Bengals Drop Close Game to Sac State 70-65

POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team lost 70-65 to Sacramento State University on Monday afternoon in Reed Gym.

In a game that had 21 ties and 10 lead changes, Tarik Cool led the scoring attack for the Bengals with 19 points and four assists. Robert Ford III added 16 points on 5-9 shooting.

The Bengals outshot the Hornets 48 percent to 43 percent from the field. However, the Hornets were able to shoot 52.9 percent from beyond the arc to put them over the edge (9-17) compared to the Bengals 5-20. ISU did manage to out rebound the Hornets 32-31.

Idaho State managed to only make 12 free throws on 20 attempts while Sacramento State was 15-19.

The Bengals started fast once again with a 5-0 start. That was matched by the Hornets, going on an 8-0 run of their own to take an 8-5 lead four minutes into the game. The two teams would go back and forth for the rest of the first half leading to a 29-29 tie at the break.

Neither team was able to pull away in the second half with no lead ever rising above five points. With 33 seconds left on the clock the Hornets were fouled and converted both free throws to lead 63-59. 

Ford came back down the court and was able to get a tear drop to fall bringing the lead back down to two with 26 seconds left to play.

After another foul, the Hornets went 1-2 from the line giving the Bengals a chance to tie. On the ensuing possession the Bengals had a 3-pointer to tie the game that just fell short with 14 seconds left.

ISU did control the paint, gathering 32 points to the Hornets 22.

The Bengals return to Big Sky action on January 21^st at Portland State at 8:05 P.M.