Men’s basketball

The Stott Center came alive this year like never before, as sell-out crowds cheered the men’s basketball team to its best season since joining Division 1 and its first Big Sky regular season championship.

As champions, the Viks hosted the Big Sky tournament at Memorial Coliseum – another first for the program. In front of a sea of green-clad students, perhaps the largest student turnout in the history of Viking basketball, the Vikings lost to a Weber State team that came in as heavy underdogs with a losing record (13-15).

For the second year in a row coach Heath Schroyer’s Vikings were the most improved team in the conference (19-9). The Viks tied a 33-year-old school record by winning eight consecutive games in December and January and had a 12-game home winning streak heading into the conference tournament.

Led by conference player of the year and defensive player of the year Seamus Boxley and a trio of stellar seniors, the Vikings thrilled their long suffering fans with a fast-breaking offense that took advantage of their athleticism.

Boxley cemented his status as one of Portland State’s all-time greats by averaging 20.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game while displaying his unparalleled work ethic and leadership skills.

Will Funn, who averaged an NCAA-leading 8.1 assists per game, joined Boxley on the all-conference team alongside backcourt mate Blake Walker.

Senior forward Antone Jarrell and true freshman center Scott Morrison filled out what was inarguably the Big Sky’s most talented starting five, while sharpshooter Jake Schroeder highlighted a much-improved bench.

Should the Viks hope to repeat their success next year they will have to do so with a dramatically different team. As if the graduations of Boxley, Funn, Walker and Jarrell weren’t devastating enough, a little over a month after the season Schroyer packed his bags and took his staff to Fresno State to be an assistant coach.