EWU loses in final second

by From wire and news services
| January 23, 2011 8:00 PM

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Duro Bjegovic's offensive rebound and layup with 1 second remaining gave Sacramento State its first Big Sky Conference win of the season, a 57-55 decision over Eastern Washington on Saturday night.

The Hornets (4-15), who had opened league play with seven straight losses, got a game-high 17 points from John Dickson. Walter Jackson added nine points and Alpha N'Diaye and Bjegovic finished with eight each for Sacramento State.

Tremayne Johnson and Laron Griffin scored 14 each for the Eagles (5-14, 2-5).

"In five of the last six halves we are starting to develop an identity defensively where we can keep ourselves in games when we are not shooting the ball well," Eastern coach Kirk Earlywine said. "It was a matter tonight that the ball didn't go in the basket.

"We had unbelievably clean looks, especially from the arc. There are nights that it's going to happen like this, but it doesn't mean you can't win the game. You have guard your butt off, you have rebound your butt off and you have to take care of the ball."

Eastern Washington tied it at 55 on a pair of free throws by Glen Dean with 12 seconds remaining. Sacramento State's Sultan Toles-Bey missed a jumper with 3 seconds remaining, but Bjegovic grabbed the rebound and scored the winning basket.

Eastern plays host to Portland State on Thursday.

E. WASHINGTON (5-14)

Ederaine 4-5 0-0 8, Griffin 6-10 2-3 14, Dean 0-7 4-4 4, Forbes 0-8 2-2 2, Winford 0-2 2-2 2, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Colimon 4-5 0-0 11, Johnson 6-10 1-2 14, Allen 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 20-49 11-13 55.

SACRAMENTO ST. (4-15)

Dickson 5-15 6-6 17, N'Diaye 3-7 2-4 8, Toles-Bey 2-11 1-2 5, Jackson 2-2 5-5 9, Hoffman 2-7 0-0 4, Carbajal 2-5 0-0 4, Bjegovic 3-6 0-0 8, McCarver 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 20-54 14-17 57.

Halftime_Sacramento St. 26-22. 3-Point Goals_E. Washington 4-19 (Colimon 3-3, Johnson 1-3, Allen 0-1, Winford 0-2, Dean 0-5, Forbes 0-5), Sacramento St. 3-12 (Bjegovic 2-3, Dickson 1-2, Carbajal 0-3, Toles-Bey 0-4). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_E. Washington 33 (Griffin 10), Sacramento St. 32 (N'Diaye 8). Assists_E. Washington 12 (Dean 8), Sacramento St. 13 (Toles-Bey 8). Total Fouls_E. Washington 16, Sacramento St. 11. A_855.