BJEGOVIC’S LAST-SECOND PUTBACK GIVES MEN’S BASKETBALL A 57-55 VICTORY OVER EASTERN WASHINGTON

1/22/2011

Duro Bjegovic scored eight points, none bigger than his last-second putback to deliver a victory

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State senior forward Duro Bjegovic’s last-second putback delivered a much-needed 57-55 victory over Eastern Washington in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Saturday evening at the Nest.

With the score tied at 55-55 and 12 seconds remaining, the Hornets had the last possession of the game and point guard Sultan Toles-Bey dribbled up the floor and eventually shot an off-balance 17-footer with three seconds left that didn’t touch rim. Fortunately for the Hornets, Bjegovic was waiting underneath the basket where he caught the miss and immediately finished a layup with a hand in his face to give the Hornets a 57-55 lead with 1.1 seconds to play. Eastern Washington attempted a baseball pass on the inbounds, but the ball bounced off a pair of players’ hands as time expired.

The win was a big one for Sacramento State (4-15, 1-7) as it snapped a nine-game losing streak. Prior to tonight, the Hornets had been one of the more unlucky teams in the nation, losing a program-record four games in overtime and three more that were decided by five points or less in regulation. Three of those overtime defeats came during the losing streak. Tonight, lady luck finally smiled a bit on the Hornets as the air ball made it easier for Bjegovic to secure the rebound and hit the game-winning layup.

The win also allowed Sacramento State to remain just 1.5 games back of a playoff spot in the Big Sky standings at the midway point of the conference season. The top six teams in the nine-member league reach the Big Sky Tournament (Portland State is not eligible), and currently, Eastern Washington (5-14, 2-5) holds the final spot. The victory also avenged an overtime loss by the Hornets to Eastern Washington in Cheney earlier this year.

The lead switched hands five times during the final three minutes of tonight’s game, as Eastern Washington was able to erase an 11-point second-half deficit to make it a tightly contested game. A Laron Griffin tip-in at the 2:21 mark gave Eastern Washington its first lead (51-50) of the second half and capped a 25-13 run. Both teams then exchanged baskets on the next three possessions, until the Hornets forced a miss and Sultan Toles-Bey knocked down 1-of-2 free throws to give Sacramento State a 55-53 lead with 30 seconds to play.

On Eastern Washington’s next possession, point guard Glen Dean was fouled on a drive through the lane and knocked down both free throws with 12 seconds remaining to tie the score. That set up the Hornets’ final possession that was capped with the Bjegovic putback.

In a game where both teams’ leading scorers combined for just nine points (Dean with four; Toles-Bey with five), neither squad shot all that well from the field. Sacramento State shot 37.0 percent (20-54) from the field while Eastern Washington converted on 40.8 percent (20-49) of its attempts. Both teams combined for just seven three-pointers, and shot well from the free throw line (EWU 11-for-13; SAC 14-for-17). The Hornets were able to score 20 points off 15 Eagle turnovers.

Sophomore John Dickson, who was battling flu-like symptoms for the second straight game, was the only Hornet in double figures with 17 points. It marked the fourth time in the last seven games the forward has led the Hornets in scoring. In fact, Dickson, who made five fields and was 6-of-6 from the line, has now scored in double figures in all eight conference games thus far. It was his running three-pointer at the buzzer that gave Sacramento State a 26-22 halftime lead.

All eight Hornets that appeared in the game scored points, as junior Walter Jackson (nine points, two steals), Bjegovic (eight points, four rebounds) and junior Alpha N’Diaye (eight points, eight rebounds) each had at least nine. Toles-Bey had eight assists and a game-high three steals to go along with his five points, and junior Heath Hoffman and freshman Jackson Carbajal each had four points.

Three Eastern Washington players scored in double figures, comprised of Griffin (14 points, game-high 10 rebounds), Tremayne Johnson (14 points, four rebounds) and Cliff Colimon (11 points, four rebounds). Dean, who was averaging 13.1 points per game, was held to four points on 0-for-7 shooting, including 0-for-5 from the three-point line. He did have eight assists, but was forced into committing five of the team’s 15 turnovers.

Sacramento State concludes its season-long three-game homestand on Thursday, Jan. 27, against Idaho State at 7:05 p.m. The Hornets then turn around and play on the road at Portland State on Saturday, Jan. 29.