Portland State's Julius Thomas broke free for a dunk with 3.5 seconds left to lift the Vikings to their second consecutive Big Sky title and NCAA tournament berth. Montana State had trailed by 10 points until staging a late rally and tying the game on a 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining. Last season, Portland State drew a No. 16 seed in the NCAA tournament, losing to eventual national champion Kansas 85-61 in the first round.
Weber State was the run-away winner of the regular-season title, rolling to a 15-1 league record, but was upset by Montana State in the semifinals. The Wildcats, who ended the regular-season on a 12-game winning streak, were seeking their second Big Sky tournament title in three years and ninth overall.
