Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Portland State
Portland State Defeats Weber State 76-73 Saturday Night In Portland.
2/16/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Big Sky leader Portland State finally got the "wildcat" off its back. With four players in double figure scoring, led by guard JEREMIAH DOMINGUEZ with 17, Portland State snapped a five-game losing streak to Weber State with a 76-73 win Saturday night in Portland before a packed house at the Peter Stott Center.
The win gives the Vikings a comfortable three game lead in the loss column over Montana State, Northern Arizona and Weber State and puts the Vikings into the drivers seat to host the Big Sky Conference Tournament on March 11-12.
The Wildcats limped into Portland with a 69-57 loss at Eastern Washington on Thursday but put on a gutsy performance. The little men took center stage as the 5-6, 150 DOMINGUEZ and WSU's KELLEN McCOY (5-6, 175) led their respective teams.
It was at the free throw line where the paired dueled off. McCOY, just 3-9 from the field, was 15-19 from the line, both WSU single game career highs for him, while DOMINGUEZ was just 3-11 from the field but a sterling 11-12 from the line. His last two came with just one second left giving the Vikings the final three-point margin. A desperation three-pointer by WSU guard JUAN PABLO SILVEIRA was off the mark to tie the game.
The game was more like a tennis match than a basketball game. There were 20 lead changes in the game and the score was tied on 18 other occasions.
Portland State led by as many as five in the first half and was up 37-35 at the break.
The Vikings' largest lead of the game came just three minutes into the second half with a quick 6-0 run on a basket by center SCOTT MORRISON, a three-pointer by DEONTE HUFF and a free throw by ANDRE MURRAY making it 43-35.
The Wildcats then answered with a 9-0 run with an old-fashion three-point play by McCOY, two baskets by DEZMON HARRIS and two free throws by DAVIIN DAVIS to take a 44-43 lead at the 14:13 mark.
From that point the game see-sawed back and forth with the Wildcats gaining and losing several two and three point leads. The Wildcats took their biggest lead of the game at 64-60 with 5:02 remaining on two free throws by DAVIS, but PSU then countered with a basket by ALEX TIEFENTHALER and a three-pointer by ANDRE MURRAY to go up 65-64.
BRODY VAN BROCKLIN's three with 3:49 left put the Wildcats back up by two at 67-65 but HUFF answered that with a three of his own at the 3:10 mark giving PSU a 68-67 lead.
KELLEN McCOY made one of two free throws at 2:44 to tie the game. The Vikings then took the lead for good on a jumper by DOMINGUEZ with 2:12 remaining. The Wildcats had a chance to tie or take the lead by DAVIIN DAVIS missed a jumper.
WSU the quickly got the ball back following a turnover by DOMINGUEZ but missed back to back jump shots by DAVIS and McCOY with 1:09 left. PSU got the rebound and the Wildcats finally had to foul with 30 seconds left.
DOMINGUEZ made both shots giving the Vikings a four point lead at 72-68. He then made two more with 17 seconds left following two made free throws by McCOY moving the Vikings ahead by four again.
BRODY VAN BROCKLIN sank a long three with two seconds left cutting the lead to one at 74-73. The Wildcats quickly call time out then fouled with one second left sending DOMINGUEZ to the line for where he made his final two.
Weber State didn't shoot well making just 21-51 (.412) from the field and just 3-12 (.250) from the three point line, but the Wildcat defense held the Vikings to just 24-58 (.414) from the field and 7-23 (.304) from the three-point line. Portland State came into the game leading the Big Sky in rebounding but the Wildcats out rebounded the Vikings 40-35.
DAVIIN DAVIS scored 20 points and added six rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals in a career high 37 minutes. It marked the first time this season two Wildcats have scored 20 or more points in the same game. DEZMON HARRIS added 12 points before fouling out with less than seven minutes remaining.
The Wildcats are 12-12 overall for the season and 7-5 in Big Sky action and currently in third place one-half game behind Northern Arizona. Weber State is home next week for its final two home games of the 2007-08 regular season hosting MONTANA on Thursday, February 21 and MONTANA STATE on Saturday, February 23. Both games tip off at 7:05 p.m. (MST) in the Dee Events Center. The Thursday game with Montana will be televised live on KJZZ-TV (Channel 14).
