The Vikings men’s basketball squad concluded its season over the weekend. With slim hopes of making postseason play, the Vikings were trying to win their last two games at home and end up in the sixth place and final place in the conference race for the playoffs.
On Thursday night, Portland State hosted the Idaho State Bengals, winning 77-69. Then on Saturday night, the Vikings tried to give Weber State its first loss in the Big Sky. Unfortunately, Weber proved to be too much in the end, overcoming Portland State, 83-73.
In the first half, the Bengals held the edge from the field. Idaho State shot 38.2 percent in the first half, but missed on all seven three-point attempts. Portland State shot 30.8 percent, hitting only two of eight from three-point land. Sinking nine of 10 free throws kept the Vikings close in the first half. At halftime, the deficit was only one point between the two teams, 28-27, Bengals.
Only scoring four points in the first half, Viking Kevin Briggs exploded offensively in the second period, scoring 20 of his 24 total points. He made 5-of-8 from the field and 10-of-11 from the charity stripe.
The lead was traded back and forth between the two teams seven times in the half, but was claimed for good by the Vikings with about 10 minutes remaining in the game.
The Vikings out-rebounded the Bengals, 40-36, with help from Seth Scott and Brandon Haughton, who pulled down 11 each. Three other players in double figures for Portland State were Scott with 18, Jeb Ivey with 16 and John Giannoni with 10.
On Saturday night, it seemed as though the Vikings were in for the biggest battle of the season. Weber State was trying to hold on to an unblemished conference record at 13-0, while the Vikings were trying to squeeze their way into the last playoff spot with a victory.
In the first half, perhaps inspired by the senior night at Peter Stott Center, the Vikings scorched the home rims, shooting 61 percent from the field. The Wildcats shot only 44 percent in the first half, giving up a 41-36 halftime margin.
In the second half, the Wildcats showed why they are undefeated in conference play. Conference-leading scorer Jermaine Boyette put in 16 of his 21 on the night in the second half of play. Weber went on 24-7 run in the second half to extinguish a two-point lead for Portland State and any final hopes of making the postseason. The seniors for Portland State led the way, with Briggs scoring 20 and Ivey finishing with 18 points in the final college basketball games of their careers.
Ivey was able to reach a new record at Portland State for free-throw percentage, setting the precedent at .937. Scott added 11 points for the night on a 49 percent shooting effort from the field for the Vikings. Portland State finished a rebuilding season 5-22, 3-11 in Big Sky conference games.