Bozeman, MT – Portland State found itself in a three-point shooting contest against the wrong team as Montana State buried 15 from distance on the way to an 84-69 victory over the Vikings at Worthington Arena.
 
MSU's win kept it alive for a chance to tie the Vikings at the top of the Big Sky Conference standings at the end of the season. PSU's loss dropped it to 12-4 in the Big Sky, while Montana State is 10-6 with two games remaining to be played. An Eastern Washington win over Northern Colorado on Thursday, 82-72, kept the Eagles in the chase for top seeding in the Big Sky Tournament as well at 10-6.
 
Portland State is now 18-9 overall this season, but has lost two games in a row and three of its last four. Montana State is 16-13 overall.
 
Make no mistake, the Vikings shot the ball well from deep, hitting 9-18 (.500). But they were beaten on frequency as the Bobcats hit the most threes by a Viking opponent this season, making 15-30 (.500). Their 84 points were also the most by a Big Sky opponent in a regulation game this season.
 
The loss wiped out an excellent performance by Terri Miller Jr, who led the Vikings with 28 points. Miller made 10-15 from the field, 5-7 from three-point range and 3-3 at the line. Jaylin Henderson added 19 points and five assists. Tre-Vaughn Minott scored eight points with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.
 
Guard Jed Miller led Montana State with 25 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Seth Amunrud came off the bench for a career-high 22 points, hitting 6-8 three-pointers.
 
The Vikings spotted Montana State a double-digit lead to open the game. Three turnovers led to an 11-0 run for MSU in the first three minutes. The Bobcats were able to maintain that margin for much of the half. Their largest lead was 14, but the Vikings got within 43-34 by halftime.
 
PSU leaned on Miller, who had 18 points in the first half, hitting 6-8 shots including three three-pointers.
 
Early in the second half a Miller three-pointer had the Vikings within five at 46-41. The Bobcats followed with threes on their next four baskets and soon had the lead back to double-digits. Portland State was never closer than 10 points after that.
 
Montana State made 29-56 from the field overall (.518) and 11-15 at the free throw line (.733). The Vikings were 26-58 (.448) and 8-14 (.571).
 
Portland State's 15 turnovers that led to 23 Montana State points.
 

GAME NOTES

• This was only the second time all season Portland State has lost a game when out-rebounding the opponent (29-24).
• Portland State is now 8-6 on the road this season… the Vikings have lost two in a row for only the second time this season.
• PSU beat Montana State, 63-54, on Jan. 31 in Portland.
• Portland State plays at Montana on Saturday in a 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT game. PSU closes out the regular season Monday at home, hosting Weber State at 7 p.m. Both games air on ESPN+.