Portland, OR – Eventually, one of these games is going to break the Vikings' way. Portland State continues to play tightly contested games, particularly at home, but has little to show for it. The latest was an 84-79 loss to Idaho on Monday night at Viking Pavilion.
 
Idaho, the Big Sky's top three-point shooting team by percentage, simply out-shot the Vikings to pull out the win. Idaho was 29-51 from the field (.569), 8-20 from three-point range (.400) and 18-24 at the line (.750). Portland State also shot it well, but not quite well enough, making 27-57 from the field (.474), 6-21 from distance (.286) and 19-24 at the line (.792). Virtually everything else in the boxscore was even.
 
The Vandal guard trio of Mikey Dixon, Trevante Anderson and Rashad Smith combined for 62 of Idaho's 84 points. They made a combined 20-33 from the field, 6-12 three-pointers and 16-18 free throws.
 
Portland State had a season-high five players score in double figures. Junior guard Damion Squire led the group with 15 points. He added three rebounds, three assists and five steals.
 
Senior forward James Jean-Marie scored 14 points (7-11 FG) with eight rebounds and two blocked shots.
 
Freshman guard Paris Dawson and junior guard Michael Carter III each scored 13 points for the Vikings.
 
No excuses offered but Portland State had only nine available players to start the game due to a variety of injuries and illnesses. Then, senior forward Khalid Thomas took an elbow to the face in the first minute of the game and had to come out. It added up to a slow start for PSU and good start for the Vandals.
 
"Consistency within the lineup has been a real challenge for us," said Viking Coach Jase Coburn. "Playing all these games has been good, but we have had lots of guys go in and out of the lineup during this stretch. So, it has been hard to build a consistency and a chemistry. It's almost like a first game of the season and different starting lineup each time."
 
Idaho took a 15-7 lead in first five minutes. The Vandals continued to shoot well throughout the half. A Rashad Smith three-pointer gave Idaho its largest lead at 33-19 with 7:46 to go in the first half.

The Vikings found a burst late in the half, going on a 19-4 run. Squire scored six points early, then Dawson had seven points late. His three-pointer, followed by a breakaway layin, put PSU ahead 42-40. Anderson made two free throws for Idaho just before the halftime buzzer and it was tied at 42 at the break.

Carter gave PSU its first lead on the first possession of the second half with a driving bucket. It was brief and would be the only one for the Vikings. Idaho scored the next eight points. The Vandals led the rest of the way, but never by more than eight.

PSU pulled within one at 78-77 on a three-pointer by Thomas with 46.7 seconds remaining. That would be the last Viking field goal. Idaho proceeded to score six points on its final three possessions to hang on for the win.

Portland State took its fourth straight loss and ninth in 10 games. Five of the losses have been by five points or less. The Vikings are 4-12 on the season, 2-6 in the Big Sky Conference.

Idaho improved to 5-14, 2-7 in the Big Sky.

GAME NOTES: 

• The game with Idaho was the fifth in a stretch of 10 games in 22 days. It was also the third of a four-game home stand.
• With sophomore forward Trey Wood making his first start of the season, Portland State has now started 11 different players.
• Damion Squire made 14 straight free throws before missing his first of the season in the second half. He was 7-8 in the game and is now 16-17 for the season.
• Khalid Thomas returned to play 30 minutes in the game after his nose was bloodied in the first minute.
• Idaho Head Coach Zac Claus was a Portland State assistant coach from 2000-02.
• Portland State hosts Southern Utah on Thursday night at Viking Pavilion. The game tips at 7 p.m. and streams live on ESPN+.