NAU loses Big Sky title game
by The Associated Press on Mar. 13, 2008, under Sports
Portland State forward Deonte Huff celebrates after beating NAU 67-51 to win the Big Sky championship game on Wednesday. Huff had 17 points.
PORTLAND, Ore. – For the first time, Portland State is NCAA Tournament bound.
Deonte Huff scored 17 points to lead the Vikings to a 67-51 victory over Northern Arizona in the championship game of the Big Sky Conference tournament.
“Our guys did a great job tonight,” Portland State coach Ken Bone said. “We shot well. There’s a lot of mental toughness and confidence on our team now.”
Kyle Coston added 14 points for top-seeded Portland State (23-9), which won its 14th straight Big Sky game. Andre Murray had 13 points and Jeremiah Dominguez chipped in nine points and six assists.
Nate Geiser led Northern Arizona (21-11) with 13 points and Kyle Landry had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Lumberjacks.
Portland State closed the first half with an 18-4 run that put it ahead 34-20 at halftime. The Vikings maintained their lead in the second half and led by as many as 17 late in the game. Northern Arizona closed to within nine points but did not challenge down the stretch.
“We wanted it more all season,” Huff said. “Our guys stepped up and moved the ball. Everyone went out and got it.”
PSU shot 44 percent for the game and held NAU to 34 percent from the field. The Lumberjacks outrebounded the Vikings 39-30.
Portland State made six of its first nine shots. After Coston connected on a 3-pointer with 16:01 left in the first half, the Vikings were up 14-8.
“We wanted to intimidate them early because who knew what they were capable of,” Huff said. “Coston hit his open shots and was a key to the win in both of our games.”
Mount St. Mary’s 68, Sacred Heart 55: At Fairfield, Conn., Jean Cajou and Kelly Beidler each scored 15 points and Mount St. Mary’s earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999.
Jeremy Goode added 13 and Shawn Atupem had 12 for the fourth-seeded Mountaineers, who won the tournament for the third time, but the first under a coach other than Jim Phelan, who won 830 games in 49 years as Mount’s coach. Current coach Milan Brown was an assistant on the last championship team.
Mount St. Mary’s has won eight of its last nine, including a win over top-seed Robert Morris in the semifinals.
Brice Brooks had 18 points and Drew Shubik had 13 to lead Sacred Heart.
No. 25 Marquette 67, Seton Hall 54: At New York, Jerel McNeal scored 21 points and No. 25 Marquette (23-8) held Seton Hall scoreless over the final five minutes in the first round of the Big East tournament.
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IN THE DANCE
Teams in the NCAA Tournament:
Austin Peay, Ohio Valley Conference
Belmont, Atlantic Sun Conference
Butler, Horizon League
Cornell, Ivy League
Davidson, Southern Conference
Drake, Missouri Valley Conference
George Mason, Colonial Athletic Association
Mount St. Mary’s, Md., Northeast Conference
Oral Roberts, Summit League
Portland State, Big Sky Conference
San Diego, West Coast Conference
Siena, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Western Kentucky, Sun Belt Conference
Winthrop, Big South Conference
