Portland, OR – The Portland State Vikings were poised for something big on Saturday at Viking Pavilion. But they didn't bring their offensive game along for the ride. 
 
The Vikings lost at home to Eastern Washington, 67-55, in their poorest offensive showing of the season. That prevented them from potentially cutting down the nets with a Big Sky Conference Championship.
 
However…
 
The Vikings still clinched a share of the Big Sky Conference regular season championship due to a Montana State loss at Idaho State, 91-76. It marks PSU's first Big Sky regular season title since 2008. PSU has clinched a share and will have a chance to win the title outright on the road next week at Montana State, or in any of the remaining three games.
 
PSU moved to 18-8 on the season, 12-3 in the Big Sky. Eastern Washington won its sixth game in a row and has climbed into a tie for second place with Montana State at 9-6. Montana also has a chance to get to 9-6 later tonight if it can win its game at Weber State.
 
Portland State matched its lowest point total of the season and shot its poorest percentage, making only 19-61 shots from the field (.311). That was enough for the Eagles to take advantage. Eastern Washington shot .434 from the field and won the rebounding battle, 42-34.
 
"We didn't play our best today. We just didn't have it," said Vikings Coach Jase Coburn. "We didn't make the shots we normally make. We got to spots we normally do. So, we have to go back and fix it." 
 
"We were fortunate to be in this position, so it was disappointing we didn't do it (with a win), but we have another game on Thursday and we have to do a good job preparing leading into that game."
 
Eastern Washington came into the contest winners of five in a row and playing extremely well. Despite giving up some size, the Eagles pressured the Vikings into a 9-27 shooting effort in the first half, and out-rebounded them, 21-15. That led to a slim 31-30 lead at the break.
 
In the second half, Terri Miller Jr. scored eight points in a row to give PSU a 42-40 lead at the 13:36 mark. Then the Vikings went cold, missing nine of their next 10 shots. Eastern Washington went on an 11-2 run for a 51-44 lead – the largest lead for either team to that point. Portland State never got closer than three points after that.
 
Miller had a strong second half for the Vikings and finished with 21 points on 9-19 from the field. Jaylin Henderson added 11 points and five assists. Isaiah Williams came off the bench for a season-high 10 points.
 
Isaiah Moses led the Eagles with 22 points, six rebounds and three assists. He hit 11-11 at the free throw line as Eastern Washington didn't allow the Vikings to draw close in the late-going.  
 
Eastern Washington is now 11-17 on the season, 9-6 in the Big Sky.
 

GAME NOTES

• Any victory by the Vikings in the final three games assures them an outright Big Sky Conference Championship… or a single loss by Montana State, Eastern Washington and Montana in their final games.
• PSU previously won Big Sky regular season titles in 2005 and 2008, and tournament titles in 2008 and 2009.
• The Vikings beat the Eagles, 65-61, in Cheney on Jan. 22.
• Portland State will go on the road next week, playing at Montana State on Thursday and Montana on Saturday. The Vikings' final home game is Mar. 2 against Weber State. All games can be seen on ESPN+.