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Greeley, CO - In a game of runs and rallies, Northern Colorado was able to put together one more than the Vikings. The result was a Bears win over Portland State, 90-85, in a Big Sky Conference game at Butler-Hancock Pavilion.

The good news for Portland State was it finally came out of its team shooting slump, hitting 28-53 shots (.528). But the Vikings found a team shooting equally well in Northern Colorado, which made 32-62 from the field (.516). The Vikings also hit 12-19 three-pointers (.631), but the Bears stayed with them, making 11-24 from distance (.458).

The Vikings led by six points with just over eight minutes left in the game, but were outscored by the Bears, 28-17, down the stretch. UNC made free throws in the final minute to hold off the Vikings. 

Gary Winston scored a season-high 19 points for the Vikings and handed off a career-high eight assists. DaShaun Wiggins also scored 19 for PSU.

Cameron Michael posted a career-high 22 points, leading five Bears in double figures.

PSU drops to 7-6 on the season, 1-2 in the Big Sky. Northern Colorado goes to 7-7, 2-1.

Portland State scored the first seven points of the game and led for the first 12 minutes. Trailing 17-14, Northern Colorado mounted an 11-2 run, fueled be three three-point field goals and went up 25-19 at the 5:53 mark of the half. 

PSU tied it briefly at 28-28, but six three-pointers in the last eight minutes of the half got UNC into the locker room with a 40-35 lead. 

Both teams shot well in the first half with the Vikings making 14-25 from the field (.560) and the Bears hitting 16-31 (.516). 

Michael had 13 points in the half for Northern Colorado, making 5-7 from the field and 3-4 from three-point range. Wiggins led the Vikings with 10 first-half points, also making 3-4 from three-point range.

Portland State was down 48-40 with 17:44 left in the game. Winston then started a tying eight-point run, hitting a three-pointer and a driving layin. Northern Colorado answered with a 12-2 run sparked by five points from Tevin Svihovec to lead 60-50.

But again, the Vikings rallied. And this time it was a big one - 15 straight points. Winston had seven points in the rally and his jumper at the 9:27 mark had the Vikings ahead, 65-60.

Michael got the Bears back on top, 69-68, on a jumper with 6:09 left in the game. That was part 10 points in a row for UNC that eventually put them ahead, 72-68. The Bears pulled away from there to get the win.

GAME NOTES: 

• PSU's .528 shooting mark was its best against a Division I opponent this season.
• Tiegbe Bamba scored 15 points with six rebounds for the Vikings.
• PSU is 2-5 on the road.
• The Vikings started Gary Winston, DaShaun Wiggins, Bryce White, Tiegbe Bamba, and Braxton Tucker for the fourth time this season.
• Portland State faces North Dakota in a Noon PT game. Live video, audio and stats for both games are available at GoViks.com by clicking on the Game Day Box.