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Portland, OR - The Vikings are keeping the pressure on and it keeps paying off. The latest example is Monday's 83-79 victory over Utah State at Memorial Coliseum.
Full court pressure staked the Vikings to an 18-point first half lead. Then when Utah State came back to take the lead in the second half, Viking pressure forced nine Aggie turnovers down the stretch that turned the game back PSU's way. After some shaky moments at the free throw line late, Portland State improved to 4-0 on the season.
Guards Bryce Canda and Michael Mayhew led the Vikings with 17 points apiece. Mayhew was starting in place of Deontae North who sat out with an ankle sprain and posted a career scoring high.
The Vikings hit their first three three-point field goals and raced to a 19-9 lead six minutes into the game. Mayhew hit his first two long-range shots and the lead grew from there.
Portland State's trademark pressure had the Aggies scrambling. Utah State shot only 36% in the half and made 1-11 from three point range. The Vikings' full-court pressure forced 10 turnovers which they converted into 20 points. PSU led by as many as 18 and went into halftime with a 45-29 lead.
The Aggies three-point shooting fortunes changed dramatically in the second half, making their first four attempts. That cut the Viking lead to 50-44 with just over 17 minutes to play.
Later, Aggie guard Sam Merrill highlighted a 7-0 run that finally gave the Aggies the lead. Merrill hit a three pointer and a pair of free throws to put Utah State ahead 60-58 with 8:15 left in the game.
But the Viking defense clamped down, forcing five straight Aggie turnovers. That ignited the offense. A pair of Traylin Farris free throws got the Vikings the lead back at 62-61 with 5:48 to play. Then a driving basket by Canda and a fast break jump shot by Mayhew had the PSU lead at 66-61 at the 4:35 mark.
Portland State never trailed again, building the lead to as many as seven. The Vikings were able to weather a .643 second-half shooting performance by the Aggies, including seven three-pointers.
For the game, PSU shot .424 from the field and .706 at the free throw line. The Aggies shot .500 from the field and .577 at the line. In all, Portland State forced a total of 21 Utah State turnovers, good for 27 points.
"I think we played a very ball-conservative, sharp team that we turned over 21 times, which was just enough to win. Our guys got the to the free throw line and made just enough to win," said Viking Coach Barret Peery.
"Utah State did a great job of coming out in the second half and attacking us. They had nothing to lose, let it fly and it went in, so then we had a new game on our hands. We found a way."
Joining Canda and Mayhew in double figures were Holland Woods (12), Traylin Farris (11) and Brandon Hollins (11). Canda grabbed nine rebounds for the Vikings while Deante Strickland handed out seven assists.
Merrill led Utah State, now 2-3, with 23 points. Dwayne Brown Jr. had 13 points and 15 rebounds.
GAME NOTES: The game was the first meeting between the schools in 37 years… PSU is 4-0 for the first time since 2014-15… the Vikings face top-ranked Duke on Thursday in the first game of the PK80 Invitational at Memorial Coliseum. Tip-off is 1:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN.
