At the Top of the World

A week ago, the Vikings faced one of the best teams in the country in No. 2 UCLA. This weekend they play three games in three nights in one of the northernmost cities in the world: Fairbanks, Alaska.

One of eight teams participating in the Top of the World Classic, Portland State will open with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis late Friday night, and will draw either Akron University or South Carolina Upstate Saturday.

The IUPUI Jaguars, selected to win the Summit League this season, play an aggressive matchup zone that could be problematic for the Vikings, which shot a sparse 34 percent against UCLA.

“We need more solid play,” said head coach Ken Bone. “UCLA’s defense probably had something to do with it, but we weren’t getting the best shot capable. We’ve been stressing quality possessions and getting the best shot capable, and we do that at times in practice.”

Bone expects junior guard Jeremiah Dominguez to continue to play well this weekend in Alaska after leading the Vikings with 11 points and three steals in his first game in Portland State green and black.

“He’s been outstanding,” Bone said. “He had a nice game against a top-caliber team and has a presence on both ends of the court for us.”

The Vikings are guaranteed three games at the Classic, and will face Alaska Fairbanks, Tennessee State, Colorado State or Oregon State on Sunday.

For Portland State to be successful this weekend, and this season, there are three keys to the Vikings’ success.

“Guard the ball, rebound the ball and share the ball, share the ball, share the ball,” Bone said.

During their trip to Alaska, the Vikings will be treated like “royalty.” The people of Fairbanks take great pride in hosting the Classic, which began in 1996, and go out of their way to make visiting teams feel at home.

Portland State, making their first appearance at the Top of the World Classic, will be greeted at the airport by their adopted school from a local-area school district. The Viking players will be showered with savory treats, participation gifts, dog sled rides, gold panning and more. But that’s not all: Each team will be also assigned a host family responsible for helping participating teams with lodging, dining and local entertainment.