Boxscore – PDF
 
Cedar City, UT – Portland State was unable to overcome its poorest shooting performance of the season, losing at Southern Utah, 85-57.
 
The Vikings made only five first-half field goals in falling behind by a dozen points. Then, after a brief surge by PSU in the second half, the Thunderbirds ran away with the victory, handing the Vikings their worst loss of the season.
 
Sluggish play for the Vikings would be an understatement. Southern Utah entered the game leading the Big Sky in field goal percentage defense (.393), rebounding margin (+5.4) and blocked shots (4.3). The Vikings saw all of that in the first half.
 
Through the first 13:35 of the game the Vikings were a mere 2-26 from the field and had been blocked five times. The Thunderbirds led 23-8.
 
When Alonzo Walker made a layin at the 6:10 mark of the half, he broke an 8-minute, 25-second stretch for the Vikings without a field goal.
 
Portland State trailed 30-18 at halftime. A miserable 5-36 shooting mark had them at .139 from the field, and they missed all 12 three-point attempts. The good news was the Vikings made 8-9 at the free throw line, and forced nine Southern Utah turnovers to keep the game within reach. The Thunderbirds made 11-30 shots in the first half, just a .367 mark.
 
Early in the second half, the Vikings got as close as six points at 35-29. Then the T-Birds went on a 20-4 run, hitting four three-pointers along the way. They led by 24 at 59-35 with just over 10 minutes to play. PSU was unable to mount a rally after that.
 
Portland State finished at 17-67 from the field, only a .254 percentage. The Vikings made 2-23 three-pointers. PSU's previous low shooting percentage for the season was .383.
 
The Vikings forced 17 turnovers for 18 points, but simply couldn't overcome their shooting woes.
 
Southern Utah was solid from the field, making 29-60 (.483) and 9-22 three pointers (.409).
 
Thunderbird forward Cameron Oluyitan led all scorers with 24 points, making 7-8 shots, 4-5 from three-point range and 6-6 at the line. Maizen Fausett grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
 
Rashaad Goolsby came off the bench to lead Portland State with 14 points and seven rebounds. Goolsby made 4-6 from the field and 6-7 at the line.
 
Holland Woods led the Vikings with four assists, while Sal Nuhu had four blocked shots.
 
Portland State dropped to 11-13 on the season, 5-7 in the Big Sky Conference. Southern Utah is 14-9, 7-5.
 
GAME NOTES: Holland Woods consecutive made free throw streak ended at 27… Matt Hauser saw his first action since Jan. 4 but did not score in 18 minutes of play. He had missed seven games due to a sprained ankle… Portland State dropped to 3-11 in road games this season. The Vikings have lost four in a row on the road… Southern Utah beat Portland State, 83-81, in Portland on Dec. 30… the Vikings move on to play at Northern Colorado on Monday night. That game tips off at 6 p.m. PT.