Boxscore - HTM | PDF
Malibu, CA - This time the Vikings closed the deal.
Behind Calaen Robinson's team-high 22 points and an opportunistic defense, the Portland State Vikings captured their first road victory of the season, beating Pepperdine, 91-85, at Firestone Fieldhouse.
It was a terrific road performance - and also a relief - after letting two previous road contests get away. PSU held an eight-point lead at Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 13 only to lose in double overtime. Then on Friday night, PSU had a one-point halftime lead at Loyola Marymount, but came away losers in that game.
This time, things were different. And it might have taken a little convincing from Head Coach Tyler Geving. After a poor start allowed the Waves to jump to a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes, Geving called a timeout. He switched the Viking defense to a zone and the results came almost immediately.
The Vikings got back into the game by forcing turnovers. PSU had five steals that were converted into 10 points midway through the half. It was finally tied it at 25-25 on a steal and layin by Zach Gengler at the 7:30 mark.
PSU took its first lead, 36-35, with 3:21 left in the first half on a pair of free throws by De'Sean Parsons.
By halftime, the Vikings had nine steals and had forced 12 Pepperdine turnovers. Those were converted into 14 points and PSU led 44-39.
The only thing the Vikings couldn't do was stop the Waves' Chris Reyes inside. The 6-7 forward made 7-7 shots for 14 first-half points.
Both teams shot it well with PSU at 51% at halftime, and Pepperdine at 59%
Calaen Robinson had a dozen points by halftime, with Deontae North and Traylin Farris combining for 13 off the bench.
Portland State continued to shoot it well in the second half, making 16-29 (.552) from the field. The Vikings never led by more than 10, but did not trail for the last 23 minutes of the game. The closest the Waves came was 87-83 with 38 seconds left to play. But the Vikings made 9-10 free throws in the last 2:18 of the game, this time preventing a comeback by the home team.
For the game, PSU forced 20 turnovers for 29 points. The Vikings had a season-high 15 steals. They scored 21 fast break points and outscored the Waves, 56-38, inside the paint.
Robinson led the way with 22 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals. He was one of six Vikings to score in double figures.
Bryce Canda scored 16 points with five rebounds and three steals. Farris added 13 points off the bench. Parsons finished with 12 points, five rebounds and career highs of nine assists and four steals.
Gengler and North each scored 10 points.
PSU shot .530 from the field, .412 from three-point range and .778 at the free throw line.
The Waves shot .516 and made 11 three-pointers but were undone by turnovers. Reyes finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds. All-West Coast Conference guard Lamond Murray Jr. scored 19 points with eight rebounds. Knox Hellums also scored 19 points.
Portland State improved to 2-3 on the season, while the Waves dropped to 4-3.
GAME NOTES: PSU is now 1-3 on the road this season… the Vikings have won all three meetings with the Waves under Coach Geving. The all-time series between the schools is tied, 3-3… the Vikings will be off until next Saturday when they host Texas Rio Grande Valley of the Western Athletic Conference. Game time is 4:35 p.m. at the Stott Center. It will be the second game of a doubleheader featuring the Viking women vs. UC Irvine at 2 p.m.
