Hansen Sparks ISU to Overtime Win over First-Place Weber State

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POCATELLO, Idaho- Chris Hansen scored a game-high 27 points including the game-winning high-arching 3-pointer with 1:29 left in overtime to lift Idaho State to a 78-75 win over first-place Weber State on Monday night at Holt Arena.

"I can't describe it," Hansen said. "It feels amazing. We needed this win to stay in the hunt. We are right where we need to be."

In a game that had 16 ties and 18 lead changes, the Bengals shot 52.7 percent from the field for the game and held Weber State to 41.4 percent shooting. Hansen scored his 27 points on eight-of-16 shooting. He was a perfect four-of-four from the three-point line and seven-of-seven from the free throw line. He had four rebounds while playing 39 minutes.

"Chris Hansen is tough," Idaho State coach Bill Evans said. "I just think he is a tough dude and he can make hard shots."

The Bengals made eight-of-13 pointers and had 16 assists to 12 turnovers. Jeffrey Solarin and Andre Hatchett each had seven rebounds.
Tomas Sanchez played all 45 minutes, scored 12 points, dished out six assists and had no turnovers. Solarin had 10 points and Ayibakuro Preh had eight points and five rebounds in 34 minutes of play.

The Bengals trailed 68-64 with 3:02 left in regulation when Hansen scored four straight points to tie the game with 1:57 remaining. After a Wildcat bucket with just under two minutes to play, Hatchett tied the game at 70 on two free throws with 45 seconds left. Neither team was able to get off a good shot in the final seconds of regulation.

Hansen scored all eight overtime points for Idaho State and it started with the opening bucket in the first 20 seconds, putting ISU on top 72-70. Weber State would take a 74-72 with 2:20 left in the extra period before Hansen scored the final six points on two 3-pointers to lift ISU to the victory.

"I have teammates that won't let me quit," Hansen said. "I wanted to do what my role was on the team."

The game-clinching 3-pointer with 1:29 remaining to put Idaho State on top 78-75 was over the out-stretched arms of Weber State's 6-10 center Kyle Tresnak. 

"He is a lot taller than I thought he was," Hansen said. "Thank goodness it went in. I have worked on the high-arching shot. When you practice something like that you have it to rely on. My teammates and coaches have confidence in me. They are the top team so you want to play your best against the top team.  My teammates trust me and the situation had it where I was taking the shot."

The Bengals are now 10-13 and 7-7 in Big Sky Conference play while Weber State dropped to 14-8 and 11-3 in league.

"Our guys deserve a lot of credit," Evans said. "It is hard to do what we did. Everybody has to do it but it is a hard game to win and our guys did that. A lot of guys stepped up. Justin was good for us. Ayibakuro did a good job and Solarin really played hard."

Idaho State now hits the road for games at Montana State on Thursday, Feb. 20 and at Montana on Saturday, February 22. Both games begin at 7 p.m.

Game Notes: This is the first time the Bengals have had 10 wins or more in a season since 2008-09. That year they finished 13-19. Tomas Sanchez has scored in double figures in 11 straight games while playing a career-high 45 minutes. Chris Hansen has scored in double figures in 18 straight games and he now has eight 20 point games this year.