Utah
Weber State dominates both ends of the ball in blowout win over Portland State
Weber State welcomed Portland State to the Dee Occasions Middle in Ogden, Utah, on Jan. 19, 2023. (Bayleigh Schroeder, Weber State Athletics)
Estimated learn time: 3-4 minutes
OGDEN — The ultimate rating confirmed a powerful 16-point win for Weber State over Portland State, however even that margin would not totally depict the dominance the Wildcats confirmed on their dwelling flooring in what was the group’s most full sport of the 12 months.
The Vikings (8-11, 2-4 Huge Sky) received the opening tipoff and the free-throw battle, however that was about it on Thursday night time. The Wildcats (9-10, 4-2 Huge Sky) flexed their muscle groups in a method they’d but to do all season.
Sophomore ahead Dillon Jones did what he is completed all 12 months, however kicked it into one other gear as he got here two assists shy of Weber State’s first triple-double in almost 23 years. Jones completed with 17 factors, and led all gamers with 14 rebounds and eight assists in simply 29 minutes of enjoying time.
Weber State head coach Eric Duft subbed Jones out with a bit of greater than seven minutes left to go within the sport and the Wildcats holding onlo a 28-point lead. He mentioned he did not know Jones was near a triple-double when he pulled him from the sport.
“I did not see the stats,” Duft mentioned. “I in all probability ought to have had him in there, however he performed awfully good.”
The 6-foot-6 ahead usually leads the group in a number of statistical classes, together with assists, and is the group’s major playmaker when he is on the court docket. He got here into the competition averaging 3.8 assists per sport, however when his teammates make photographs like they had been towards the Vikings, it is not onerous to succeed in the numbers he did.
As a group, the Wildcats shot 57% from the sphere and 56% from the 3-point line.
Initially of the sport, 4 completely different gamers recorded a bucket as Weber State jumped out to a fast 9-2 lead. By the top of the sport, 4 out of the 5 starters scored in double figures. The group was led by Steven Verplancken’s game-high 19 factors on 5-of-6 capturing from behind the arc.
For a group that is constructed on — and takes pleasure in — its protection, the offensive outpouring was a welcome signal for the Wildcats, who have not at all times been constant of their scoring, particularly in convention play. The Wildcats put up a season-high 51 factors within the first half on 64% capturing from the sphere and 60% from behind the 3-point line. The group additionally had 11 assists on 18 made baskets.
“You’ve got simply gotta keep constant together with your basis,” Jones mentioned. “You are gonna miss and make photographs; it is a miss or make sport, it is simply that easy. … However you gotta preserve that very same basis and that very same confidence realizing that if you happen to miss it, it have to be since you’re gonna make some later.”
The Vikings did not have a lot of a solution for something the Wildcats did offensively on Thursday.
Weber State discovered success inside and outside with heart Alex Tew, who has developed all year long and become a formidable presence within the paint. An enormous dunk from the large man has change into a standard prevalence within the Wildcats’ sport highlights, along with his improved publish play.
On the defensive facet of the ball, Weber State did what it does greatest: restrict 3-point shooters and clamp down on guards attempting to drive inside. Portland State shot 39% from the sphere and a meager 27% from the 3-point line. The Vikings had a number of scoring droughts and the margin of defeat would have been higher had they not scored 17 factors within the final six minutes of the sport.
Just one Vikings participant — guard Cameron Parker — scored in double figures with 13 factors, and a big a part of that was because of his 7-of-10 capturing from the free-throw line. The 2 groups shot a plentiful quantity of free throws, with the Vikings outshooting the Wildcats 34-19.
The Wildcats will not have a lot time to rejoice the win earlier than they welcome Sacramento State to Ogden on Saturday — one in all three groups tied for third place within the Huge Sky with Weber State and Idaho State.