(Portland, Ore. - Nov. 30, 2024) - The Trailblazers rallied from a double-digit halftime deficit to nearly come back on Saturday night at Portland State falling 71-68 to the Vikings at Viking Pavilion.

"I love how we fought, we did not quit. We started to play defense like we want to. They are fast and quick. We had chances, but getting down that early was tough to come back from," head coach Jon Judkins said after the tough loss.

Utah Tech (2-7) was led by a third straight double-double from Beon Riley. The senior guard tied his career high with 22 points to go along with 12 rebounds, one shy of matching his career high, two assists, a block and a steal.

Redshirt senior guard Justin Bieker, a Portland native, registered a career-high 19 points in his return to his hometown, and added a career-best six rebounds, while adding a pair of steals and an assist.

Senior guard Noa Gonsalves recorded his team-leading seventh double figure contest adding 15 points, including three from long range, adding four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

How It Happened
The opening half saw Portland State (4-3) jump all over the Trailblazers at the outset leading 16-1 after the first five minutes.

A three-pointer from Bieker ignited a 14-6 run for Utah Tech to get the Blazers back within seven after a three-point play from Riley made it 22-15 in favor of PSU with 7:40 to play in the first half.

A quick 7-0 run for the Vikings pushed the home team's lead to 14 (29-15), but a quick 9-3 run for UT, capped off by a trey from Bieker, made it 32-24 with 2:33 left in the opening half.

The Vikings took a 37-26 lead to the break and Portland State kept a double figure lead through the first 16 minutes of the second half.

With the Vikings leading 68-57 with four minutes to play, the Trailblazers ripped off an 11-0 run to knot the game at 68 apiece with 1:44 to go.

Seven points came from Bieker and layups by Rainwater and Gonsalves keyed the run. A pair of free throws by PSU 20 seconds after UT tied the game broke up the Trailblazers surge.

A pair of free throws attempts by Rainwater with six seconds remaining came up short as a last-second three-point attempt from Britton Berrett that would have forced overtime came up short for the tough loss for Utah Tech.

Numbers to Know

• It was the first-ever meeting between the Trailblazers and Vikings.
• Riley became the first-ever Trailblazer in the NCAA era to record three straight double-doubles. It was his fourth double-double this season and sixth in his career and he has now reached double figures in scoring in six games and rebounding in four games this season.
• Bieker also set career highs in field goals made with eight and three pointers made with three.
• Utah Tech shot a season-best 47.5 percent (29-61) from the floor and 38.4 percent (7-18) from three-point range. The Trailblazers shot a season-low 27.3 percent (3-11) from the free throw line.
• Gonsalves in now only three three-pointers shy of setting the all-time career mark at Utah Tech.
• The Trailblazers dished out a season-best 18 assists while Portland State's eight blocks were the most by a UT opponent this season.
• Utah Tech led the game in points off turnovers (18-7), points in the paint (42-38) and fast break points (11-6).

Up Next
The Trailblazers stay on the road opening the month of December on Tuesday night traveling to Boise State (5-2) for a 7 p.m. contest on the Mountain West Network and The Fan Sports Network.