Portland State Vikings lose triple-overtime thriller at Eastern Washington

CHENEY, Wash. (AP) -- Jacob Wiley and Bogdan Bliznyuk tied NBA veteran Rodney Stuckey's single-game school scoring record with 45 points apiece and Eastern Washington outlasted Portland State 130-124 in triple overtime on Saturday. The game set Big Sky Conference...

Portland State Vikings lose triple-overtime thriller at Eastern Washington

CHENEY, Wash. (AP) -- Jacob Wiley and Bogdan Bliznyuk tied NBA veteran Rodney Stuckey's single-game school scoring record with 45 points apiece and Eastern Washington outlasted Portland State 130-124 in triple overtime on Saturday.

The game set Big Sky Conference records for most points by a team and combined points.

De'Sean Parsons had 35 points and Deontae North 30 for Portland State, both career highs.

Wiley opened the third overtime with a 3-point play and added two free throws after a Bliznyuk basket before fouling out. The Eagles used a 7-0 run, all coming on Bliznyuk free throws, to push the lead to 10. Blizynuk had 12 points in the extra session. It was his two free throws with 5.2 seconds left that tied the game at 110 in the second overtime after North knocked down a 3-pointer for the Vikings with 14.7 to go.

Portland State's Traylin Ferris had a putback at the buzzer of the first overtime to tie the game at 97. Wiley's free throw with 58 seconds left was the last score of regulation, tying the game at 86.

Eastern Washington (16-8, 8-3 Big Sky) led 39-26 at halftime as Wiley, who had 38 points on Thursday, scored 15 and Cody Benzel went 4 for 4 behind the arc.

The lead reached 16 but the Vikings (11-10, 4-6) had a stretch of making 15 of 18 shots, the last four 3-pointers.

The Eagles, who are 5-1 in overtime with a record 10 overtime periods, finished at 56 percent (44 of 78) with Wiley going 18 of 23 to go with 17 rebounds. Bliznyuk had 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Parsons was 14 of 17 from the field and North as PSU finished 45 of 84 (54 percent).

Stuckey, in his 10th year in the NBA, had 45 points on Jan. 5, 2006.

Portland State University release

CHENEY, Wash. -- In a game that defies true explanation, Eastern Washington outlasted Portland State, 130-124, in triple overtime at Reese Court.

The Vikings' De'Sean Parsons was nearly unstoppable during regulation play, posting a career-high 35 points on 14-17 shots from the field. And Deontae North was part of a lively late-game effort, scoring 30 points, with 16 coming in the overtimes. But the Eagles had a pair of 40+ scorers as Jacob Wiley went for 45 points, hitting 18-25 from the field, and grabbing 17 rebounds before fouling out. Bogdan Bliznyuk also finished with 45 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

The game was the highest scoring by two teams in Portland State history with 254 points. Twice previously PSU was involved in games that totaled 243 points - one a win and one a loss - though both were regulation contests.

Victims of a late rally by Sacramento State and overtime loss at the Hornets Nest last week, the Vikings nearly turned the tables this week. PSU was down six with 1:48 to play to the Eagles but forged a tie in regulation and stretched the game to three overtimes.

Unfortunately, it ended in loss for the Vikings, their fourth in a row, as they dropped to 11-10 on the season, 4-6 in the Big Sky. The Eagles improved to 16-8 and 8-3.

Parsons kept the Vikings in the game in the first half, hitting 6-6 shots for 12 points. PSU trailed 39-26 at halftime. 

The biggest deficit was 46-30 early in the second half half. But the Vikings made a run back at the Eagles, and the final 10 minutes of the half were tight. 

The Eagles appeared in good shape with 1:48 left and an 85-79 lead. The Vikings needed only 41 seconds to take a lead back. North hit a three-pointer, then Parsons made a steal and a layin. After an Eastern Washington miss, Traylin Farris scored a basket inside and it was 86-85 Vikings. 

On the other end, Wiley made one of two free throws to tie the game at 86-86. Each team had two possessions in the final minute. The Vikings missed twice, while the Eagles had one miss and a turnover.

PSU got out to a 94-90 advantage in the first overtime. Felix Von Hofe's three with 1:10 left gave the Eagles a 95-94 lead. North again tied the game by hitting one of two free throws with 36 seconds left.

Wiley scored inside with nine seconds left and Eastern had a two-point advantage. But Farris kept the game alive for the Vikings when he tipped in a Calaen Robinson miss at the buzzer, once again tying it at 97 and sending it to a second overtime.

It appeared North had given the Vikings a chance to win late in overtime number two. His three-pointer with 17 seconds left put PSU ahead 110-108. Bliznyuk was then fouled on a drive and converted two free throws with five seconds to play, sending it to a third overtime.

Unfortunately, Parsons and Farris fouled out in the final minute of the second overtime, leaving the Vikings without their inside starting tandem. Eastern Washington was able to take advantage. The Eagles jumped to a five-point lead in extra period number three. PSU cut the lead to 119-116 before Bliznyuk made seven straight free throws. Down 10 inside the final minute, the Vikings were were finally done.

It was a dynamic offensive performance for both teams. Portland State shot .536 from the field (45-84) as Eastern Washington shot .564 (44-78). The Eagles were 34-43 at the free throw line (.791). PSU had four players foul out of the game.

Farris scored 18 points, while Bryce Canda added 13 and Robinson posted 11.

GAME NOTES: Parsons performance marked his second straight game with a career scoring high. He had 23 points at Idaho on Thursday. North scored 29 points in that game... this was Portland State's third overtime game of the season and second double overtime... it was PSU's fifth game of 100 points or more this season... the Vikings are now 4-8 on the road... Portland State returns home next week to host Idaho State on Thursday, then Weber State on Saturday. Both games tip off at 7:05 p.m. at the Stott Center. Live video can be found at www.GoViks.com/Live. Live stats are at www.ViksLive.com.

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