selection last season, becomes just the third Sacramento State player to amass 1,000 points during the program’s Div. I era (1991-pres.).
Four players scored in double figures for Idaho State, comprised of Ofoegbu, Rhodes, David Schroeder (14 points, five rebounds) and Akbar Abdul-Ahad (12 points). The story was rebounding as seven different Bengals had more than two rebounds. In contrast, Sacramento State had just one player with more than two rebounds (Bausley finished with six).
More than half of Sacramento State’s field goal attempts came from beyond the arc, as the team finished 9-of-32, including five from Loren Leath. The sophomore shooting guard finished with a game-high 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-12 from distance. Leath was the only Hornet in double figures as Bausley finished with eight points and a game-high three steals. The Hornets forced Idaho State into 22 turnovers, including five on the Bengals’ first five possessions of the game, but could not overcome shooting woes and poor rebounding.
Sacramento State took its final lead of the game at 4-2 on a jumper from senior Haron Hargrave. After that, it was all Idaho State as the Bengals went on a 27-9 run over the next 10 minutes to take a 29-13 lead with 6:13 remaining in the first half. Sparked by three-pointers from Leath, Bausley and Kris Groce, Sacramento State closed the half on a 15-4 run to draw back within striking distance and trail at halftime, 33-28.
However, the Bengals opened the second half on a 20-4 run, giving the team a game-high 21-point lead (53-32) with 12:12 remaining in the contest. Sacramento State got as close as 10 points (66-56 with 1:26 remaining), but Idaho State went 7-of-8 from the free throw line over the final 1:16 to put the game away.
The Bengals went to the free throw line 26 times (converting 18), compared to just eight attempts for the Hornets.
Sacramento State also received six points apiece from juniors Justin Williams, Kris Groce and Davon Roberts. Groce also added a game-high five assists.
Sacramento State will play two of its next three games on the road, beginning at Weber State on Thursday, Jan. 11, at 6:05 p.m. PST. After a home contest against Northern Arizona on Saturday, Jan. 13, the Hornets play their final non-conference game of the season at Cal Poly on Jan. 16.
