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Boise, ID – Having struggled on offense at times this season, the Vikings relied on their defense in getting a 91-75 win over Northwest Nazarene in the Vandal Holiday Hoops Showcase at Century Link Arena.
 
Although Northwest Nazarene is an NCAA II member, the Nighthawks came into the game at 5-0, shooting .524 for the season, and fresh off a 77-73 win over Idaho on Friday. However, the Vikings full-court trapping pressure established the tone early and all but gave PSU the win.
 
The Vikings raced to a big lead as Northwest Nazarene committed nine turnovers in the first eight minutes. That propelled PSU a 23-5 advantage and the Nighthawks never got back into the game.
 
When NNU did get shots up, it couldn't convert, making only one of its first 18 attempts. In the first half the Nighthawks were 6-30 from the field (.200) and Portland State cruised to a comfortable 48-23 lead.
 
Derek Brown hit 5-7 shots from the field for PSU in the opening period on the way to 13 points. The Vikings also had a decided 32-20 edge on the backboards.
 
Portland State grew its lead to 64-34 five minutes into the second half. Northwest Nazarene improved its shooting, but was never closer than 20 points until the final moments.
 
PSU improved to 3-2 on the season, splitting its two games at the Vandal Holiday Hoops Showcase.
 
The starting backcourt of Holland Woods and Brown led the Vikings with 16 points each. They combined to make 5-10 three-pointers, grab eight rebounds and make four steals. Woods added a season-high nine assists to his ledger. Brown tied his career scoring high.
 
The Vikings continued to get solid play off the bench from Michael Nuga and Sal Nuhu. Nuga scored 15 points on 6-10 shots in only 17 minutes. Nuhu had season highs of 12 points (4-4 FG) and nine rebounds with two blocked shots.
 
Brendan Rumel grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds for the Vikings. Robert McCoy added 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
 
PSU was 33-76 shooting for the night (.434) and a much-improved 11-26 from three-point range (.423). The Vikings held NNU to 22-60 from the field (.367) and out-rebounded the Nighthawks, 51-42.
 
Adonis Arms scored 18 points and had six rebounds to lead Northwest Nazarene, now 5-1.
 
GAME NOTES: Portland State had never played Northwest Nazarene, an NCAA II member… PSU has now won 34 straight games against lower division schools… Nuga had 28 points in the two games in Boise. Nuhu had 23 points and 15 rebounds… the Vikings are on the road again next Wednesday at Stanford in a game televised on the Pac-12 Network.