Not much Love against UCLA

Picked to finish third in the Big Sky Conference, the Vikings opened the 2007-08 season against a true NCAA contender–the UCLA Bruins and Oregon native Kevin Love.

With a three-guard lineup featuring seniors Deonte Huff, Dupree Lucas and sophomore Jeremiah Dominguez, the Vikings got off to a slow start in Pauley Pavilion Friday evening against the bruising team from Los Angeles. By the time Love assisted on a Russell Westbrook dunk, UCLA had an 18-2 lead with less than seven minutes played in the first half.

The Vikings shot just 25 percent in the first half and trailed 36-17 going into the break. Offensive production picked up slightly for the Vikings in the second half, as Portland State scored 31 points and held the Bruins to 37 percent shooting in the second stanza.

The game got no closer than 13 points, when sophomore forward Tyrell Mara scored on a lay-up two minutes into the second half. Mara finished with eight points in his first action since red-shirting last season with a knee injury.

Senior center Scott Morrison scored 10 points and had six boards working against Love, who finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

In his Viking debut, new starting point man Dominguez played a team-high 36 minutes and notched 11 points but only one assist.

The Vikings finished shooting 34.6 percent and were easily overmatched by UCLA, which has played in the last two Final Fours. Portland State plays IUPU-Indianapolis in the opening round of the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska at 9:30 PST Friday.