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Portland, OR - When met with the challenge, Portland State beat CSU Bakersfield at its own game. The Vikings out-defended the Roadrunners, holding them to 30% shooting, and won 65-59 at the Stott Center.

Bakersfield came into the contest holding its previous eight opponents to 39% shooting and outrebounding them by more than five per game. And after an initial Viking spurt, the Roadrunners cracked down on defense against PSU as well. 

But led by big man Collin Spickerman, Portland State played some defense of its own. Spickerman blocked a school-record tying six Bakersfield shots, and the Vikings held the 'Runners to only 30% from the field (18-60) while forcing 15 turnovers.

"We told the guys it was going to be a game like this in the 60s," said Viking Coach Tyler Geving. "Bakersfield does a great job of defending and they are very stingy at the rim."

"We tried to shut down their "bigs" inside and we did a pretty good jump of that, forcing them to have to hit some jumpers and three-pointers."

Geving acknowledged the impact that Spickerman is having on the Viking defense this season and in this game. "Collin is a rim-protector and he affects the game at the rim. That is something we haven't had in a while, maybe since Scott Morrison. When you have a guy like that who can make up for some defensive mistakes it really makes a difference."

The Viking win stopped a three-game losing streak and improved the preseason record to 5-3. PSU is 3-0 at home.

Portland State scored the first 10 points of the game and expanded that lead to 17-3 with less than seven minutes played. Eventually though, the Roadrunner defense kicked in, and the Vikings went cold. The 'Runners made just three of their first 19 shots, but hit three three-pointers in the final four minutes of the half to close the deficit to 29-24 at intermission.

CSUB shot only .250 from the field in the half. And after PSU's hot start its shot just .407. Fortunately, Viking forward Braxton Tucker made 5-6 shots and had 14 points by halftime.

Portland State quickly pushed the lead back up to 11 early in the second half and maintained that lead most of the way. Behind a late surge from Aly Ahmed, Bakersfield was able to trim the lead down to four on a couple of occasions in the final 90 seconds of the game. However, the Vikings made 9-10 free throws in the closing two minutes to hang on for the win.

Tucker led PSU with a career-high 18 points, hitting 7-10 from the field and 4-6 at the line. The Viking sophomore also blocked two shots. 

DaShaun Wiggins added 13 points, a career-high nine rebounds and four assists. Tiegbe Bamba also scored 13, while Gary Winston put up 12 points and handed out five assists. Winston also made five of six free throws in the final minute.

Spickerman had six points, six rebounds, two steals and the six big blocked shots.

PSU finished the game at 20-48 from the field (.417), 5-17 from three-point range (.294) and 20-25 at the line (.800).

In addition to shooting .300 from the field, Bakersfield was 9-31 from behind the arc (.290) and 14-18 at the line (.778). 

Ahmed had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead CSUB. Cortez Conners scored 15 points.

The Roadrunners (1-8) lost their fourth straight game. Seven of their eight losses have been by seven points or less.

GAME NOTES: Portland State, which has started smaller lineups in recent seasons, went with its biggest lineup in some time against the Roadrunners. Collin Spickerman (6-9), Tiegbe Bamba (6-6) and Braxton Tucker (6-6) all started as Head Coach Tyler Geving went with his fifth different starting five in eight games… Spickerman leads the Vikings with 17 blocked shots this season... PSU has won five straight home games dating to last season… the Vikings are 38-6 in non-conference games at home over the last nine years, 23-6 against Division I opponents… SO G Zach Gengler (ankle), SO G Bryce White (left hip, leg) and JR C Dorian Cason (plantar fasciitis) were unable to play against Bakersfield… the Vikings travel to the University of San Francisco for a game on Wednesday night, then round out preseason play with a home game against Walla Walla on Dec. 22 at 6 p.m. Live video, audio and stats for both games can be found at GoViks.com by clicking on the Game Day box.