Portland St defeats Idaho St 87-93
Portland St Edges Idaho St in Thrilling Comeback Victory
In a back-and-forth affair, the Portland State Vikings (AWAY) outlasted the Idaho State Bengals (HOME) 93-87 on Sunday night at Reed Arena.
Trailing by as many as 17 points in the first half, the Vikings staged an incredible comeback to take the lead. At halftime, Idaho St held a slim 36-29 advantage, but Portland St's defense stiffened, and the team began to chip away at the deficit.
Behind a dominant second-half performance from Terri Miller Jr., who scored 19 of his 25 points after intermission, the Vikings slowly but surely took control. Meanwhile, Idaho St struggled to find its shooting range, going just 13-32 from beyond the arc in the first half and 7-21 in the second.
In a stunning turn of events, Portland State erased the 7-point halftime deficit to take a lead that it would never relinquish. The Vikings outscored Idaho State 64-60 in the second half, with Miller Jr.'s 19 points leading the charge.
Despite a valiant effort from Martin Kheil, who scored 20 points for the Bengals, Portland St's balanced attack and stifling defense proved too much for Idaho State to overcome. Tre-Vaughn Minott chipped in with 11 rebounds and 11 points, while Jaylin Henderson notched 19 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.
The win marked a significant statement from the Vikings in conference play, as they now sit atop their division standings. The loss, however, was a tough pill for Idaho State to swallow, as it fell to 0-3 against ranked opponents this season.
Game Stats:
Portland St:
* Field Goals: 32/60 (53.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 25/39 (64.1%)
* 3-Point FG: 7/21 (33.0%)
* Free Throws: 22/26 (85.0%)
* Rebounds: 28
* Assists: 16
* Turnovers: 8
Idaho St:
* Field Goals: 27/60 (45.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 14/28 (50.0%)
* 3-Point FG: 13/32 (41.0%)
* Free Throws: 20/30 (67.0%)
* Rebounds: 32
* Assists: 18
* Turnovers: 10
The Vikings' victory was a testament to their resilience and ability to execute under pressure. With the win, they take a crucial step towards securing a spot in the postseason tournament.