PORTLAND — What once was lost, now is found.
Weber State's hopes for a repeat Big Sky title were all but lost after a span of three losses in five games that saw the Wildcats plummet into unfamiliar territory — the middle of the pack.
But after a convincing win over then-conference leader Cal State Northridge Saturday, coupled with losses by both Portland State and Eastern Washington, WSU suddenly finds itself just one game behind the PSU and EWU in the Big Sky standings.
And what do you know, the Wildcats — 14-6, 5-3 Big Sky — play those same two schools this weekend with a chance to reclaim what many think is their rightful spot atopto Big Sky.
"We know what needs to be done, but we can't let ourselves get ahead," WSU coach Joe Cravens said. "Right now, Portland State is the only team in our sights, and that's who we will focus on tomorrow. It doesn't do much good to win Friday, if you lose on Thursday."
In the first game of the Big Sky season, Weber State had a tough battle with the Vikings in the Dee Events Center before pulling away for a 15-point win.
Cravens, however, wants to make sure his team knows PSU isn't going to just bow down and hand another game over without a fight.
"The first game this season was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a 15-point blowout. We had to make a bunch of free throws at the end to hang on," he said. "They are coming off a couple of tough losses on the road, so they will be loaded and ready for us on Thursday."