Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team cut a 27-point deficit to four points late in the second half, but the rally fell short as Sacramento State knocked off Idaho State 84-78 on Thursday night at the Hornets Nest in Sacramento, Calif.
The loss drops ISU to 4-5 in Big Sky play and 7-11 overall while Sacramento State improved to 7-11 and 3-6 in conference.
Andre Hatchett and
Tomas Sanchez each scored 17 points while
Chris Hansen added 15.
"I am proud of our guys in the second half but equally disappointed in the first half," Idaho State coach
Bill Evans said. "We weren't very good and I am very surprised. This is the first game that this team hasn't played with the toughness and urgency that it takes to win. We just didn't play hard enough in the first half."
Idaho State trailed 52-25 with 34 seconds left in the first half and 52-27 at halftime. Sacramento State shot 69 percent in the first half and hit 8-of-10 3-pointers to build the big lead.
The Bengals out-scored Sacramento State 51-32 in the second half and cut the Hornet lead to four at 82-78 with 11.2 seconds left in the game after a 3-pointer by Sanchez. Sacramento State was held to 25.9 percent shooting in the second-half while ISU shot 48.6 percent and hit 7-of-16 3-pointers to get back in the game.
Sacramento State out rebounded the Bengals, 38-35, and both teams had nine turnovers. Hatchett had eight rebounds to lead the team. Idaho State was 14-24 from the free throw line while the Hornets connected on 22-of-29.
ISU had a season-high 20 assists with Sanchez having eight and Hatchett finishing with a career-high eight.
Idaho State plays at Northern Arizona on Saturday, February 1. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on 930 CBS Sports Radio and Rock 102.5
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