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POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team held Sacramento State to only one field goal in the final nine minutes of the game to earn a hard-fought 68-63 overtime win on Friday afternoon in front of a season-high 2,085 fans at ICCU Court at Holt Arena.
The Bengals are now 5-8 and 1-0 in Big Sky play while Sacramento State dropped to 3-10 and 0-2 in league. Idaho State is 3-2 in conference openers under Joe O'Brien, who picked up his 50th career victory. The Bengal coach has never lost a Big Sky home opener.
Idaho State was led by the play of Deividas Busma who has 19 points and 12 rebounds to go along with his three blocks in 42 minutes of play. Chase Grabau had 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals while Broderick Gilchrest Gilchrest had 11 points, five rebounds and four steals. Abner Moreira had 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Idaho State shot 40 percent for the game and tied the Hornets in rebounds with 39. The Bengal defense forced 16 turnovers and was held without a field goal in the five minute overtime period.
“We had some resilience down the stretch when we needed it,” O'Brien said. “We got some stops and rebounds when we needed it. Just a week ago we were talking about how many times we didn't get the defensive rebound when we really needed it and tonight we did.”
The Bengals trailed 57-52 with 4:07 to play in the contest. Gilchrest then hit a 3-pointer with 3:46 remaining to bring ISU within two points. Just over a minute later Grabau made a free throw and on the second attempt Moreira got the offensive rebounds, allowing Busma to score to give Idaho State a 58-57 lead with 2:31 left in regulation. Gilchrest later converted on a layup to put the Bengals up 60-57 with 1:15 to play.
Sacramento State's Heath Hoffman countered with a 3-pointer with 48 seconds to play, tying the game at 60. The Hornets missed a jumper with four seconds left, sending the game into overtime.
In the overtime period ISU jumped out to a 66-61 lead and held on for the victory.
“The crowd helped,” O'Brien said on the team's second-half run. “There was some noise generated. On the road in an overtime game down four or five is tough. When you get into overtime it is a five minute game where everything is magnified. A missed shot is like two missed shots and a missed free throw just really kills momentum. Fortunately we came out and put some possessions together, got a three-point lead and hung on.”
Idaho State led 36-26 at halftime and shot 50 percent from the field.
The Bengals return to the court against Portland State on Sunday at 2 p.m. in ICCU Court at Holt Arena. The game can be heard live on 930 KSEI and seen on Altitude Television.
www.isubengals.com
ICCU Court Firsts
Field Goal made: Duro Bjegovic, Sacramento State, 19:46 1st half
First Bengal Field Goal: Chase Grabau, 19:21 1st half
First Bengal 3-pointer: Chase Grabau, 13:27 1st half
First Bengal Free Throw: Chase Grabau, 16:52 1st half
First Layup: Deividas Busma, 15:43, 1st half
