After Idaho State’s David Schroeder had a dunk (0:57) and two free throws (0:42) to give the Bengals their largest lead of the game at four points (103-99), Sacramento State immediately responded with a three-pointer from Bausley with 33 seconds remaining, slicing the deficit to 103-102. On in the ensuing inbounds play, ISU’s Tim Henry got trapped in the corner and tried to pass to Logan Kinghorn. However, the Hornets’ Davon Roberts got a hand on the ball and DaShawn Freeman saved it right to Clark Woods, who drained a three-pointer to give Sacramento State a 105-103 lead with 26 seconds remaining.

The Bengals then responded with a three-pointer from Akbar Abdul-Ahad to give Idaho State a 106-105 lead with 14 seconds remaining. On the Hornets’ final possession, Freeman drove towards the edge of the key near the baseline, and dished out his career-high 12th assist back to Bausley who buried a fade-away jumper with a hand in his face to give Sacramento State the dramatic win.

With the victory, Sacramento State has now won a season-high four-straight games and improved to 12-5 overall and 3-0 in the Big Sky. The Hornets’ overall record is the best in the Div. I era (1991-pres.) and the best since the 1987-88 squad began the year 13-4. In addition, the team had never began the year with three-consecutive conference victories (since joining the league in 1996-97) until this season. After beginning the year with a 1-2 record, Sacramento State has won 11 of its last 14 games and improved to 5-5 away from home.

The Hornets, who are already just one win shy of matching their largest victory output in the Div. I era (13-15 in 2003-04), have won each of their last seven Big Sky regular-season games dating back to last season. Sacramento State has defeated Idaho State on four-consecutive occasions, including a 99-97 overtime victory in Pocatello last season. The Bengals had been 42-0 at home when scoring at least 100 points in their program history until Bausley’s shot ended the streak.

With the loss, Idaho State dropped to 7-7 overall and 0-3 in the conference. The Bengals were 5-0 at home and had won each of those games by an average of 19.4 points per contest prior to tonight’s loss. Idaho State has dropped five in a row and six of the last seven after beginning the season with a 6-1 record. Sacramento State moves into a first-place tie in the conference standings with Northern Arizona, who won at Weber State. NAU and the Hornets are now both 3-0 in league play, followed by Montana (2-0) and Montana State (2-0), who were idle tonight.

Sacramento State, which never trailed during the game until Schroeder’s dunk with 57 seconds left, had three players score at least 20 points. Freeman led the team with a career-high tying 27 points, Bausley tallied 22 points and Woods had a career-high 20. Bausley finished the game 8-of-9 from the floor, 3-of-3 from beyond the arc and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line to go along with three rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot.

Freeman, who continues to be the Hornets’ catalyst this season, also had 12 assists and five steals, including the crucial steal with 34 seconds remaining. Freeman’s 12 assists gives him 432 for his career, which is the new program record, surpassing Pat Wallace’s old mark of 428. In addition, Freeman, who is also the program leader in steals, is now just eight steals shy of breaking the Big Sky Conference record (255), a mark which has stood since 1992.

Woods eclipsed his previous career high of 14 points by shooting 7-of-11 from the field, including a career-high six three-pointers in just eight attempts. The Hornets shot a blistering 55.9 percent (38-68) from the field, 53.8 percent (14-26) from beyond the arc and 81.0 percent (17-21) from the free-throw line. Amazingly, Idaho State, which had a 21-4 run late in the second half, lost the game despite shooting 64.7 percent (33-51) from the field and outrebounding Sacramento State in the second half, 21-4. In addition, the Bengals went to the free throw line 37 times, converting 32 (86.5 percent), including a 13-of-18 performance from Slim Millien.

Six Idaho State players scored in double figures, comprised of Millien’s game-high 31 points and nine rebounds, Abdul-Ahad (18 points), Kasey Winters (16 points, eight rebounds), Schroeder (13 points, five rebounds), Henry (12 points, five assists) and Kinghorn (11 points). After being outscored in the first half, 55-44, Idaho State outscored the Hornets in the second half, 62-52.

Sacramento State, which hit the century mark in points for the Div. I-best third time this season, recorded season highs in points, field goal percentage, three-pointers and fouls (28). The 107 points were the most by a Sacramento State team since scoring 110 at Northern Arizona during the 2003-04 season and the third-most points in the team’s Div. I history.

The Hornets’s 3-0 record is even more impressive when taking into account the team has been playing without the services of senior Jason Harris for each of those games. Nine different Sacramento State players scored in tonight’s game, including performances from freshman Loren Leath (13 points), sophomore Justin Williams (eight points, 4-of-4 from the field), seniors Zane Beekman (five points, three rebounds in four minutes), Chris Lange (four points, three rebounds and two blocked shots in nine minutes) and Aaron Perry (four points), and junior Haron Hargrave (four points, three assists). Sacramento State took its largest lead of the game at 15 points on three separate occasions, with the last coming at 63-48 with 17:58 remaining in the second half.

The Hornets return to action on Saturday, Jan. 14, as the team travels to Ogden, Utah, to take on Weber State. Sacramento State has never defeated the Wildcats in Ogden (0-12), including a controversial 57-55 loss last season.