Portland State squeezes by top-seeded Weber State

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland State may enter the Big Sky Conference Tournament as the number six seeded men's basketball team, but the PSU Vikings also will go with a feather in their cap: a win over top-seed Weber State, 84 to 79, Sunday at the Stott Center.

This game – the final regular season game on the Big Sky Conference schedule – was being played for experience as both teams already had their seeding in the post-season tournament. The Wildcats won the regular season title and are the number one seed.

The Vikings have the sixth seed in the tournament.

The result was an exchange of baskets throughout the first half. The largest lead by either team was a four-point Viking advantage at 13 to 9 with 16:12 to play in the half. There were 11 ties and 11 lead changes overall in the half with PSU ahead 36 to 35 going to intermission.

Dominic Waters, playing his final game in the Stott Center, had 15 points and three assists at halftime.

Waters got the second half going for the Vikings with two baskets and two assists, pushing the PSU lead to 45-39.

After the Wildcats tied the game again at 47 to 47, PSU went on a 15 to 0 run and built their largest lead, 62 to 47, with 9:29 to play. Weber State closed the deficit to 79 to 76 with 52 seconds to play, but the Vikings hung on.

Portland State's three seniors completed their home careers in style. Waters finished with 28 points, six assists and two steals and Julius Thomas totaled 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Finally, Jamie Jones dropped 21 in the bucket, had a game-high five blocks and grabbed eight rebounds.

Damian Lillard led the Wildcats with 21 points and seven assists.

PSU is now 12 to 17 on the season, finishing Big Sky Conference play at 7 to 9. WSU is 19 to 9, and 13 to 3 in Big Sky Conference play.

Portland State will play a non-conference game against Seattle University on Tuesday at Key Arena in Seattle. Tip-off is 8 p.m. PSU then travels to Montana State for a Big Sky Conference Tournament quarterfinal round game on Mar. 6. The winner of that game advances to the Big Sky final four in Ogden, UT, March 9 and March 10.