PSU men's basketball team heads to semi-finals

BOZEMAN, Mont. - Melvin Jones' three-pointer with 3.7 seconds left gave Portland State a 68-65 Big Sky Conference Quarterfinal round win over Montana State, sending the Vikings to Ogden, Utah, and a semifinal match up with Weber State.

Jones broke a 65 to 65 tie with his fifth three-pointer of the game and the Vikings beat the host Bobcats in Worthington Arena. PSU, now 13-18 on the season, will face top-seeded Weber State, 19-9, on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. PT.

“This time of the year, the coaches just try to put guys in the right spot and a guy has got to make a play,” said Viking Coach Tyler Geving. “We made a good defensive play, and then Melvin Jones made a big-time three. Good job of Dominic Waters penetrating and kicking it to him.”

The Vikings big concern going into the game was the health of Waters’ bruised left heel. Waters did not practice prior to the game but looked good once the quarterfinal contest arrived. What did become a big concern was three fouls on Jamie Jones in the first 12:23 of the game, forcing the first-team All-Big Sky Conference post to sit the remainder of the half. At the time of his third foul, the Vikings led 20 to 17.

Initially, PSU responded, gaining its largest lead at 25-19 on a three-pointer by Melvin Jones.

Danny Piepoli brought his Bobcats back, getting open for a pair of three-pointers on back-to-back possessions, tieing the game 25-25 with 2:55 left in the half. Then, Bobby Howard gave the Bobcats the lead with a reverse layin at the 1:52 mark, making it 27-25.

Still, the Vikings got into the halftime locker room tied at 29-29. The Bobcats made only 11-30 shots from the field (.367), including just 5-18 from three-point range (.278) against Portland State’s zone defense.

With the absence of Jones, PSU stayed in the game by scratching for what they could get. All eight Vikings that played in the first half scored, but none had more than six points.

The Vikings got the lead right back to start the second half and held onto it. But Jones picked up his fourth foul with 13:28 left and had to sit down again. PSU was up 43-41 went Jones went out this time.

A quick 9-0 run got MSU the lead back, When Branden Rush hit a three-pointer from the corner with 10:56 left, the Bobcats were ahead 48-46. He made two free throws a moment later and it was 50-46.  It was their first lead in 11 minutes of action.

That rally  was short-lived though as the Vikings took the lead back at the 5:24 mark on a pair of free throws by Chris Harriel. PSU led 57 to 56 and that set the stage for eight consecutive lead changes between the two teams.

A Branden Johnson three-pointer with 1:05 left gave the Bobcats a 65-63 advantage.

Then, Marquis Navarre stole the ball from the Vikings on the next trip up the floor and raced downcourt for a fast-break layin. Julius Thomas chased him down from behind to block the shot. On the ensuing rebound Paul Guede was fouled. He made both free throws tieing the game at 65-65 with 35 seconds left.

PSU threw on a full-court press and Montana State turned the ball over with on an over-and-back violation, setting up the Vikings final big play.

Melvin Jones and Julius Thomas combined for 26 points in the second half and 36 in the game. Thomas tied his career-high with 19 points, had six rebounds and two blocked shots. Jones went for 17, hitting 5-9 from three-point range.

Piepoli and Howard led the Bobcats with 16 points each. MSU ends the season at 15-14.