Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- With the score tied at 90,
Tomas Sanchez hit three free throws in the final four seconds to give Idaho State a 93-90 overtime victory at the University of San Francisco, a team that was picked to finish fourth in the West Coast Conference.
Chris Hansen and
Tomas Sanchez led the Bengals with career-highs of 33 and 24 points and
Andre Hatchett tied his career-high with 20 points. Hatchett had a double-double as he added a career-best 12 rebounds
"I am proud of my guys," Idaho State coach
Bill Evans said. "They did a tremendous job and they all contributed to this victory. This was as great college basketball game. It is hard to win on the road against a good team who is well-coached."
Idaho State shot 50 percent from the field and hit 8-15 from the 3-point line. The Bengals also hit on 25-35 free throws including making 9-10 in the overtime period. USF shot 46 percent and was forced into 16 turnovers. The Dons only went to the free throw line 12 times, making five. San Francisco did out rebound ISU 41-37.
In a game that had nine lead changes and eight ties, the most important lead change took place in the final 1:55 of overtime when ISU trailed 90-86. ISU took advantage of missed shots by the Dons and Hatchett hit two free throws with 1:42 left to cut its deficit to 90-88. Then after another missed 3-pointer by USF, Hansen was fouled and hit two free throws to tie the game at 90 with 1:08 to play in the extra period.
"We had a whole bunch of guys make a whole bunch of plays tonight," Evans said.
USF turned the ball over with four seconds and fouled Sanchez, who proceeded to hit two free throws to give ISU the 92-90 lead. After another Don turnover, Sanchez hit one of two free throws to give the Bengals the 93-90 victory. Nine of the Bengals 11 overtime points came at the free throw line.
"We are a pretty resilient team," Evans said. "The win is a credit to our guys, their integrity and who we have in our program. You can't put a finger on the intangibles but there was a lot of that tonight in this win."
The Bengals were able to send the game into overtime when Sanchez hit a running layup with 15 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 82. ISU trailed 44-39 at halftime.
Idaho State plays at Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday, November 23 at 8 p.m. (MST). The game will be heard live on 930 CBS Sports Radio and Rock 102.5.
Notes: The win snapped a 22-game road nonconference losing streak. This was only the fourth nonconference road win in the last six years. ISU's last nonconference road win was a 68-65 win at UMKC on Nov. 28, 2009. Today was the 27th time ISU has played an overtime game since the 2006-07 season. The Bengals have won eight of the 27 overtime games.
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