HUFF’S 16 POINTS LEAD PORTLAND STATE TO VICTORY OVER MEN’S BASKETBALL

1/3/2008

PORTLAND, Ore. — Four Vikings scored in double figures, led by Deonte Huff’s game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds, as Portland State cruised to an 83-58 victory over Sacramento State in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Thursday evening at the Stott Center.

With the loss, Sacramento State dropped its fourth straight game and fell to 2-10 overall and 0-2 in the Big Sky. The Hornets will look to avoid their first 0-3 start to the conference season since 2000-01 when the team plays at Eastern Washington this Saturday, Jan. 5, at 7:05 p.m.

The Hornets also dropped to 0-8 on the road as the team is playing the fourth of its season-long five game road trip. Portland State, which improved to 21-10 all-time against Sacramento State, moved its record to 8-7 overall this season and 1-1 in the Big Sky. The Vikings have won four of their five games on the home floor this year with the only loss coming in overtime.

Sacramento State missed nine of its first 13 attempts from the field, both its free throw attempts, and turned the ball over five times during the game’s first 11 minutes. Portland State took advantage, turning a 4-3 deficit with 16:14 left in the first half into a 27-9 advantage with 9:26 remaining.

The Hornets, who took their only lead of the game at 4-3, would get no closer than within 16 points of Portland State’s lead the rest of the night as the Vikings led by at least 20 points during the final 17:48 of the contest.

Sacramento State shot 35.7 percent (20-56) from the field, 25.0 percent (5-20) from beyond the three-point arc and 46.4 percent (13-28) from the free throw line. Conversely, Portland State shot 48.4 percent (30-62) from the field and 50.0 percent (13-26) from beyond the arc. The Vikings also received 46 points from their bench while the Hornets received just 16 points from their reserves.

Joining Huff in double figures for PSU were Justynn Hammond (13), Brian Curtis (12) and Alex Tiefenthaler (10). Three Vikings had at least seven rebounds as PSU controlled the glass, outrebounding the Hornets, 45-34.

Three Hornets scored in double figures, comprised of junior Loren Leath (13), freshman Vinnie McGhee, Jr. (12) and senior Justin Williams (10). However, the Hornets’ two leading scorers in the game, Leath and McGhee, combined to shoot just 8-of-29 from the field. Senior Jason Davis added seven points, seven rebounds, one block and one steal.

Sacramento State had nine steals, including a game-high three from Leath, and scored nine points off 14 Portland State turnovers. Twenty-three of the Vikings’ 30 made buckets were assisted, including a game-high seven assists from Jeremiah Dominguez.

After Saturday’s game at Eastern Washington, the Hornets will finally return home on Thursday, Jan. 10, when they host Montana State at 7:05 p.m. That game will mark the team’s first home contest since a 72-54 victory over William Jessup on Dec. 4. That amounts to 36 days in between home games once Sacramento State tips off against Montana State on the 10th.