MEN’S BASKETBALL’S PLAYOFF CHANCES DEALT BIG BLOW WITH LOSS AT PORTLAND STATE
2/15/2012
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland State shot a blazing 65.2 percent (30-46) from the field and four Vikings scored in double figures on the way to an 85-67 win over Sacramento State in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday evening at the Stott Center.
The Vikings, who missed just 16 attempts from the field all evening, shot 66.7 percent in the first half and 62.5 percent in the second half. PSU also shot 58.3 percent (7-12) from the three-point line, and received 33 of its 85 points off the bench. The field goal percentage and the three-point percentage were the highest marks allowed by Sacramento State’s defense this year, and the 85 points matched an opponent high.
In a game that Portland State never trailed, the Vikings opened on a 20-9 run, and led by double figures the final 32:14 of the contest. Sacramento State came out of the gates ice cold, missing 12 of its first 15 shots while committing four turnovers during that span. The Hornets did not score their 10th point until a jumper from Jackson Carbajal made the score, 24-11, with 9:40 left in the first half.
Portland State entered the break with a 49-22 lead, easily the largest halftime deficit the Hornets have faced all season. Sacramento State would outscore the Vikings in the second half, 45-36, but the first half damage had already been done by Portland State. The Vikings opened up a game-high 31-point lead early in the second half.
Sacramento State (9-16, 4-10) has not been eliminated from Big Sky Tournament contention, but the team’s chances of a playoff spot are on life support. The top six teams in the nine-member conference advance to the league’s postseason event, and the Hornets are currently in eighth place, two games behind sixth-place Montana State (6-8). Sacramento State would have to win its final two conference games and get plenty of help with the outcomes of other games to still have an opportunity to qualify.
Meanwhile, Portland State (13-12, 7-6) moved into third place in the conference standings while winning its third straight game and six of the last nine. The Hornets have now lost two straight after a season-best four-game winning streak.
Sacramento State finished the game shooting 39.3 percent (24-61) from the field, 26.7 percent (4-15) from three-point line and 75.0 percent (15-20) from the free throw stripe. The Hornets did commit just 11 turnovers and outscored the Vikings in points off turnovers (21-14) and second-chance points (12-8). Sacramento State had just 11 assists, including a season-low two from freshman point guard Dylan Garrity, who entered the game fifth in the nation in assists per game.
Carbajal had a career-high 19 points for the Hornets on 8-of-16 shooting from the field. He was joined in double figures by swingman Heath Hoffman’s 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including two three-pointers. The 17 points were just two shy of Hoffman’s career high. Konner Veteto added nine points and five rebounds as the trio of Carbajal, Hoffman and Veteto combined for 45 of the Hornets’ 67 points. Veteto (3-for-5) was the only Sacramento State player to shoot better than 50 percent from the field. Joe Eberhard added seven points, and Josh McCarver had a team-best seven rebounds.
The Vikings had four players in double figures, comprised of Chehales Tapscott (17 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and three steals), Charles Odum (16), Renado Parker (12) and Martin Whitmore (10). Parker shot 6-for-6 from the field.
Sacramento State will take a break from conference play to host San Jose State on Saturday night in an ESPN BracketBusters game at 7:05 p.m. The Hornets conclude the regular season next week with a home game Thursday night against Portland State and a Saturday road contest at Idaho State. The game against Portland State will mark the team’s home finale.
