Damian Lillard's 23 Points Leads Weber State to a 69-60 Win Over Portland State in Big Sky Semifinals

Men's Basketball

Courtesy: Weber State
Release: Sunday 03/09/2010

Courtesy: Weber State

Portland State vs. @Weber State MBB Semifinal Game Box

Up Dated Weber State MBB Stats - 29 games- Through Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Boxscore

Up Dated Weber State MBB Stats

Weber State overcame a horrendous shooting night from the field by rebounding, defending and making some timely free throws, to post a 69-60 win over the #6 seed, Portland State University, in the second semifinal game of the 2010 America First Credit Union / Big Sky Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament in Ogden, Utah.

The Wildcats made just 20-60 shots from the floor (.333) and 7-26 (.269) from the three-point line, but out rebounded the Vikings 48-32, which included a 17-5 margin in offensive rebounds. WSU’s defense held PSU to 24-53 (.453) from the floor but the Vikings were just 6-17 (.353) from the free throw line while the Wildcats made 22-31 (.710).

“I was really proud of our guys tonight for doing all the little things it takes to win a game like this one,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. “We took charges, got the loose balls, blocked out, made some extra passes. Those things all add up. Obviously rebounding was the difference. They had been averaging nearly 12 offensive boards per game and we held them to five. They were the only team this season to out rebound us twice this season, so we made it a point of emphasis to make sure we won that battle.”

On a night when many Wildcats struggled, the reigning Big Sky MVP made sure the Wildcats did not have a repeat of last season, losing to Montana State at home in the semifinals, 71-60. DAMIAN LILLARD score 23 points, had four assists and five rebounds in 37 minutes. FRANKLIN SESSION, who was 1-9 vs. in the 84-79 loss at Portland State 10 days ago, scored 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had two blocked shots and two steals in 34 minutes.

The Wildcats also got a big game off the bench from 6-9, 240 junior center/forward TREVOR MORRIS who scored 10 points and had five rebounds in 21 minutes. The ‘Cats needed all of those precious points fro Morris after the Vikings had held WSU starting center STEVE PANOS TO JUST 1-4 shooting and just three points.

“That is what has been great about our team this season. When one or two of our starters has an off night, it seems like we have other starters, or bench players, who come in and pick up the slack,” said Rahe. “Trevor was a great example of that tonight. Steve isn’t playing well, so he comes in and scores 10 points and makes two big free throws in the final two minutes.”

KYLE BULLINGER and NICK HANSEN, both of whom had been playing out of sight in the last four games, were a combined 1-12 from the field and 1-9 from the three-point line.

Hansen had made 24 of his last 34 shots from beyond the arc (.706) but was just 1-7. He did, however, come through at the free throw line, making 4-4 in the final 35 seconds to keep the Vikings at bay. It was an ironic twist of fate because Hansen had gone nine straight games without a free throw attempt. His last two came on Jan. 22 at home VS. PORTLAND STATE, and they came with less than 30 seconds left in a game the Wildcats won 86-83.

Weber States missed its first six shot attempts of the game and was scoreless at the first media timeout with 15:55 on the clock. PSU had its biggest, and last lead, of the game, 13-7, at the 14:14 mark on a jumper from DOMINIC WATERS.

FRANKLIN SESSION they scored five straight points to pull the ‘Cats to within one at 13-12. The Wildcats then took the lead for good on a thunderous baseline drive dunk by LILLARD which completed a 9-0 scoring run. The Wildcats held a couple of eight points down the stretch and settled for a 33-27 lead at halftime.

Portland State rallied back from a 35-26 early second half deficit to tie the game at 35-35 on an old-fashion three-point play by forward JULIUS THOMAS.

The Wildcats then put together a 12-2 scoring run over the next four minutes. Two free throws from LILLARD at the 11:18 mark gave the ‘Cats their biggest lead of the game, 47-37. From that point on it was a grinder on both ends. The Vikings gathered themselves together and made a run which pulled them to within three at 52-49 on a jumper by DOMINIC WATERS with 5:06 left, but a lay up by SESSION and NICK HANSEN’S lone three-pointer of the evening, quickly moved the Wildcats back up by eight at 57-49 with 4:16 left.

Weber State’s last basket came with 1:42 left on a jumper in the lane by LILLARD which put the Wildcats back up 61-54 after WATERS had drained a long three-ball to make it a five-point game.
WATERS hit another deep three with 26 seconds left to make it a 65-60 game but HANSEN and LILLARD each made two free throws each in the final 22 seconds and the Vikings were not able to get the ball into the hoop.

WATERS, a 6-1 senior guard, led the Vikings with 19 points and added five assists and five steals. JULIUS THOMAS, 6-5, 220 senior forward, was the only other PSU player in double figure scoring with 18. Portland State ends the season 13-19 overall.

Weber State moves to 20-9 overall. It is WSU’s third 20+ win season in the last four years, and marks the 24th time in 48 years as a four-year school that the Wildcats have reached that plateau.
The Wildcats now face the University of Montana which defeated #2 seed Northern Colorado, 68-63, in the first semifinal game.

The Wildcats and Grizzlies meet for the fourth time in the Conference Post-Season Tournament championship game. The Wildcats are 3-1 in those games. They defeated the Grizzlies 62-55 (OT) in Missoula, Montana in 1977-78. The ‘Cats won 50-42 at Ogden in the 1979-80 tournament and 84-62 at Ogden in 1994-95. Montana defeated the Wildcats, 63-61, in the championship game of the 2004-05 tournament held in Portland, Oregon.

Montana and Weber State split the regular season games with the Wildcats winning 64-56 in Ogden on Jan. 2 and losing to the Grizzlies 75-61 in Missoula on Feb. 5.

Wednesday night’s championship game will be carried LIVE on ESPN2 with Dave Fleming and Bob Valvano calling the action.