MEN'S HOOPS HAS LATE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT FALLS IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE AT PORTLAND STATE, 59-56

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Sacramento State sliced a late eight-point deficit to a single point on a pair of occasions during the final 2:45, but could not get over the hump in a 59-56 loss at Portland State on Monday evening at Viking Pavilion.

The game marked the regular season finale for both teams, as the Big Sky Conference Tournament matchups are now set. The tournament, which features all 10 teams in the conference and will be played in Boise, Idaho, begins on Saturday and runs through Wednesday, March 12.

Sacramento State (7-24, 3-15) will be the No. 10 seed and take on No. 9 Weber State (11-21, 5-13) in the first round on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PT. The Hornets just beat Weber State in Ogden two weeks ago. The winner of that game will take on No. 1 seed Northern Colorado in Sunday's second round at 4:30 p.m. PT. Last season, the Hornets won their first two games before falling in the semifinals by three points to eventual champion Montana State.

Portland State (19-12, 11-7) will be the No. 3 seed, and narrowly secured a perfect 9-0 home record against Big Sky opponents. The Vikings avenged a 56-53 loss to the Hornets in the Big Sky opener at the Nest on Jan. 4, as these two teams always play close games against each other.

In tonight's contest, an 8-1 Hornet run got Sacramento State to within a point (55-54) of the Vikings' lead with 2:43 to play. The Hornets had a wide open 3-point look from Emil Skytta rim in and out that would have given the team a 2-point lead.

After the two teams both scored on their next possessions, Sacramento State had two opportunities to take the lead, but could not convert. Portland State would eventually go up three points after a pair of free throws with eight seconds left, and the Hornets missed a pair of desperation 3-pointers in the final few seconds that would have tied.

Sacramento State led for nearly 18 minutes of the first half and went into the break with a 35-34 lead. However, the Hornets went ice cold in the second half, shooting just 20 percent from the field and 2-for-18 from distance. Sacramento State stayed in the game by forcing 12 Portland State second half turnovers.

In the end, it was free throw shooting that won this game as both teams connected on 21 field goals, and the Hornets had a 14-4 second chance points advantage. But Portland State went 14-for-22 from the free throw line while the Hornets were just 8-for-13.

Skytta led the team with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Michael Wilson posted 10 points (4-7 FG, 2-4 3FG), four rebounds and two steals. Jacob Holt, who had led the team in scoring five straight games, finished with nine points and six rebounds. Fellow big man Chudi Dioramma had eight points and three rebounds, and Leo Ricketts five points and four boards. EJ Neal finished with six points, three rebounds and three steals.]