SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — After Chris Fowler forced Idaho State’s Tomas Sanchez to turn the ball over, Kyle Randall hit an 18-foot jumper with 0.5 seconds left to send Central Michigan to a last-second victory over the Bengals at the Utah Thanksgiving Tournament on Saturday night.
Melvin Morgan’s lay-in gave Idaho State a 52-51 lead with 1:31 to play, but John Simons tied it for the Chippewas with a free throw at 52-all before Randall’s heroics.
Three players were in double figures scoring for the Central Michigan (3-2) with Blake Hibbitts hitting four 3-pointers for 12 points, Olivier Mbaigoto had 11 and Simons had 10 points on three 3-pointers of his own with six rebounds.
The Chippewas shot only 36 percent from the field, 18 of 50, but hit eight 3-pointers and out-rebounded the Bengals 38 to 23. The Chippewas bench outscored Idaho State’s bench 32-11.
Chris Hansen led Idaho State (0-5) with 12 points.
