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Greeley, CO - The Portland State Vikings should feel fortunate they won't have to face Northern Colorado in the Big Sky Conference Tournament next week. Although the Bears reside below the Vikings in the Big Sky standings, they have had PSU's number this season.
 
On Dec. 31, UNC held the Vikings to their lowest point total of the season, beating them 73-59 in the Stott Center. Then Thursday, Northern Colorado beat them again, 87-84, in Greeley.
 
It wasn't for lack of effort by the Vikings though. PSU rallied back from a 14-point second-half deficit to take the lead late in the game. Zach Gengler scored a career-high 19 points for the Vikings, including a go-ahead three-pointer to make it 84-83 with 1:32 remaining in the game. But PSU could not score again and saw their two-game winning streak come to an end.
 
PSU fell to 14-14 on the season, 7-10 in the Big Sky Conference. Northern Colorado is now 10-18, 6-11.
 
Portland State sits at eighth place in the Big Sky and is assured of a Big Sky Tournament first-round game on Mar. 7 in Reno, NV. The Bears, in ninth-place, will not participate due to a school-imposed post-season ban for the year.
 
Northern Colorado shot 57% from the field and had a 24-18 rebounding edge in the first half, building a 44-36 halftime lead. That lead grew as high as 14 in the second half before the Vikings chipped away at it.
 
In addition to Gengler, PSU got 14 points from Brandon Hollins in a spot start and a career-high 12 points from Montie Leunen. All three played major roles in the second half comeback as the Vikings shot 59% from the field after intermission. Unfortunately, Portland State had three empty possessions after the Gengler three - missing two shots and committing a turnover.
 
Jordan Davis made a go-ahead layin for the Bears with 15 seconds left. After a Calaen Robinson missed jumper, Jon'te Dotson went to the free throw line and made two more for the Bears for the final 87-84 score.
 
Davis scored 29 points with nine rebounds and six assists to lead the Bears to victory. Davis made 11-16 shots from the field as Northern Colorado hit 33-57 overall (.579).
 
Portland State finished at 29-60 from the field (.483).
 
Northern Colorado had a 41-31 edge on the glass.
 
Gengler made 6-9 shots from the field and 6-6 at the line for his 19 points, adding four assists and two steals. Traylin Farris pitched in 12 points and Robinson had 10 for the Vikings.
 
GAME NOTES: The loss was the Vikings seventh straight on the road. They are now 4-11 away from home… Portland State made a change in the starting lineup, inserting Brandon Hollins and Bryce Canda in place of Traylin Farris and Deontae North… Calaen Robinson has established a new Portland State career steals record with 122… Portland State plays its final regular season game on Saturday at North Dakota. Tip-off is 1 p.m. PT. The game will be televised on Fox College Sports Pacific. Live video, audio and stats can be going to at GoViks.com and clicking on the gameday box. The Big Sky Conference Tournament begins on Mar. 7 in Reno.