ANCHORAGE ? Forward Michael Freeman had 17 points and four blocks Friday to help Hampton overcome a late Portland State rally and advance to the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout title game with a 77-71 overtime win at Sullivan Arena.
The Pirates (3-2) clinched the semifinal victory thanks to 52 percent shooting, while holding the Vikings (4-1) to just 34.3 percent from the field.
PSU was paced by Phil Nelson's 24 points as the 6-foot-7 sharpshooter nailed two of his four three-pointers in the final minute of regulation during a furious Viking comeback.
After going into the half with a seemingly comfortable 32-24 advantage, the defending Big Sky Conference champion Vikings went ice cold in the second half, getting outscored 23-3 in the first 11-plus minutes after the break.
Hampton still led 53-43 with 4:30 remaining before a Dominic Waters trey began the PSU comeback. The Pirates were still up 59-51 with 53 second to play, but the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference squad would miss five of its eight free throws after that.
With Hampton up 62-61, the Vikings couldn't convert a chance to take the lead when Kyle Coston made only one of two free throws with 6 seconds showing. Hampton point guard Jordan Brooks dribbled aggressively downcourt for a final chance in regulation, but the Pirates couldn't get off a shot before the buzzer.
Hampton would never trail in overtime, however, and Kwame Morgan nailed a three-pointer with 1:02 left that made it 71-66. The Vikings never again got closer than three points as they suffered their first loss since losing to eventual national champion Kansas in the NCAA Tournament last March.
The Pirates took advantage of balanced scoring effort for the second straight night, getting six or more points from seven different players. Reserve guard Christopher Tolson scored 16 points, including a twisting jumper in the lane that gave HU the lead in OT, while Morgan tossed in 11 points.
Another Pirate reserve, Dante Harrison, had eight points and led the team with six rebounds.
The Vikings put four players in double figures, including Andre Murray, who had 14 points and seven rebounds. Reserve forward Julius Thomas led PSU with eight rebounds.
Hampton, the first MEAC team ever to visit the 31-year-old Shootout, will face the winner of Friday's late semifinal between Seattle University and San Diego State for the tourney title. Championship tip-off is set for 8 p.m. AST.
PSU gets the SU-SDSU loser in the 5:30 p.m. Saturday 3rd-place matchup.
