Portland St defeats Sacramento St 96-69
Portland State 96, Sacramento St 69: A Dominant Statement Win at Home
The Viking Pavilion was electric last night as the Portland State Vikings (Home) delivered a resounding statement win over the visiting Sacramento St Hornets (Away). The final score read 96-69 in favor of the home team.
In a game that was never in doubt, Portland State's dominance was on full display. From the opening tip, the Vikings showed no signs of hesitation, using their size and speed to control the tempo. By halftime, they had built a comfortable 46-32 lead, which grew even wider as the second half wore on.
Portland State's Jaylin Henderson led the way for his team with 26 points, including just one three-pointer made out of six attempts. He also grabbed 20 rebounds and dished out an assist to contribute to the Vikings' stifling effort on both ends of the floor.
The Hornets struggled to find their footing throughout the game, committing 11 turnovers that Portland State capitalised on with eight easy points off turnovers. Sacramento St's Taj Glover chipped in with 11 points but was largely ineffective from beyond the arc, going just 0-for-3.
The statistics told a similar story. Portland State shot an impressive 62.5% from the field and held their opponents to just 37.9%. The Hornets' fast break offense, which had been a strength all season, was neutralised by the Vikings' stifling defense.
In the end, it was a convincing 27-point victory that will send shockwaves through the conference. Portland State's win cements their status as one of the top teams in the league and sets them up for another strong push into the postseason.
The largest lead Portland State had throughout the game was 36 points with just over two minutes remaining. The Hornets were unable to mount a comeback, despite scoring 37 points in the second half.
Portland State's impressive all-around performance will be remembered as one of the most dominant statement wins of the season. With their win, they have cemented their position at the top of the conference standings and will look to continue their winning ways when they host their next opponent.