Heading into the Great Alaska Shootout in Anchorage over Thanksgiving weekend, the men’s basketball squad still had some questions to answer despite their perfect 3-0 record.
When would Phil Nelson, the standout transfer from Washington, finally play up to the hype that preceded his arrival? How serious is senior captain Jeremiah Dominguez’s finger injury that limited him to just seven points in the victory against Cal State Fullerton?
After playing three games in the tournament the answers to these questions seem a little clearer. Despite impressively defeating Northern Illinois, 79-58, in the opening round game, the Vikings suffered their first loss of the year in the semifinals against Hampton, 77-71, in overtime.
Despite the loss, the Hampton game provided the Vikings with a much-needed glimpse at what the talented Nelson can bring to the team.
The sophomore scored in double digits in all three games and exploded for 24 points against the Pirates, including nailing two three-pointers in the final minute to help send the game to overtime.
In the three games in Alaska, Nelson averaged 18.6 points and shot 46 percent from the field.
As memorable as Nelson’s performance was, however, is how equally forgettable point guard Dominguez’s play was in Alaska.
Since injuring his finger against Portland, the returning Big Sky Player of the Year has struggled, and over three games in the Shootout he accumulated just seven points.
Dominguez was just one of the Vikings who struggled against Hampton, an athletic team out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
The Pirates held Portland State to a season-low field goal percentage of 34 percent and the Hampton bench dominated head coach Ken Bone’s squad, 42-12.
After rallying behind Nelson and a free throw from junior forward Kyle Coston, the Vikings’ shooting struggles continued in the overtime session as they managed to hit just one of their nine shots from the field.
Hampton would go on to lose in the championship game to San Diego State.
Portland State recovered after the loss and soundly defeated Seattle, 81-67, to clinch third place in the tournament. Junior guard Dominic Waters led the Vikings with 22 points and junior forward Jamie Jones finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
After playing each other in Alaska these two teams will be reunite this Saturday with a game at the Stott Center.
Throughout the three games the Vikings continued to get consistent play out of Costen and senior guard Andre Murray.
Costen scored in double digits all three games, including a 14-point effort with four three-pointers in the victory against Northern Illinois. Murray contributed 14 points and seven rebounds in the loss to Hampton. The month of December is slated to be a difficult one for the defending Big Sky Conference champions.
Road games against Washington on Dec. 13 and Gonzaga on Dec. 23 are sandwiched in between the Vikings’ Big Sky opener against Montana. Portland State will face the Grizzlies on Dec. 20 at the Stott Center.