Eyes on the prize

In a topsy-turvy final game of the regular season, the Vikings beat the Idaho State Bengals 70-63 Saturday at the Stott Center. In doing so, the men’s basketball team clinched a spot in the Big Sky Conference playoffs.

Where that seed will land, however, is anyone’s guess.

Portland State will enter the tournament ranked no lower than fifth, but in a perfect world, could wind up as high as third. The seeding will be finalized Tuesday and the best-case scenario could get the Vikings home court during the first round.

And while the team’s seniors would certainly love one last game on their home floor, they’re looking forward to something bigger.

“We want to go to the NCAA tournament,” said head coach Ken Bone.

To get there the Vikings must first win the Big Sky tournament, which would give them an automatic invitation to the NCAA. “It doesn’t matter who we play or where we play-we just need to bring it and get the job done,” Bone said.

The Vikings, who had to win their final three games just to make the Big Sky tournament, feel as if they have just the right mindset to continue the streak.

“We’ve kind of set ourselves up with the right mentality that now it doesn’t matter who we play-we have to win,” said senior Paul Hafford, who hit five three-pointers on his way to a game-high 19 points.

“It was good to play here at Portland State, but I would’ve liked to play a few more games here,” said Hafford of a career severely limited by injury. “But to go out on senior night and have a decent game, that’s all I could ask for.”

Junior forward Deonte Huff set a school record with 18 rebounds. Former Vikings star Shamus Boxley had the previous high of 16 in 2004. Huff also added 18 points.

“It’s all about timing,” Huff said of his prolific rebounding effort. “They were just there and you’ve got to go up and get ’em, and fortunately I was able to.”

After falling in a double-digit hole against the Bengals early, the Vikings poured on 19 consecutive points while holding Idaho State scoreless for 11:13.

Portland State went up as many as 12 in the second half before a barrage of Bengals three-pointers and Viking miscues tied the game at 49 with 8:12 left to play.

“I was nervous,” coach Bone said of Idaho State’s run. “We were very slow on offense and not making our free throws and that’s a bad combination. But Emmanuel Jenkins stepped up and made some huge plays for us.”

Indeed, Jenkins gave the Vikings a little breathing room when they needed it badly. The freshman point guard scored eight straight for the Vikings, which put them up for good. It was a refreshing moment for Jenkins, who said he’s finally starting to feel confident on the court.

“I thought I was going to come in and play good just like I did in high school, but it didn’t work like that,” Jenkins said. “I had a lot to learn. This whole year has been a learning process. It’s been a very, very humbling year and I’m very glad I went through it.”

The Vikings wrap up the regular season with a record 18-12 overall and 9-7 in the Big Sky.

And while coach Bone reiterated that making the NCAA tournament is his ultimate goal this season, he said that anything less wouldn’t be a disappointment.

“If we win 20 games, that’s a huge accomplishment,” he said. “That would be outstanding. And who knows, maybe if we win 20 we’ll get an NIT berth.”

Deonte Huff, however, disagreed with his coach.

“[Coach] said it wouldn’t be a disappointment, but being so close it would be, I’m not going to lie,” Huff said.

“I honestly feel very confident about [reaching the NCAA tournament], more than ever now since it’s closer. At the beginning everyone was saying we were going to go to the tournament, you know, ‘blah blah blah.’ But now I’m starting to believe that.”