Ogden, UT - A Julius Thomas dunk with 3.5 seconds on the clock pushed the Portland State Vikings to a second straight trip to the Big Dance with a 79-77 win over Montana State in the Big Sky Tournament Championship game at Dee Events Center.

Montana State rallied back after a brilliant second half run by Portland State. The Vikings led by 10 points on two occasions, but Branden Johnson of Montana State tied the game on a three-pointer with 11 seconds left.

After the basket, the Vikings' Dominic Waters pushed the ball up the floor, drove the middle of the key and dished to Thomas for the flush.

“All game our guards were penetrating and dishing to me,” said Thomas, who tied his career-high with 17 points. “We came down court and made a great play. Dominic came all the way down and dropped it off to me. I went in and tried to finish as hard as I could.”

Thomas made the big play, but no player was bigger than the 5-6 Jeremiah Dominguez in overall performance.

The All-Conference guard made the plays on offense and defense in the second half led the Vikings to the win. Dominguez finished with 22 points, four assists and three steals in a tournament MVP performance. He had 12 points, three assists and three steals after halftime.

Viking Coach Ken Bone wasn't surprised at how his star player stepped up. “It's impressive and he's done it before. It's not a big surprise to us. He did it at both ends. His presence on defense was outstanding.”

Thomas had one of his best games as a Viking, tying his career-high with 17 points and grabbing five rebounds.

The teams traded baskets throughout the first half in a very well-played game. PSU led 40-39 at halftime in a game that was tied nine times and had eight lead changes. Portland State's largest lead was three, while the Montana State led once by four points.

The Vikings made 15-29 shots in the first half (.517), and four of seven from three point range. The Bobcats were a little better at 16-29 from the field (.552), and four of nine from three-point range. PSU had just one turnover and MSU had only two.

With Portland State trailing 50-48 early in the second half, Dominguez ignited a 13-1 run with a pair of baskets, two steals and an assist. That gave PSU a 61-51 lead and the confidence to finish.

The Vikings also led by 10 at 72-62 with 7:53 to play. But, Bobcat center Divaldo Mbunga scored six points in a 15-5 run down the stretch.

That set up the exciting closing moments.

Portland State ended the game shooting .518 from the field, and perhaps most impressively, had only four turnovers. The Bobcats shot .551 and outrebounded PSU 34-25.

Portland State was playing in its second straight Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship game. Last year, PSU won the tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, playing eventual national champion Kansas in the first round.

At 23-9, Portland State has exactly the same record it had entering the NCAA Tournament in 2008.

Montana State, which came into the tournament as the number six seed, defeated third-seeded Montana in Missoula, and number one seed Weber State in Ogden to reach the championship. The Bobcats end the year at 14-17.

“We beat an impressive team in Montana State,” said Bone. “Coach Huse and his guys did an outstanding job at the end of the season. With that being said, it's a tribute to our guys to beat a team of that caliber.”

GAME NOTES: Portland State will enter the NCAA Tournament on a season-best six-game winning streak.... Jeremiah Dominguez established a new school record for three-pointers made in a season with 87... Kyle Coston had 12 points and Andre Murray scored 10 for the Vikings... Mbunga finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead Montana State... Dominguez was the tournament MVP. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by Murray, Thomas, Mbunga, Erik Rush and Will Bynum of Montana State... the NCAA will announce its tournament bracket on Sunday afternoon.