After this season’s solid start, the Vikings’ men’s basketball team now find themselves beneath a deep, dark cloud.
Saturday afternoon Portland State played host to Eastern Washington at the Stott Center. A win would’ve given the Vikings a .500 record in conference play for the first time this season.
But on the first game back from a three-game road trip, Portland State wasn’t able to defend their home court. In fact, the Eagles mopped the floor with the newly ineffective Viking squad.
The 88-70 loss left Portland State coach Ken Bone searching for answers. After the game, the team met behind closed doors for 45 minutes. It was the Vikings’ longest post-game meeting this season. When he finally emerged, coach Bone was clearly distraught.
“There were a number of things,” coach Bone said. “There were so many things you don’t have enough newspaper to write about them.”
“I allowed [the team] to share why they thought we played so poorly,” he said. “There were things that we just needed to talk about and get out to try and help us get better.”
Senior forward Juma Kamara, who has struggled with his shot recently, offered the same explanation, refusing to elaborate. “We were talking about why we’ve been falling off,” said Kamara, whose 9 points came on 1/6 shooting from the field.
“I thought a big problem is that we want to play with energy,” coach Bone said. “And yeah, it’s hard to play with a lot of energy when you’re playing zone, so some of that is my fault for the game plan.”
Bone employed the zone in an effort to stop one of the Big Sky’s best players in sophomore guard Rodney Stuckey, who led all scorers with 24 points. Senior center Paul Butorac added 21, many of which came on uncontested fast-break dunks and layups.
“A good way to hurt a zone is to push it in transition before the zone is set up,” Bone said.” Butorac is fast. When they got possession of the ball, he was sprinting to the rim, and we had a hard time staying with him.”
Junior guard Dupree Lucas led the Vikings with 16 points and three assists. The team’s second high-scorer, Paul Hafford, added 11, but hit just three of his 13 attempts from the field.
Junior center Scott Morrison, who at the beginning of the season led the Vikings in both scoring and rebounding, finished with 4 points and five boards, and coach Bone was anxious for him to return to his early form.
“I’m interested to see Scott be as efficient as he was at the beginning of the year,” Bone said. “Maybe there’s been more of a focus on him as of late because he played so well earlier in the year. I think he’ll get there. I wouldn’t be surprised if he came out Thursday night and had a good game. He’s a good basketball player.”
Portland State finished the game shooting 41.1 percent from the field, but hit only five of 13 free-throw attempts, and just five of 21 three-point tries. Eastern Washington made 22 of their 28 foul shots.
“We were playing pretty good in the preseason and we had big aspirations coming into the league,” Kamara said. “Right now we’re at 2-4, and the league’s not over. With 10 more games we can turn it around, but from here on out every game is a big game.”
Coach Bone reiterated the need for an immediate turnaround. “If we don’t look good this next week, then I think we’re heading down the wrong road.”