A second dose of experience

Although the path to get there was certainly different and the scene looked a bit different, Portland State was unable to successfully play the role of giant-killer and fell to Xavier 77-59 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The loss was the second consecutive first-round exit for the Vikings.

Hopes were high as the Vikings headed into the tournament but the results were disappointing as a talented and physical Xavier team ended Portland State’s season in what junior forward Kyle Coston aptly described as a “slow and terrible death.”

The defeat not only ended the Vikings’ season—a season in which the team managed 23 wins for the second consecutive year—but also put an end to a career of one of the more talented players in school history, senior point guard Jeremiah Dominguez.

The sharpshooting guard that wowed crowds and terrorized opposing point guards and coaches all season long will depart the South Park Blocks as a two-time All-Conference performer and the leading scorer on a team that won two consecutive Big Sky Tournaments.

“I had the best experience of my life and I was happy to transfer to Portland State,” Dominguez said. “We got to the tournament the past two years and it’s all done now. I’ll always remember this.”

Dominguez shined during an exciting first half of the Xavier matchup as his ability to knock down shots and penetrate were keys in helping Portland State keep the game close.

But after a three-pointer by senior guard Andre Murray, the Musketeers took control of the game and seemed to squash each Portland State attempt at a comeback.

While the loss was a disappointing finish for a team that heading into the tournament vowing that they were “here to win,” the season continued establishing the once-cellar-dwellers of the Big Sky Conference as one of the top Mid-Major basketball programs on the West Coast.

The team will head into next season without the significant presence of Dominguez and Murray but does boast a talented lineup that could make a third straight trip to the Big Dance.

“There’s no doubt we’ll miss him,” said head coach Ken Bone. “The kid is just a gamer. The last two years we have had 46 wins and two trips to the NCAA Tournament, and I don’t know if that would have been possible without him.”

Murray started every game for the Vikings this season and fellow senior guard Mickey Polis contributed six points in his final game.

“Those two players, in addition to Jeremiah, have done so much for the team with their playing and leadership abilities,” Bone said. “They are the only three players in program history that have won consecutive Big Sky Conference Tournament titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances, a lot can be said for that.”

While there are certainly glaring holes to be filled with the loss of the three backcourt players, Bone’s squad will return a team that will likely contend for the Big Sky Championship.

The team should be more well rounded, and the offseason will likely help Bone and his staff address one glaring need that was painfully evident during the Xavier game: size.

Junior forwards Kyle Coston, Phil Nelson and Jamie Jones all return, as well as sixth-man and second team All-Conference performer Dominic Waters. Jones—who seemed to get stronger and better as the season wore on—was the Vikings’ leading scorer against the Musketeers, managing 16 points against a much bigger Musketeer frontline.

The Vikings will also be aided by the return of sophomore guard Paul Guede, who missed most of this season with a broken foot, to the lineup. And several other new recruits could help give the team depth at all positions.
While the Vikings continue to exert themselves as one of the premier programs in the conference, the next logical step that the program needs to take is to earn a victory in the NCAA Tournament.