Weber State Closes Out Vikings Down Stretch, Win By Eight
Feb 18, 2023, 10:09 PM
Weber State forward Dillon Jones (Courtesy of Weber State Athletics)
(Courtesy of Weber State Athletics)
OGDEN, Utah – Dillon Jones’ 13 second-half points lead Weber State to a second-straight win and season sweep over Portland State, 65-57.
Weber State (15-13, 10-5) traveled to Oregon where they faced the Portland State Vikings (12-16, 6-9) on Saturday, February 18.
A Great, Great, Great day to be a Wildcat!
WILDCATS WIN! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/vfxHZX9nxE
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) February 19, 2023
The Wildcats won their last matchup, winning 52-49 in a low-scoring affair against Sacramento State earlier in the week.
Portland State stole an 88-87 victory on a last-second shot last Saturday at Northern Arizona. They beat Idaho State 79-70 at home in their most recent game. PSU is 6-5 at Viking Pavilion this season.
Coming into the night, Weber State held a one-game cushion over Montana for third in the Big Sky with four games to play. In their previous meeting this year, the Vikings got blown out in Ogden, falling 84-68 on January 19,
RELATED: Weber State Wildcats Win Close Battle Against Sacramento State
A sophomore, Jones led Weber State with 23 points and 13 rebounds, notching his 16 double-doubles, the third most in the country. Steven Verplancken added ten points.
Cameron Parker led the Vikings with 25 points and six assists in the loss.
Prior to tip-off, Weber State alumnus Damian Lillard won the three-point contest at NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake.
D.O.L.L.A. 🏆#NBAAllStar | #RipCity pic.twitter.com/tBaFosFF0N
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 19, 2023
First Half
The Wildcats struggled from deep early, opening the game just 1-of-5 from deep. Despite the poor shooting, Weber State built a 14-9 lead when Zahir Porter knocked down their first three of the game.
Z 3️⃣ from DEEP gives the 'Cats a 14-9 lead! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/gseoQLsAMt
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) February 19, 2023
The Vikings fought back to tie the game at 27 headed into halftime.
RELATED: Weber State Downs Portland State With Hot Shooting Performance
Portland State’s Isaiah Johnson led all scorers with 11 first half points. Dillon Jones led the Wildcats with eight points while Porter added seven in the opening 20 minutes.
Second Half
KJ Cunningham gave Weber State a 32-29 lead when he hit a fast break three early in the second half.
KJ 3️⃣!#WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/t3rqyDSM2w
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) February 19, 2023
After the Wildcats built a five-point lead with 15 minutes to play, the Vikings immediately answered with a quick 5-0 run to tie the score at 36.
RELATED: Weber State Wildcats Fall At Home To Montana Grizzlies
For much of the second half, neither team could gain a significant advantage. Weber State spent most of the half fending off Viking attacks with Tew giving them a 51-46 lead with 5:41 left to play.
Down the stretch, Dillon Jones repeatedly found a way to answer each time Portland State threatened. Jones hit a contested layup with Weber State up 51-49. Moments later, he knocked down a step back three to give the Wildcats a five point lead with 2:28 to go.
OH MY!
STEP BACK 3️⃣ @drizzydj23 #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/oapChK9yd2
— Weber State MBB 🏀 (@WeberStateMBB) February 19, 2023
Jones scored nine of his team-high 23points in the final four minutes as the Wildcats completed the season sweep of Portland State, winning 65-57.
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Up Next
The Wildcats return to the Dee Events Center where they will take on the first place Eastern Washington Eagles (20-7, 10-1) on Thursday, February 23. Tip-off for this game is scheduled for 7 p.m. (MT).
