Double fault

For Portland State, the road less traveled just hit two more bumps.

After high preseason hopes, the Vikings (17-9, 8-5 BSC) dropped two more road games last weekend, falling to Idaho State (78-69) and being soundly defeated in a must-win game against Big Sky leader Weber State, 78-68.

The defeats ran the squad’s road losing streak to four games and removed any possibility that the team could win the Big Sky Conference.

Also gone is the opportunity to host the Big Sky Tournament, a feat that surely helped the team last season on their road to March Madness.

Despite the two losses, head coach Ken Bone’s squad still managed to qualify for the Big Sky Tournament as one of the six best teams in the conference.

The weekend games, despite the similar results, were a result of sporadic and unenergetic play, according to head coach Ken Bone.

Against Idaho State, the Vikings controlled the tempo of the game in the first half and led 33-23 at the break. But a second-half push by the Bengals and 21 points from senior guard Matt Stucki put Idaho State over the edge.

“They came out with a lot of fight and toughness, we were flat and lackadaisical,” Bone said about the Vikings’ second half.

In the midst of the run, Bone was ejected for arguing with an official and the move seemed to inspire his team as they cut the Bengal lead to one before Idaho State pulled away in the waning moments.

“It was a frustrating situation, to say the least, with their run and then my ejection,” Bone said.

The loss took some of the anticipation off of the long-awaited rematch with Weber State, who has lost just one game since Dec. 29, to Montana State.

The Wildcats continued their dominant play and controlled the game despite senior guard Jeremiah Dominguez playing his best game of late, scoring 24 points on six three-pointers.

Weber State’s senior guard Kellen McCoy finished with 16 points and was just one of seven Wildcats that scored at least eight points. Weber State shot 47 percent from the field and scored 12 more points from the free-throw line, providing the difference in the game.

“Weber State had an answer to everything we brought at them,” Bone said. “They were the better team and showed why they are 11-1. Hopefully we get a chance to play them again.”

Bone’s squad will play three of its final four games at home, and needs a strong finish to have an opportunity at a high seed in the conference tournament.

Portland State will take on Northern Colorado, a team that gave the Vikings a tough game earlier this year in Greeley, and Boise State this week. Both teams have played well of late and Boise State is making a late push to claim its second consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s that time of the year where the conference tournament is right around the corner and every game is now important,” Bone said. “We have to value every possession and play at a high level for 40 minutes every game.”