Idaho State Athletics
Submitted Content
The Idaho State men men’s basketball team won a 57-56 overtime thriller over the Sacramento State Hornets at Reed Gym on Sunday afternoon to bring their winning streak to four. Idaho State has won seven of its last eight games.
Tarik Cool and Brayden Parker led the way with both scoring 18 points. Cool was 4-4 at the free throw line, while Parker shot a solid 9-13 from the field.
Robert Ford III also added 8 points with 13 rebounds.
For the game, the Bengals shot 42 percent from the field and 11-14 from the free throw line and held a lead by as many as 10 points in the first half. Sacramento State was able to get a lot of help from the three as they managed to hit seven from deep while shooting 41% (7-17). ISU managed to out rebound the Hornets 37-35.
The Bengals started quick as Cool made two three’s to give his team an early 6-2 lead. The Bengals maintained its lead leading 11-4 with 12:39 left in the first half. Thanks to the offensive production of Cool, the Bengals took their biggest lead of the game at 25-15 with 5:15 left until halftime following a 3-pointer by Daxton Carr. Cool scored 11 of the Bengals first 13 points and had 16 at the break.
The Bengals led 30-23 at halftime. The Hornets came out of the half with an 8-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 31-30 with 17:33 left in the game. Parker answered the cold stretch hitting a jump shot to give ISU the lead once again at 32-31 a minute later.
After a back and forth second half the Bengals found themselves down 49-48 with 21 seconds left. On that possession with one second left on the shot clock, Austin Smellie was fouled where he hit 1-2 to tie the game at 49. In the final possession of regulation the Hornets drove to the basket and were unable to get the ball to fall.
In overtime, the Hornets gained a one point lead at 56-55 after a bucket and a foul with nine seconds left. On the ensuing possession Ford drove quickly to the basket and was fouled with his shot rimming out. Ford III converted both free throws and a Hornet miss from long range gave the Bengals yet another win in thrilling fashion.
The win brings ISU a 4-1 record in Big Sky play and a 7-5 record overall.
The Bengals will return to Reed Gym tomorrow to play Sacramento State at 1:00 P.M.
