Sacramento State surges in second half to defeat Idaho

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Mikh McKinney hit five 3-pointers and finished with 32 points, including 27 in Sacramento State’s 46-point second half, as the Hornets came from behind to defeat visiting Idaho 79-76 in a Big Sky Conference game Thursday night.

Idaho (7-8, 2-2) led 41-33 at halftime, but McKinney’s second-half outburst, coupled with 17 turnovers, led to the Vandals’ demise.

Sekou Wiggs scored 22 points, Connor Hill chipped in 20 and Arkadiy Mkrtychyan had 10 with 10 rebounds for Idaho.

Cody Demps added 17 points and Dylan Garrity had 13 for the Hornets (10-6, 4-1 Big Sky), who shot 45.9 percent from the field and scored 22 points off turnovers.

Garrity and Demps each sank a pair of free throws to give Sacramento State a 77-74 lead with 1:46 left. Perrion Callandret dunked for the Vandals to pull within one.

Hill had two late chances for Idaho but missed the potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 7 seconds left and couldn’t tie it with a deep 3 in the final seconds.

The victory was the Hornets’ fifth in their last six contests.