Box Score
Laramie, WY - In a game between teams that couldn't shoot straight, Charles Odum came to the Vikings rescue. His career-high 27 points led Portland State to a 66-48 win over Louisiana Tech on the second day of the Wyoming Jim Thorpe Classic.

Odum sparked a mid-game 35-12 run, turning a 19-9 deficit into a 44-31 lead. From there the Vikings rolled to their third win of the season (3-2).

For the second straight night the Vikings started poorly on offense. PSU made just three of their first 19 shots, including 0-10 from three-point range. It was 19-9 with 7:27 left in the half and the Vikings appeared to be in serious trouble.

Then Odum led a 14-1 run to close out the half, scoring eight points in the rally, and PSU went to halftime leading 23-20.

Remarkably, the Vikings were 0-12 from three-point range at halftime, but Louisiana Tech was also 0-10. PSU hit just 8-29 shots (.276) but the Bullogs were worse at 9-35 (.257), missing their last 13 shots of the half.

Odum had 12 points at halftime. He scored eight more in a 21-11 run to open the second half. By the time Gary Winston hit PSU's first three-pointer with 11:26 to play, PSU was ahead 44-31.

The Bulldogs were never closer than seven after that and the Vikings led by as made as 22 with just over three minutes to go.

Odum's 27 points came on 9-14 shooting and 9-9 at the free throw line. His only misses were from three-point range (0-5). The senior guard added four rebounds and three steals.

"Charles just willed us to a win tonight. He is big-time, but that is what he is capable of doing. That is why he was All-Big Sky Conference," said Viking Coach Tyler Geving.

Chehales Tapscott grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds - the most by a Viking in four years - and added 11 points, four steals and three blocked shots.

The Vikings shot better in the second half, but still finished at just 37% (20-54). Free throw shooting was Portland State's saving grace. PSU made 24-27 for the game (.889), including Odum's perfect 9-9.

Portland State's 48 points allowed were the fewest by an opponent in 77 games, dating back to the 2008-09 season.

"I had feeling we would get off to a slow start after getting beat up the night before (in a loss to Wyoming)," said Geving. "We had some open looks (early), we just didn't make them. But I don't think anyone panicked. We played some good defense tonight."

Louisiana Tech finished with a dismal 19-74 shooting performance for a .257 mark. Michale Kyser scored 10 points to lead the Bulldogs, who dropped to 2-2 on the season.

GAME NOTES: It was no surprise the Vikings struggled to shoot well as Louisiana Tech came into the game holding opponents to .398 from the field an .243 from three-point range… PSU is now 18-28 all-time against teams from the Western Athletic Conference, and 1-1 against the Bulldogs… Louisiana Tech won its first game in the Wyoming Jim Thorpe Classic, beating Maryland-Eastern Shore, 73-54… Portland State faces Maryland-Eastern Shore tomorrow on the final day of the Jim Thorpe Classic. Tip-off is 2:30 p.m. PT. The game can be heard on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com.