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Portland, OR - Sacramento State guard Mikh McKinney enhanced his candidacy for Big Sky Conference Player of the Year honors with a 21-point night, leading the Hornets to a 73-60 win over Portland State at the Stott Center.

McKinney scored 12 of his 21 in the second half, making 4-6 from the field and 4-4 at the line. He scored eight points down the stretch as the Hornets broke away from a 49-49 tie with 8:53 left in the game. 

McKinney's play neutralized what started as an electric night in front of a sellout crowd for the Vikings. PSU battled the first-place Hornets for 32 minutes, never trailing by more than five. 

But after Iziahiah Sweeney hit three-pointer with 8:53 left to tie the game at 49-49, Sacramento State took over. The Vikings were down 53-51 with 7:04 remaining. At that point McKinney scored six points in a 12-1 run to break it open for the Hornets. Sacramento State then made 10 straight free throws in the final 1:28 of the game to hold off PSU.

The loss ended a three-game winning streak for the Vikings and hurt them in the Big Sky Conference standings. They dropped to 8-8 and sixth place. Portland State is 14-12 overall. Meanwhile the Hornets held on to first place as they are one step closer to a first-ever Big Sky title. Sacramento State is 19-8 on the season, 13-3 in the Big Sky and one-half game ahead of Montana (13-4).

Tiegbe Bamba had a big game for the Vikings, scoring 13 points, grabbing eight rebounds and handing off a season-high five assists. Collin Spickerman also played well inside, setting a new Portland State record with seven blocked shots. He scored nine points and had six rebounds.

Also in double figures for the Vikings was DaShaun Wiggins with 11 points and six rebounds.

It was a tight and tense first half as neither team could put together an extended run. Sacramento State's largest lead was five points and the Vikings largest lead was two.

Sacramento State's extended zone defense troubled the Vikings, who committed an uncharacteristic 12 turnovers in the half. The Hornets capitalized with 14 points off the turnovers to lead 31-27 at the break. PSU led once early in the second half and tied the game three times before the Hornets took control.

PSU shot .458 from the field, .333 from three-point range and .750 at the line. However, 17 total turnovers cost them 20 points for the Hornets.

Sacramento State shot .463 from the field, making only three three-pointers, but were a brilliant 20-22 at the line (.909). The Hornets had only six turnovers. 

In addition to McKinney's 21, Dylan Garrity scored 15 for Sacramento State. Nick Hornsby had 10 points and eight rebounds. 

GAME NOTES: Portland State played without starting forward Braxton Tucker who sat out with a deep thigh bruise suffered in the Vikings' previous game… Collin Spickerman set a Portland State school record with seven blocked shots. The previous mark was six, set four times including once by Spickerman earlier in the season… Gary Winston tied a career-high with eight assists for the Vikings… PSU finished its home schedule at 9-4… Sacramento State beat the Vikings, 64-60, on Feb. 7 in Sacramento… Portland State goes on the road next week, playing at Northern Arizona on Thursday, then Southern Utah on Saturday. Live video, audio and stats are available at GoViks.com by clicking on the Game Day box.