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Portland, OR - Calaen Robinson hit a go-ahead three-pointer and Zach Gengler made a pair of free throws in the closing 19 seconds of the game as Portland State knocked off the University of Portland, 77-75, at the Chiles Center.
Portland State led for the first 35 minutes of the game, then gave it up late in the face of a huge Pilot rally. But down the stretch the Vikings executed offensively and defensively to pick up their third road win of the season.Â
"The only key to the game I had for this team was composure over 40 minutes. Because these games get heated and the crowd can get into it, and we just kept reminding the kids to stay in there," said Viking Coach Tyler Geving. "We executed throughout the game even when we weren't scoring, but we hung with it and got the win."
With the Vikings trailing 72-69, Gengler hit a corner three-pointer against the shot clock to tie it with 2:10 remaining. The Pilots had two possessions and the Vikings one over the next minute and a half, but neither team could hit a shot.Â
Portland State rebounded a Pilot miss with 48 seconds left and set up the decisive play. The Vikings worked the ball around the perimeter before Gengler drove baseline. When the defense collapsed on him he kicked out a long pass to Robinson at the top of the three-point circle. The senior guard calmly swished the three and PSU was up 75-72 with 19 seconds left.Â
Portland raced up court, but Gengler was able to steal the ball from Jazz Johnson. A moment later he went to the free throw line, hitting both ends of the one-and-one. That sealed it as PSU led 77-72 with 4.3 seconds left. Alec Wintering tossed in a harmless three-pointer at the buzzer.Â
The Vikings had control of the game early. Four different players hit three-pointers in opening eight minutes as PSU built a 23-14 lead. PSU's largest lead was 13 before the Pilots cut it to 37-32. Viking guard Bryce Canda's three-pointer to close out the first half had the Vikings ahead 42-33.
Portland State shot 16-30 in the first half (.533) to 11-29 for the Pilots (.379). A 23-12 rebound advantage also helped the cause. De'Sean Parsons had 11 points, while Canda scored eight with eight rebounds.
The Vikings led by 12 as late as 12:45 in the second half when Robinson made a layup. Then the Pilots stormed back on a 21-7 run. Johnson scored seven points for Portland including the tieing basket with 5:18 remaining to play.
Gabe Taylor scored two of his game-high 22 underneath and the Pilots led for the first time with 4:25 left.
Portland State missed nine shots in a row at one point to help Portland back into the game. But over the final three minutes the Vikings made the plays they needed.
Parsons scored 15 points to lead six Vikings in double figures. He added five rebounds and five assists. Canda had his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Robinson scored 13, Deontae North had 12, Gengler scored 11 and Traylin Farris posted 10 points with six boards.Â
The Vikings shot .484 for the game and out-rebounded the Pilots, 37-26.
Taylor had a team-high five rebounds to go with his 22 points for the Pilots. Wintering scored 18.
Portland State is now 6-4 on the season. The Vikings have won three in a row and five of their last six.Â
Portland dropped to 7-4 on the season and saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.
"It was nice to come away with a win against a good team with good players that has won some good games," said Geving.
GAME NOTES: The Viking win stopped a five-game losing streak to the Pilots. PSU's last win in the series was also at the Chiles Center in 2009… PSU went 3-1 against the four West Coast Conference teams it faced, with all four games coming on the road… Portland State plays its final non-conference game on Thursday when it hosts Walla Walla. Tip-off is at an earlier 5:05 p.m. Live video and audio are available at www.GoViks.com.
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