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http://www.oregonlive.com/vikings/index.ssf/2010/03/weber_state_beats_portland_sta.html
Weber State beats Portland State 69-60 in Big Sky Conference basketball semifinals
By Special to The Oregonian
March 09, 2010, 10:31PM
OGDEN, Utah -- They passed the test in one important area, but failed in many others.
As a result, their season is over.
Portland State held Weber State to 33 percent shooting but was beat on the boards and the bench as the Wildcats defeated the Vikings 69-60 in the Big Sky Conference semifinals Tuesday.
"If you would have told me prior to the game they shot 7 of 26 from the three-point line, we would have won," said PSU coach Tyler Geving. "But they got every offensive rebound. That was the difference in the game."
Weber State dominated the offensive glass 17-5. The Wildcats' bench outscored the Vikings 22-6. PSU also committed 16 turnovers. Portland State finishes the season with a record of 13-19 (7-9 Big Sky).
PSU's Dominic Waters endured all kinds of heckling from WSU fans and still finished the game with 19 points, five assists, five steals and four rebounds. He played 33 minutes on a bruised left heel, despite getting his fourth foul with 14 minutes to go in the second half.
At first, the somber senior could only describe his feelings with one word -- "hurt."
Then he talked about the 23-6 foul disparity in the second half.
"We held together and competed in the second half, but fell short," Waters said. "We shot six free throws, they shot 23. They only foul six times in the second half? That is pretty crazy, I don't really understand that. But hey, we got the short end of the stick a lot this year. ... Better luck to the team next year."
Weber State was led by league MVP Damian Lillard's 23 points. Franklin Session added 13. The Wildcats play Montana tonight in the championship game. Redemption for last year's early exit was the main motivation for the Wildcats, the players said.
"We worked hard all year, every practice and never took a day off," Lillard said. "And this is where it got us -- except we won this time."
As for Weber State's bad shooting performance, WSU coach Randy Rahe said the team made up for it in other ways.
"Success is because of defense, rebounding and making plays. There is so much more to the game that shooting percentage," Rahe said.
Julius Thomas scored 18 and pulled down 11 rebounds to help pace Portland State. The senior forward said the Vikings failed to rebound as a team.
"When you come and play in March you are going to get every team's best. Weber was the best rebounding team in the conference," Thomas said. "Our three goals going into every game are take care of ball, rebound and play hard. I think we only executed one of those."
Portland State has now lost 17 of 18 games against Weber State in Ogden and has never defeated the Wildcats in four postseason matchups.
Montana 68, Northern Colorado 63: Anthony Johnson scored 19 points and Will Cherry scored 10, including a jumper with 24 seconds left as Montana scored the final six points in a win over Northern Colorado in the Big Sky Conference tournament semifinals in Ogden, Utah. The Grizzlies (21-9) advance to the Big Sky championship game for the first time since winning it in 2006.
-- Trent Toone
Weber State beats Portland State 69-60 in Big Sky Conference basketball semifinals
By Special to The Oregonian
March 09, 2010, 10:31PM
OGDEN, Utah -- They passed the test in one important area, but failed in many others.
As a result, their season is over.
Portland State held Weber State to 33 percent shooting but was beat on the boards and the bench as the Wildcats defeated the Vikings 69-60 in the Big Sky Conference semifinals Tuesday.
"If you would have told me prior to the game they shot 7 of 26 from the three-point line, we would have won," said PSU coach Tyler Geving. "But they got every offensive rebound. That was the difference in the game."
Weber State dominated the offensive glass 17-5. The Wildcats' bench outscored the Vikings 22-6. PSU also committed 16 turnovers. Portland State finishes the season with a record of 13-19 (7-9 Big Sky).
PSU's Dominic Waters endured all kinds of heckling from WSU fans and still finished the game with 19 points, five assists, five steals and four rebounds. He played 33 minutes on a bruised left heel, despite getting his fourth foul with 14 minutes to go in the second half.
At first, the somber senior could only describe his feelings with one word -- "hurt."
Then he talked about the 23-6 foul disparity in the second half.
"We held together and competed in the second half, but fell short," Waters said. "We shot six free throws, they shot 23. They only foul six times in the second half? That is pretty crazy, I don't really understand that. But hey, we got the short end of the stick a lot this year. ... Better luck to the team next year."
Weber State was led by league MVP Damian Lillard's 23 points. Franklin Session added 13. The Wildcats play Montana tonight in the championship game. Redemption for last year's early exit was the main motivation for the Wildcats, the players said.
"We worked hard all year, every practice and never took a day off," Lillard said. "And this is where it got us -- except we won this time."
As for Weber State's bad shooting performance, WSU coach Randy Rahe said the team made up for it in other ways.
"Success is because of defense, rebounding and making plays. There is so much more to the game that shooting percentage," Rahe said.
Julius Thomas scored 18 and pulled down 11 rebounds to help pace Portland State. The senior forward said the Vikings failed to rebound as a team.
"When you come and play in March you are going to get every team's best. Weber was the best rebounding team in the conference," Thomas said. "Our three goals going into every game are take care of ball, rebound and play hard. I think we only executed one of those."
Portland State has now lost 17 of 18 games against Weber State in Ogden and has never defeated the Wildcats in four postseason matchups.
Montana 68, Northern Colorado 63: Anthony Johnson scored 19 points and Will Cherry scored 10, including a jumper with 24 seconds left as Montana scored the final six points in a win over Northern Colorado in the Big Sky Conference tournament semifinals in Ogden, Utah. The Grizzlies (21-9) advance to the Big Sky championship game for the first time since winning it in 2006.
-- Trent Toone