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Cedar City, UT - Senior Tiegbe Bamba may have saved his best for last, and Portland State needed every bit of it on Saturday night. Bamba posted career-highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds as the Vikings won at Southern Utah, 86-73. The win punches PSU's ticket to next week's Big Sky Conference Tournament.

Bamba got a lot of support from a pair of senior guards. DaShaun Wiggins matched his jersey number, scoring 23 points, including 20 in the second half, with seven rebounds. Gary Winston added 19 points and six assists. Wiggins and Winston combined to hit 6-6 three-point field goals in the game.

The Vikings needed the win in their season finale at Southern Utah to guarantee a berth in the tournament. They may have gotten in anyway with a loss, but PSU wanted to leave nothing to chance.

Portland State completes its regular season at 15-13 overall, 9-9 in the Big Sky for sixth place in the 12-team conference. With the win, the Viking program is guaranteed its second straight winning season, and third in four years.

Portland State broke away for a relatively easy win in the final five minutes, but it was a very close game for the first 35. There were 19 lead changes and nine ties through the opening 28 minutes.

Southern Utah went up early capitalizing when the Vikings missed eight straight shots in the first half. Southern Utah built its biggest lead at 27-20 at the 4:36 mark of the first half. The Thunderbirds got to halftime with a 36-32 lead. 

Wiggins, who had just three points in the first half, hit a pair of three-pointers in the opening minutes of the second half and the Vikings soon led, 40-37.

An unlikely source played a big role in the Vikings second-half play. Little-used senior center Brandon Cataldo came off the bench to hit is all four of his shots, scoring eight points in a six minute span. Cataldo was in for a foul-plagued Collin Spickerman as the Vikings were whistled for 16 of their 23 fouls in the second half.

A Cataldo dunk with just over 12 minutes to play had the Vikings ahead, 56-52.

Bamba then took over, scoring 10 points for the Vikings over the next seven minutes, helping PSU maintain its slim lead. A Winston three-pointer with 3:11 to play proved to be a dagger as PSU went up 73-64 and never led by less than nine again.

Bamba hit 7-12 from the field and 7-12 at the line for his 21 points. His 15 boards is the most by a Viking this season. 

Spickerman had six points, seven rebounds and blocked three shots.

Despite PSU's foul trouble, which included Cataldo fouling out and three others with four fouls, the Vikings were able to control the second half. PSU hit 16-26 shots after halftime (.615) and had a 23-14 advantage on the boards. For the game, the Vikings shot 29-60 (.483), 6-15 from distance (.400) and 22-32 at the line (.688). PSU had a 39-34 advantage on the glass and made only eight turnovers.

The Thunderbirds made only 7-27 from the field in the second half. They shot 20-53 for the game (.377), staying in it with free throws by hitting 27-33 (.818).

Travon Langston and TJ Hess each scored 14 points to pace Southern Utah. The Thunderbirds, who were fighting for a Big Sky Tournament berth as well, saw their season end. They place ninth in the Big Sky at 7-11, 10-19 on the season.

GAME NOTES: The win marked only the second time this season PSU has won a game after trailing at halftime… PSU has won five straight in the series with Southern Utah… the Vikings are now 6-9 on the road… Portland State played without starting forward Braxton Tucker who missed his third straight game with a knee contusion... as the sixth seed in the Big Sky Tournament, the Vikings will face the number three seed... Montana will host the tournament after winning a tiebreaker over Eastern Washington. Portland State will face number-three seed Sacramento State in an opening round game.

Final Big Sky Conference standings
t1. Eastern Washington, 14-4
t1. Montana, 14-4
t3. Northern Arizona, 13-5
t3. Sacramento State, 13-5
5. Northern Colorado, 10-8
6. Portland State, 9-9
t7. Idaho, 8-10
t7. Weber State, 8-10
9. Southern Utah, 7-11
t10. North Dakota, 4-14
t10. Montana State, 4-14
t10. Idaho State, 4-14

Big Sky Conference Tournament
Dahlberg Arena, Missoula, Mont.
All times Pacific

Thursday, Mar. 12
10 a.m. - No. 2 Eastern Washington vs. No. 7 Idaho
12:30 p.m. - No. 3 Sacramento State vs. No. 6 Portland State
4:30 p.m. - No. 4 Northern Arizona vs. No. 5 Northern Colorado
7 p.m. - No. 1 Montana vs. No. 8 Weber State
 
Friday semifinals a 4:30 and 7 p.m.
Saturday championship at 6 p.m., ESPNU