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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Portland St. stuns Gonzaga

Associated Press

SPOKANE, Wash. — Portland State had not beaten a Top 25 team since reinstating its basketball program in 1996-97, and there weren't many signs the Vikings figured to do it against No. 7 Gonzaga last night.

They barely made it to the game because of winter weather. They had lost 10 straight to the Zags, and two of their last three games overall.

But Jeremiah Dominguez scored 25 points and the Vikings made 12 3-pointers to beat the Zags, 77-70.

"This is a big statement for us," said Dominguez, a 5-foot-6 senior. "This program is building."

Dominguez was 7-of-10 on 3-pointers, and the Vikings made 12-of-31 as a team. Phil Nelson and Dominic Waters, a former University of Hawai'i player, added 16 points each for Portland State (9-3), which is 1-11 against nationally ranked opponents.

"We got what we deserve," coach Mark Few said. "They outhustled us, outrebounded us and outplayed us."

Matt Bouldin had 18 points and Josh Heytvelt added 13 for Gonzaga (8-3), which has lost three of four.

This game was almost called off because an epic snowstorm has snarled travel throughout the Northwest. With flight cancellations and highway closures, Portland State took a roundabout route to Spokane. They bused to Seattle, overnighting in the suburbs. Then they bused across the state and arrived in Spokane about 3 1/2 hours before game time. They did not have time for a practice shootaround, but still ended up shooting 45.9 percent.

"Maybe that's the way to do it," Portland State coach Ken Bone joked. "This game was very close to not being played."

It was the Zags' third home loss in 58 games since the McCarthey Athletic Center opened in 2004.

No. 9 Texas 74, Wisconsin 69: A.J. Abrams scored 21 points and Gary Johnson banked in a jump shot with 23.5 seconds left for a three-point lead and visiting Texas (10-2) beat Wisconsin (9-3). Damion James added 18 points and 15 rebounds for Texas.

No. 12 Georgetown 76, Florida International 38: Austin Freeman scored 17 points, Chris Wright had 14 and DaJuan Summers added 13 as Georgetown (9-1) beat Florida International (4-9). Georgetown had a season-high 12 3-pointers.

Butler 74, No. 14 Xavier 65: Matt Howard and Gordon Hayward both scored 19 points, and visiting Butler (10-1) turned back Xavier (9-2). Derrick Brown had 17 points for Xavier.

No. 13 UCLA 113, Wyoming 62: Michael Roll scored 18 of his career-high 25 points in the first half, and host UCLA (9-2) routed Wyoming (9-2). Roll, a 6-foot-5 junior, made his second start in place of the injured Josh Shipp (thumb).

No. 20 Arizona St. 90, Idaho St. 55: Rihards Kuksiks made five of host Arizona State's school-record 17 3-pointers in a win over Idaho State (2-9). James Harden scored 18 points in just 26 minutes for Arizona State (10-1).

No. 23 Minnesota 80, SE Louisiana 71: Reserves Blake Hoffarber and Lawrence Westbrook both scored 15 points to lift host Minnesota (11-0) over SE Louisiana (6-5). Kevyn Green scored 22 points for Southeastern Louisiana.

Illinois 75, No. 25 Missouri 59: Demetri McCamey scored all but two of his 20 points in the first half as Illinois (11-1) won its ninth straight over Missouri (9-2) in the annual Braggin' Rights game at St. Louis. Leo Lyons had 22 points for Missouri (9-2).

WAC MEN

Saint Louis 56, Fresno St. 52: Tommie Liddell III had 19 points and six rebounds to lead Saint Louis (7-5) over Fresno State (5-7) in the third-place game of the Las Vegas Classic. Sylvester Seay paced Fresno State with 18 points and eight rebounds.

New Mexico 76, New Mexico State 62: Tony Danridge scored 22 points to lead host New Mexico (8-5) over New Mexico State (5-6). The Lobos went on an 11-2 run in the first half and took a 31-25 halftime lead.

LOCAL DIVISION II MEN

Brigham Young-Hawai'i 80, Hillsdale (Mich.) 63: Lucas Alves scored 19 points, and Nathan Sims had 16 points and 14 rebounds as the Seasiders beat the Chargers at Cannon Activities Center. Virgil Buensuceso and Tsung-Hsien Chang each added 14 points for BYU-Hawai'i (6-1). Tyler Gerber scored 17 points to lead Hillsdale (5-4).

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