Keyon Kensie Jr.’s 24-point second-half surge lifts Portland State past Montana State in Big Sky race

Portland State protects first place with defensive stand and late run

Portland State men’s basketball held off Montana State 63-54 on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Viking Pavilion, using a second-half scoring surge from junior guard Keyon Kensie Jr. and a defense that disrupted one of the Big Sky Conference’s most productive offenses.

The matchup carried immediate stakes in the league standings. Portland State entered the day at 7-1 in conference play and Montana State at 7-2, making the game a head-to-head battle for first place. With the win, the Vikings improved to 14-6 overall and 8-1 in the Big Sky, while the Bobcats fell to 13-10 and 7-3.

Kensie takes over after slow start

Kensie finished with a career-high 24 points, adding six rebounds, four assists and five steals. His production tilted heavily to the final 20 minutes: 18 of his 24 points came in the second half, when Portland State’s offense found rhythm after a sluggish opening stretch.

Portland State began 2-for-14 from the field and had eight points through the first 11 minutes. Despite the early inefficiency, the Vikings edged ahead 23-21 at halftime in a game defined by contested looks and limited perimeter success.

Defense and turnovers shape the outcome

Portland State’s defense was central to the result. The Vikings held Montana State to 19-of-56 shooting (33.9%) and limited the Bobcats to 5-of-25 from three-point range. Montana State entered the game averaging more than 10 made three-pointers per contest and 79.2 points per game, but finished 25 points below that scoring average.

Portland State recorded 10 steals, turning those takeaways into 16 fast-break points. Kensie accounted for five steals, including four in the second half, helping to fuel transition opportunities at key moments.

Turning point: an 11-2 run in the final eight minutes

Montana State stayed within striking distance deep into the second half and trailed only 48-46 with just under eight minutes remaining. Portland State then separated with an 11-2 run, sparked by steals leading to breakaway baskets and capped by timely scoring from multiple Vikings.

• Terri Miller Jr. scored 16 points and added five rebounds.
• Kelcy Phipps provided 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting off the bench.
• Jaylin Henderson contributed 11 rebounds and eight assists despite a five-point night.

For Montana State, Patrick McMahon and Jeremiah Davis scored 16 points apiece. Jed Miller added 12 points and seven rebounds.

Portland State’s win marked a milestone crowd at Viking Pavilion: 1,795 fans, the largest home attendance of the season and the most for a home game in six seasons.

Portland State’s next game is scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026, at home against Idaho State.