Vikings Clinch Big Sky Title in Bozeman
2/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jake Schroeder opened the overtime period with back-to-back three-pointers, helping Portland State clinch the program's first-ever Big Sky Conference Championship with an 88-82 overtime win at Montana State on Thursday.
"It was a great experience, a great game," said Bobcat coach Mick Durham. "Portland State played really well, and I hope people left the Fieldhouse tonight thinking the Bobcats played well. I thought if Portland State came in focused and had their 'A' game going that it would really be a battle, and that was the case."
Vikings coach Heath Schroyer relished his team's first league crown as a Division I program. "It's big for our program, our institution," he said. "One of our goals at the beginning of the season was to host the tournament. Our city has really started to embrace our program, and I think that will be a great opportunity for us."
Portland State appeared to have the game in hand when senior forward Seamus Boxley hit a three-pointer with 2:59 to play to put the Vikings up by seven, 74-67. MSU answered with a pair of free throws by Al Beye, then Marvin Moss scored on a layup after two PSU free throws. Nick Dissly then hit a pair of free throws to pull the 'Cats within two at 2:02.
Moss blocked a Boxley shot on the next possession, then Branden Miller hit a runner down the lane to tie the score at 75. When Boxley missed a hurried jumper at the buzzer, the two top teams in the Big Sky through 13 games were headed to overtime.
That's when Schroeder's heroics began. "The first time my guy went to help on Seamus," Schroeder said of his three-pointer at 4:23. "The second one Will (Funn) just found me."
With a six-point lead, Portland State's Blake Walker said the team had a sense it was in charge. "We knew they had to come to us," he said.
Walker scored 21 points to lead the Vikings, while Boxley had 20 points and 11 rebounds. Al Beye scored a career-high 24 points for MSU, while Ja'Ron Jefferson had 17 and Nick Dissly scored 15 points with 13 rebounds and six assists.
Montana State hosts Eastern Washington on Saturday needing a win to clinch second place in the Big Sky and a first-round bye in the conference tournament. The Eagles come to Bozeman needing a win to qualify for the tourney.
"It was a great experience, a great game," said Bobcat coach Mick Durham. "Portland State played really well, and I hope people left the Fieldhouse tonight thinking the Bobcats played well. I thought if Portland State came in focused and had their 'A' game going that it would really be a battle, and that was the case."
Vikings coach Heath Schroyer relished his team's first league crown as a Division I program. "It's big for our program, our institution," he said. "One of our goals at the beginning of the season was to host the tournament. Our city has really started to embrace our program, and I think that will be a great opportunity for us."
Portland State appeared to have the game in hand when senior forward Seamus Boxley hit a three-pointer with 2:59 to play to put the Vikings up by seven, 74-67. MSU answered with a pair of free throws by Al Beye, then Marvin Moss scored on a layup after two PSU free throws. Nick Dissly then hit a pair of free throws to pull the 'Cats within two at 2:02.
Moss blocked a Boxley shot on the next possession, then Branden Miller hit a runner down the lane to tie the score at 75. When Boxley missed a hurried jumper at the buzzer, the two top teams in the Big Sky through 13 games were headed to overtime.
That's when Schroeder's heroics began. "The first time my guy went to help on Seamus," Schroeder said of his three-pointer at 4:23. "The second one Will (Funn) just found me."
With a six-point lead, Portland State's Blake Walker said the team had a sense it was in charge. "We knew they had to come to us," he said.
Walker scored 21 points to lead the Vikings, while Boxley had 20 points and 11 rebounds. Al Beye scored a career-high 24 points for MSU, while Ja'Ron Jefferson had 17 and Nick Dissly scored 15 points with 13 rebounds and six assists.
Montana State hosts Eastern Washington on Saturday needing a win to clinch second place in the Big Sky and a first-round bye in the conference tournament. The Eagles come to Bozeman needing a win to qualify for the tourney.
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