Boxscore

Pocatello, ID - Chris Harriel had a highlight-reel second half on his way to a career-high 25 points, leading Portland State to its first Big Sky Conference road win, 79-72, at Idaho State.

Harriel scored 19 in the second half alone and had a late three-point flurry that iced the win for the Vikings.

PSU's revived three-point shooting game and career-highs from Harriel and Charles Odum, who had 21 points, improved the team's record to 8-6, 1-1 in the Big Sky.

The Vikings made a season-high 14-25 (.560) from three-point range. It was a welcome return for the Vikings' long-range shooting as PSU had made just 20-77 (.260) from distance in its previous three games.

Both teams started slow offensively, but the Vikings had the advantage of hitting four three-pointers in the opening 10 minutes for a 14-10 lead.

The Vikings were held scoreless the next three minutes with ISU taking a 15-14 lead. But PSU went on a 17-8 run to close out the half. Odum scored 10 of his 15 first-half points during the run.

Odum hit 6-8 shots in the half, including 3-4 three-pointers in leading PSU to a 31-23 lead.

PSU played excellent defense, holding ISU to 7-22 from the field (.318) and forcing 10 turnovers.

Harriel then took charge of the second half, scoring eight quick points as the Vikings pushed their lead to double digits. PSU had its largest lead at 12 points with 16:53 left, and though it grew no larger, the Vikings controlled the game the rest of the way.

After Idaho State closed the deficit to five points with 3:12 to play, Harriel buried three straight three-pointers to seal the win. The sophomore guard made 9-17 shots from the field overall, and a career-best 7-11 from three-point range for 25 points.

Said Harriel: "It was nice. It was my chance to step up and I was feeling it. I know how to shoot the ball and I was just letting it go."

"Unbelieveble," Viking Coach Tyler Geving said of Harriel. "The (three-pointer) with about a minute-and-a-half left - it was 'no, no, no'… great shot, Chris! That gave us a ten-point lead and we had the game at that point."

Odum hit 8-10 shots from the field on his way to 21 points. Melvin Jones added 14 points for the Vikings.

For the game, PSU made 27-51 from the field (.529). More important, the Vikings hit 16-26 in the second half (.615). Odum and Harriel made 9-12 shots after halftime.

Idaho State shot 23-51(.451) from the field. The Bengals finished with 18 turnovers while the Vikings had only nine.

PSU never had an answer for 7-foot center Deividas Busma of Idaho State. The Bengal big man had 22 points and 11 rebounds. But, the Vikings held ISU's leading scorer, Broderick Gilchrest, to 2-8 shooting and eight points.

Idaho State dropped to 5-9 on the season, 1-1 in the Big Sky Conference.

GAME NOTES: Harriel was the reigning Big Sky Conference Player of the Week going into the game... Head Coach Tyler Geving made another change to his starting lineup, putting SR F Tree Thomas in the post in place of JR C Nate Lozeau… the Vikings are 8-7 all-time in Pocatello in Big Sky games, the best road record at any Big Sky opponent… PSU has won 10 of the last 12 games in the series... Portland State will have five days off before its next game. The Vikings host Eastern Washington on Saturday at the Stott Center. The game, a part of the Dam Cup series, tips off at 7:05 p.m.