Montana beats Portland State 74-68 in Missoula as Vikings lose top scorer to ejection

Montana hands Portland State a 74-68 Big Sky road loss

Montana defeated Portland State 74-68 on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula, a result that tightened a late-season Big Sky Conference race and halted Portland State’s attempt to secure outright positioning at the top of the standings.

The Vikings entered the game leading the conference and with only a handful of regular-season dates remaining. Montana, playing at home, opened with a fast start and carried a 30-28 advantage into halftime after scoring the game’s first nine points and briefly conceding the lead late in the opening period.

Second-half turning point: a run and a disqualification

The decisive swing came early in the second half. Montana opened the period with an 11-1 run to build separation, and during that stretch Portland State leading scorer Terri Miller Jr. was ejected on a Flagrant 2 dead-ball technical foul following contact to Montana’s Brooklyn Hicks. Miller had been the focal point of Portland State’s offense in recent games and entered the matchup as the team’s top scorer.

With Miller out, Portland State’s scoring burden shifted to its remaining ball-handlers and frontcourt rotation. The Vikings continued to compete down the stretch, but Montana maintained control through the middle portion of the second half and managed the final possessions to close out the six-point win.

What the outcome means for Portland State’s stretch run

The loss dropped Portland State to 18-10 overall, while Montana improved to 16-14 overall. The game also completed a season sweep for Montana in the head-to-head series, after the Grizzlies won 64-60 in Portland on Jan. 29, 2026.

Portland State’s closing-week priorities remain centered on tournament positioning. With two regular-season games left at the time of the matchup, the Vikings’ route to securing the conference’s top seed depended on finishing the final road swing with a win in either Missoula or at Weber State. The setback in Missoula increased the importance of the remaining game and reduced the margin for error in the race.

Key facts from the game

• Final score: Montana 74, Portland State 68.
• Date and venue: Feb. 28, 2026, Dahlberg Arena (Missoula, Montana).
• Halftime: Montana led 30-28.
• Major in-game incident: Portland State guard Terri Miller Jr. was ejected in the second half on a Flagrant 2 dead-ball technical foul.
• Season series: Montana won both meetings (64-60 on Jan. 29 in Portland; 74-68 on Feb. 28 in Missoula).

The game’s early second-half sequence combined an 11-1 Montana run with the disqualification of Portland State’s leading scorer, reshaping the final 15 minutes.

Portland State now turns to its remaining regular-season finale with conference seeding still in play, while Montana’s win strengthened its late push entering postseason week.