2008 Woodie Awards
Valiant Bengal effort cannot keep tournament run going
Courtesy of ISU Athletics
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: Sports
The #4 Idaho State Bengals put up a valiant effort in the Rose Garden on Tuesday night, March 11, but Portland State's firepower and depth were just too much for ISU to handle as the top-seeded Portland State Vikings improved to 22-9 with a 72-61 win over the Bengals in the semifinals of the 2008 Intel Big Sky Conference Tournament.
Idaho State got a huge effort from Matt Stucki with 22 points, but ISU could never quite get into the game in the second half. Down just five at 33-28 at the break, the Vikings scored the first five points of the second half before ISU finally got on the board with a couple of free throws by Lucas Steijn. However, PSU scored another five quick points, give the Vikings a 10-2 opening run, pushing the lead to 13.
ISU battled back after Logan Kinghorn elevated in the lane for a jumper, then Austin Kilpatrick nailed a three from beyond the NBA arc to cut the lead down to eight at 48-40 with 11:50 to go, PSU answered with a retaliatory three by Brian Curtis. ISU would only whittle the lead under double-digits one more time, at 51-42 when Stucki rang home a short jumper, but PSU pulled away.
Stucki was nearly unstoppable with a solid array of baskets, giving him his second 20-point game against Portland State this season. However, there was no slowing down the Vikings. They have now defeated 13 straight conference opponents, a streak that started on January 13 with a 71-61 win over the Bengals in Holt Arena.
Conference Player of the Year Jeremiah Dominguez quietly hurt ISU in the first half with 14 points, including two threes in a wild sequence that spanned about four seconds. First, he hit a three to make it 7-3 PSU, and then, in nearly one motion, he stole the inbounds pass and shot another three before anyone really knew what happened, giving the Vikings a quick 10-3 lead.
While Dominguez did most of his damage in the first half, Deonte Huff just did damage. The senior tossed in two dunks and cashed in on some splendid passing by Portland State for a 20-point night. Dominguez ended the game with 16 points, and Andre Murray added 10, but PSU got contributions from all over as PSU hit 58.8% of their shots in the second half.
Idaho State got a huge effort from Matt Stucki with 22 points, but ISU could never quite get into the game in the second half. Down just five at 33-28 at the break, the Vikings scored the first five points of the second half before ISU finally got on the board with a couple of free throws by Lucas Steijn. However, PSU scored another five quick points, give the Vikings a 10-2 opening run, pushing the lead to 13.
ISU battled back after Logan Kinghorn elevated in the lane for a jumper, then Austin Kilpatrick nailed a three from beyond the NBA arc to cut the lead down to eight at 48-40 with 11:50 to go, PSU answered with a retaliatory three by Brian Curtis. ISU would only whittle the lead under double-digits one more time, at 51-42 when Stucki rang home a short jumper, but PSU pulled away.
Stucki was nearly unstoppable with a solid array of baskets, giving him his second 20-point game against Portland State this season. However, there was no slowing down the Vikings. They have now defeated 13 straight conference opponents, a streak that started on January 13 with a 71-61 win over the Bengals in Holt Arena.
Conference Player of the Year Jeremiah Dominguez quietly hurt ISU in the first half with 14 points, including two threes in a wild sequence that spanned about four seconds. First, he hit a three to make it 7-3 PSU, and then, in nearly one motion, he stole the inbounds pass and shot another three before anyone really knew what happened, giving the Vikings a quick 10-3 lead.
While Dominguez did most of his damage in the first half, Deonte Huff just did damage. The senior tossed in two dunks and cashed in on some splendid passing by Portland State for a 20-point night. Dominguez ended the game with 16 points, and Andre Murray added 10, but PSU got contributions from all over as PSU hit 58.8% of their shots in the second half.
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