Portland State upset a ranked opponent for the second straight season. Weber State ended an eight-game losing streak against in-state rival Utah, and Sacramento State edged arch rival UC Davis. Wednesday was a very good night for Big Sky Conference men's basketball teams.
Portland State, which stunned Gonzaga last season in Spokane, went across the Rose City and upset the Portland Pilots 86-82. Portland was ranked 25th in this week's Associated Press poll. Senior guard Dominic Waters scored 23 points and dished out nine assists. Melvin Jones scored 17 points, hitting five first-half 3-pointers.
Portland State led 74-62 with 9:20 to play, but the Vikings went on a 21-6 run that included 12 points from Waters.
Sophomore guard Damian Lillard scored a career-high 28 points as Weber State beat Utah of the Mountain West Conference 83-76 at the Dee Events Center, snapping an eight-game losing streak to the Utes. Weber State trailed by as many as 14 in the first-half, but clawed back to cut the deficit to three when Darin Mahoney closed the first half by banking in a 3-point shot at the buzzer.
Weber State did not commit a turnover in the second half. Utah led 69-65 with 4:58 to play, but the Wildcats responded with a 9-0 run highlighted by a 3-pointer from Lillard with 2:18 remaining. Lillard hit six free throws late to seal the win.
Lillard dished out seven assists, and senior post Steve Panos scored 20 points.
Over in Davis, Calif., Sacramento State won its fourth game of the season - doubling its win total from last season - with a 59-57 win over the Aggies. UC Davis missed three shots in the final eight seconds.
John Dickson scored 14 points to lead the Hornets. The Hornets shot 53 percent from the floor, and held the Aggies to 33 percent shooting.
Sacramento State went 2-27 last season and didn't win a road game. So far, this season, the Hornets are 4-4 with a road win over Oregon State of the Pac-10.
Portland State 86, Portland 82
Weber State 83, Utah 76
Sacramento State 59, UC Davis 57