Fresno, CA – Yogi Berra would call it 'déjà vu all over again.' The Portland State Vikings basketball team just calls it 'another night at the gym.'
 
Actually, for the third time this season, the Vikings called "Game!" when KJ Allen buried a three-point field goal from the left wing with 0.2 seconds remaining in overtime for a 75-72 win over Fresno State at Save Mart Center.
 
Allen's gamer capped a 10-point run at the end for another comeback win. Allen, who scuffled early in the game, came alive in overtime, scoring eight of the Vikings' 10 points on 3-3 shooting, and grabbing a key offensive rebound with 20 seconds left to set up the game winner.
 

KJ SAID, LETS GO HOME. BALL GAME. #GoViks | #DefendTheShip | @Kjallen32 pic.twitter.com/P6R8SeV12q

— Portland State Men's Basketball (@psuviksMBB) December 19, 2023

The victory puts the Vikings at 9-3 on the season, matching the best 12-game record in program history. Three of those wins have come at the end. Ismail Habib hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer in a 66-63 win over California Baptist, then had a game-winning drive with 0.6 seconds left in a 75-74 over Portland. Now, Allen takes the glory as the Vikings pick up another non-conference victory.
 
Portland State controlled the game in the first half and led by as many as 15 points. Isaiah Johnson propelled the Vikings to an early lead. The junior forward scored nine points in a 13-4 rally. That put PSU ahead, 16-10, just eight minutes into the game.
 
Once he helped get the Vikings a lead, they held onto it for more than 25 minutes. Portland State led for the remaining 13 minutes of the first half and settled for a 41-28 advantage at the break. PSU forced 10 turnovers, making six steals. Bobby Harvey had 11 points, hitting three three-pointers, to lead the way.
 
A good offensive first half was followed by a poor start to the second half. Eleven minutes into the second session, the Vikings were only 2-14 from the field. That allowed the Bulldogs to come all the way back to tie the game at 51-51. When Isaac Tavares made a free throw with 8:26 left to put the Bulldogs ahead 52-51.
 
It was a back-and-forth affair after that. Isaiah Hill scored on a drive with 1:20 left in regulation to put Fresno State back on top 65-63. Then, Isiah Kirby hit a floater in the lane for the Vikings to tie it with 1:02 to play.
 
Each team had an unsuccessful possession in the final minute, sending the game to overtime.
 
The Bulldogs appeared ready to run away with the game in the extra session. Hill made a driving three-point play, then scored again on a drive for a 70-65 FSU lead. When Eduardo Andre dunked with 2:24 left, PSU was down 72-65.
 
That's when Allen took control. First, he hit a three-point field goal from out on top. After a Bulldogs miss, Allen scored again on a turnaround jump shot. Suddenly, the Vikings were down only 72-70 with 1:25 to go.
 
Again, the Vikings forced a miss and took the ball back with 50 seconds on the clock. PSU was unable to get a good shot, and the ball was deflected out of bounds with one second left on the shot clock and 21 seconds left in the game.
 
Viking Coach Jase Coburn called a timeout and set up an inbound play that needed an immediate shot. He got it when Johnson came down the lane, took a pass from Ismail Habib and layed it in. And, Johnson was fouled.
 
"They executed the plays at the end," said Coburn of his team. "It was a helluva a pass by Ish and wasn't an easy angle to make the pass."
 
With the game tied at 72-72, Johnson missed the go-ahead free throw. The ball was tipped around and Allen came up with it. PSU again called timeout and set up a pick-and-roll play with Habib and Allen.
 
"We had a chance in regulation to win it and didn't get it done, but I noticed something and I knew if I got that play back, I would do something different. If we got in that situation, I had an idea what I wanted to do," said Coburn.
 
And it worked out just the way the coached hoped. Allen flared out after the screen for Habib, who passed back to him in front of the Viking bench. Allen buried the three and the Vikings buried another opponent with a gutsy performance on the road.
 
"We have to win in the margins - play good defense, rebound, win all the 50-50 balls. I give our guys credit, every time there was a loose ball tonight, we had guys diving on it," said Coburn. "These guys are great people and they never give up. I have got a good team."
 
Allen was 3-3 from the field in overtime. The senior forward had team-highs of 15 points and eight rebounds. Jorell Saterfield and Harvey added 13 points each, while Johnson scored 12 points off the bench.
 
PSU shot only .388 from the field compared to .456 for the Bulldogs. But the Vikings out-rebounded FSU, 45-38, including 18 on the offensive glass, and scored 19 points off Bulldog turnovers.
 
Portland State ended Fresno State's three-game winning streak. The Bulldogs dropped to 6-5 on the season, 5-2 at home. The Vikings improved their road record to 4-2.
 
Isaiah Pope led Fresno State with 14 points. Eduardo Andre had a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
It was a fitting end to the Vikings non-conference schedule. They opened with a 62-55 win over a Mountain West Conference team, Air Force, and closed with a win over a MWC team in Fresno State. Along the way, the Vikings got wins over teams from the West Coast, Western Athletic and Big West Conference as well.
 

GAME NOTES

• Ismail Habib had a season-high eight assists, including the final two on the tying and winning baskets.
• Portland State has matched all-time best program records after five (5-0), six (5-1), seven (6-1), nine (7-2), 10 (8-2) and 12 (9-3) games.
• The game with Fresno State was the first meeting between the teams since Nov. 29, 1980. It was also the first time the Vikings have beaten the Bulldogs (1-4).
• Portland State is off for the next week and will return to play after the Christmas holiday. The next game is the Big Sky Conference opener at Eastern Washington on Dec. 28.