Portland, OR - Portland State scored the final seven points of the game and made two critical blocked shots in the final minute to eke out a 64-59 Big Sky Conference victory over Eastern Washington at Viking Pavilion.
 
It was fitting that blocks were key plays for the Vikings who lead the Big Sky in that category. It was also a relief that PSU found enough offense late in the game to pull out the win.
 
PSU trailed 59-57 with 1:43 left in the game. That's when an Isaiah Johnson's tip dunk off a Viking miss tied the game and ignited the crowd.
 
The Eagles then missed a three-pointer on the other end, but were able to make a steal and start a fast break for the potential lead. Nic McClain missed inside, but Andrew Cook rebounded and tried a putback with 58 seconds on the clock. PSU center Tre-Vaughn Minott swatted it away and grabbed the rebound.
 
The Vikings had possession and with 33 seconds left, Terri Miller Jr. scored on his patented lefty hook shot for a 61-59 PSU lead.
 
Eastern Washington called timeout and drew up a play for Cook who had scored the previous 10 points for the Eagles. Cook got a screen and a run to the basket, but Vikings forward Hayden Curtiss came across from the weakside and blocked his shot attempt again with 13 seconds left.
 
PSU grabbed the ball and was able to convert three of four free throws in the closing seconds for the 64-59 final.
 
"Those guys are elite shot blockers," said Vikings Coach Jase Coburn of his two big men. "Hayden is always in the right place at the right time. We call him "The Eraser". For four years he has been like that."
 
The win upped the Vikings' record to 9-6 on the season, 1-1 in the Big Sky. It also ended a nine-game losing streak to an Eastern Washington program that has been dominant in the league in recent seasons.
 
Portland State overcame a sluggish offensive game and the absence of two key players, Shane Nowell (knee) and Cole Farrell (illness). That left the Vikings with eight healthy bodies, but it was enough to pull out the win.
 
"It took us some time to get used to playing with that lineup," Coburn said. "We had lineups together that had never played before. Once we started getting comfortable, we figured it out."
 
Miller Jr. led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds. Minott had perhaps his best game as a Viking with a career-high 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. Johnson scored 11 points with nine rebounds and Henderson tallied 10 points.
 
Kelcy Phipps, like Minott, gave the Vikings the best game of his young career. He played 24 minutes off the bench, scoring seven points with four rebounds, three steals and two assists. His spark in the second half helped wake up PSU's sluggish offense.
 
"All the credit in the world to Kelcy and Tre-Vaughn for stepping up," said Coburn. "We coach those guys really hard so they are ready for these types of moments. They are incredibly coachable players. I am so proud of how they stepped up."
 
Early on the Vikings looked destined for another big offensive night. Henderson's three three-pointers propped up the Vikings as they jumped to an 18-7 lead after eight minutes of play. 
 
Unfortunately, a nine-minute scoreless spell followed, allowing the Eagles to take a 20-18 lead. Eastern Washington slipped into a zone that flustered PSU and the Vikings missed 12 shots in a row before an inside basket by Minott broke the spell. 
 
Eastern Washington closed out the half on a 21-6 run and led 29-24 at the break.
 
Portland State made only 6-25 shots in the first half, including 2-17 two-point attempts, and had 11 turnovers. The Eagles were 12-26 with 12 turnovers.
 
PSU's biggest deficit was 33-24 early in the second half. And while their play was still a little rough, the Vikings effort led them back. Phipps capped an eight-point run when he tied the game at 35-35. Moments later, his coast-to-coast drive finally got the Vikings a 39-38 lead.
 
The lead changed hands five times over the next six minutes before the Vikings found their touch. Curtiss and Miller Jr. hit back-to-back three-pointers turning a 45-45 tie into a 51-45 Viking lead with 7:18 remaining in the game.
 
Soon though, Cook carried the Eagles back into the lead with his 10 straight points. That led to the dramatic finish and Viking victory.
 
PSU finished at .389 from the field after a much-improved 15-29 shooting performance in the second half. The Vikings forced the Eagles into 22 turnovers.
 
Eastern Washington is now 5-11 on the season, 1-2 in the Big Sky. Cook and Mason Williams each had 12 points for the Eagles. Sebastian Hartmann added 10 points.

GAME NOTES

• There were eight ties and 10 lead changes in the game.
• PSU had six blocked shots, matching the season average.
• The Vikings had their fifth different starting lineup of the season: Qiant Myers, Jaylin Henderson, Isaiah Johnson, Terri Miller Jr. and Tre-Vaughn Minott.
• The Vikings host Idaho on Saturday in a 2 p.m. game. It can also be seen on ESPN+.