PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jeremy Senglin scored six of his season-high 32 points in overtime to lift Weber State over Portland State 96-93 on Saturday night.
Senglin made a layup, had a steal and dunk, and added a jumper to give Weber State a 92-91 lead with 1:26 remaining. A Portland State turnover and Ryan Richardson’s layup stretched it to 94-91.
De’Sean Parsons, who finished with 32 points, made two free throws to pull Portland State to 94-93. Richardson made a pair of free throws, and Calaen Robinson and Parsons missed 3-point shots to end it.
Richardson added 22 points for Weber State (15-8, 10-2 Big Sky), which bounced back from a 77-74 loss at Sacramento State on Thursday and a moved a half-game ahead of North Dakota atop the conference standings. Portland State (12-11, 5-7) has lost five of six.
The Vikings’ Traylin Farris split a pair of free throws to tie it at 83, and Senglin missed a 3 at the buzzer to force overtime.
Portland State University release
PORTLAND, Ore. — Nemesis thy name is Weber State.
At least that’s how the Portland State Vikings feel after taking a 96-93 overtime loss to the first-place Wildcats. It was Weber State’s fourth straight win over PSU and 11th in the last 13 meetings.
Or perhaps it is overtime that is the Vikings’ nemesis – at least for this season. PSU went extra time for the third time in their last five starts and have lost all three. The Vikings are 0-4 in overtime this year.
In truth, the Vikings had nothing to hang their heads about. They put on a brilliant performance only to be matched by the Big Sky’s top team. Senior forward De’Sean Parsons logged 32 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Jeremy Senglin of the Wildcats matched him with 32 points. Senior guard Calaen Robinson dished off a career-high 12 assists. But WSU big man Zach Braxton went for 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. The Vikings shot .514 from the field. The Wildcats were at .529.
Portland State’s loss was its fifth in six games with three of those being the overtime variety. The Vikings are now 12-11 on the season, 5-7 in the Big Sky.
Weber State, the nation’s top three-point shooting team, maintained first place in the Big Sky standings. The Wildcats are now 10-2, 15-8 overall.
Senglin had a big first-half with 19 points. The nation’s leader in three-point field goals made had four by halftime, hitting 7-10 shots overall. The Vikings did not make a first-half three-pointer but stayed close with strong inside play and 30 first-half points from their forwards. Center Traylin Farris scored 13 in the half on 6-8 from the field. Parsons had 11 and Brandon Hollins came off the bench for six.
Weber State led 45-41 at halftime but couldn’t push it higher than four early in the second half. The Vikings tied the game three times, then finally took the lead, 59-57, on a Robinson steal and layin with 12:13 left in the game. PSU’s defense got back-to-back stops then a dunk by Hollins had the Vikings up 61-57.
Portland State’s biggest lead was 78-70 after a pair of Parsons’ free throws with 5:08 left. From there the Wildcats rattled off an 11-2 run to go back up 81-80 with 1:20 to play.
Bryce Canda hit a driving dunk on PSU’s next possession and the Vikings were back on top 82-81. Ryan Richardson hit two free throws with 42.6 seconds left and Weber State again led, 83-82.
Farris was fouled on a drive and made one of two free throws to tie the game with 18.8 seconds left. Weber State’s final shot was off and the teams went to overtime tied at 83.
They traded scores for most of the overtime period. PSU’s last lead came at 91-90 on a jumper by Canda. Senglin got the lead back for the Wildcats on a jump shot with 1:26 left and that’s where the Vikings blinked.
PSU committed a turnover with 1:07 to play and the Wildcats capitalized. Richardson scored on a drive and WSU was ahead 94-91.
Parsons closed it to 94-93 on a pair of free throws with 27 seconds to play, but the Vikings had to foul. When they did, Richardson stepped to the line and made a pair with 14 seconds left. Weber State was ahead 96-93.
The Vikings got two shots at a tie in the closing seconds but couldn’t convert.
In addition to Parsons’ big game, Farris finished with 17 points and five rebounds, hitting 7-9 shots from the field. Hollins had a dozen on 5-7 field goals.
The Vikings had only eight turnovers and forced 16 by the Wildcats. But they were out-shot at the three-point line. WSU made 11-30, the Vikings only 1-13.
GAME NOTES: Portland State is now 8-3 at home this season… Canda had 10 points and five rebounds in 33 minutes off the bench… in addition to the 12 assists, Robinson matched his career-high with eight rebounds, had eight points and three steals… Portland State goes on the road next week, playing at Montana State on Thursday and Montana on Saturday. Live video and audio can be found at GoViks.com and live stats will be available at ViksLive.com.
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