Preview of Big Sky semi-final

March 6, 2012

[media-credit id=13 align=”alignright” width=”400″][/media-credit]The Weber State University men’s basketball team will play their first game of the Big Sky Conference tournament on Tuesday night against Portland State University, in Missoula Mont.

WSU is coming into the game after a first round bye, thanks to their second place finish in the Big Sky Conference. The Wildcats last played against the University of Montana in the final game of conference play, losing 66-51.

PSU is riding a seven game win streak, and is coming off a first round win against Montana State University.

The Vikings will likely be led by Charles Odum and Chehales Tapscott. Both Odum and Tapscott were named First Team All Conference at the close of the regular season.

Odum led the team in scoring this season and is second in the Big Sky at 19.0 points per game. He also shot 53 percent from the field and averaged 21 points per game in Big Sky games.

Tapscott is averaging 14.0 points per game this season and leads the team and is averaging 9.3 rebounds per game. He also leads the team in blocked shots and double-doubles.

The Wildcats hold an edge in the all time series history against PSU. WSU has also won eight of the last 10 games. The two teams have met four times in the Big Sky tournament, with WSU winning all four match ups.

In the two regular season games, the Wildcats knocked off PSU 88-81 and 92-79. In those two games, both teams shot well from the field with WSU shooting 54 percent, and the Vikings shooting 50 percent.

This season, Damian Lillard has played well against the Vikings, averaging 39 points, five assists and three rebounds in the two games.

Scott Bamforth also performed well against PSU this season, contributing 18 points and six rebounds during the regular season.

The winner of the semi final game will play in the championship game Wednesday night for the right to play in the NCAA Tournament.

WSU or PSU will take on the winner of UM and Eastern Washington University at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The championship game will be broadcast on ESPN 2.