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Portland, OR – Weber State took advantage of three straight empty possession by Portland State in overtime to pull out a 95-86 win at Lewis and Clark College's Pamplin Sports Center.
 
In a tightly fought game throughout that featured offensive explosions by both teams, Weber State had a little extra in the extra session. PSU led 83-81 with 2:29 left in overtime after a Deante Strickland three-pointer. Weber State's Ryan Richardson answered back with a tying basket, and from there the Vikings went cold.
 
PSU had a pair of missed shots sandwiched around a turnover and the Wildcats scored after every mistake. They ran off 10 straight points and led 91-83 with 44 seconds left leaving the Vikings unable to recover.
 
The game matched the highest scoring team in the Big Sky – Portland State – with the most efficient scoring team in the Big Sky – Weber State. And efficiency won out as Weber State shot .559 from the field, made 12-24 three-pointer shots and 17-22 at the line (.773).
 
PSU shot only .443 from the field, but won the battle on the glass, 42-29, including 20 offensive rebounds, to match Weber State's hot shooting. The Vikings had only seven free throw attempts, making six.
 
Portland State couldn't overcome the brilliant shooting of Richardson, who had a game-high 27 points on 10-14 from the field, 6-9 from three-point range and a single free throw.
 
PSU was led by a career-high 22 points from Brandon Hollins. The senior forward hit 10-12 shots and his only free throw, and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds as well.
 
The loss was a tough one to take for Portland State as it rallied back from a seven-point second-half deficit and led by six with 2:47 remaining in the game. But the Vikings didn't score again before the regulation horn sounded. Their last chance came inside the final 30 seconds but Weber State pressured the Vikings into a shot clock turnover.
 
The Wildcats took the ball back with 9.2 seconds to play. Jerrick Harding missed an 18-foot jump shot just before the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.
 
PSU again led after three-pointers by Hollins (80-77) and and Strickland (83-81) but were unable to close the game out.
 
"That was a heart-breaker," said Viking Coach Barret Peery. "Both sides were making big shots and plays, and that was about what I expected that game would become in terms of a battle.
 
"There were a couple of unfortunate turnovers (late in the game), and we didn't get a shot at it (at the end of regulation). That was disappointing. We could have done a better job there."
 
Weber State moved within one game of first place in the Big Sky Conference at 11-2. The Wildcats are 18-7 overall.
 
Portland State dropped to 15-11 on the season, 5-8 in the Big Sky. PSU is 6-4 at home, while playing home games at Lewis and Clark this season due to construction of the new Viking Pavilion.
 
Bryce Canda scored 20 points for the Vikings, while Strickland came off the bench to hit four three-pointers for 12 points. Holland Woods had seven assists.
 
Harding, the Big Sky's leading scorer, had 21 points for Weber State.
 
GAME NOTES: Hollins had his fourth double-double of the season... Weber State has swept the season series after beating Portland State, 84-79, in Ogden on Jan. 20… Portland State will host Idaho State on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Lewis and Clark College. The game is available via live stream at www.WatchBigSky.com and www.Pluto.tv.