MOSCOW, Idaho – Junior Isaac Jones erupted for a career-high 42 points and Dominique Ford hit a game-tying floater at the buzzer to send the game to overtime, but Sacramento State (9-6, 2-0 BSC) made timely baskets and forced key defensive stops in the extra period to earn an 85-83 win on Thursday night at ICCU Arena.

Jones' monster night included a 19-of-26 shooting performance from the field, 12 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and three steals. Going up against 7-1, 280-pound center Callum McRae most of the night, Jones still found a way to secure his sixth double-double of the season and record the third-most points by a Vandal player in program history.

Divant'e Moffitt and Ford each posted double-figure scoring efforts. Moffitt had 19 points and seven assists, while Ford came off the bench to score 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and 3 for 3 from behind the arc.

Neither team led by more than two possessions throughout the first half, as the opening 20 minutes consisted of nine lead changes and six ties. Jones scored half of his points in the first half to help keep the Vandals within one at the break, 39-38.

Each team had highly efficient first halves, as Idaho went 18-of-33 (54.5%) from the field and Sac State shot 58.6 percent on 17-of-29 shooting.

Yusef Salih got the Vandals back out front to start the second period, knocking down a corner three to put Idaho up 41-39 at the 18:45 mark. Two lead changes transpired before Idaho grabbed a five-point advantage (58-53) at the 12:06 mark after a three by Ford and a dunk by Jones.   

The Vandals were unable to score the basketball over the next six minutes of play, while the Hornets took advantage and found themselves up five (63-58). Jones got Idaho out of its slump as he made a layup in the paint to make it 63-60 with 5:36 to go and proceeded to score Idaho's next seven points.

Sac State grabbed a two-possession lead with 1:29 and 50 seconds to play before Moffitt made two layups to keep the Vandals within one possession. The Hornets went up five again before Nigel Burris scored in the paint to make it 76-73 with 11 seconds to go.

Ford delivered in crunch time for the Vandals after Sac State went 1-of-2 from the foul line, he raced down to make it a one-possession game (77-75). On the next play, Moffitt forced a turnover by the Sac State inbounder and set up a clutch buzzer-beater by Ford to send the game to overtime.

Sac State outscored the Vandals 8-6 in the extra period to earn the 85-83 win.

Idaho shot 37-73 (50.7%) from the field and 4-16 (25%) from the three. The Vandals had a season-low six turnovers and turned Sac State's eight turnovers into 14 points. The Hornets outrebounded Idaho 44-32.

The Vandals (6-10, 0-3 BSC) will need to have a short memory as they will take tomorrow off before hosting Portland State (6-9, 0-2 BSC) for a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. inside the ICCU Arena.



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