Boxscore – PDF
 
Los Angeles, CA – The absence of Sal Nuhu from the Portland State lineup for nearly a month created a difficult challenge for the Vikings. The senior center proved the impact he can make on Thursday night, scoring 18 points with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots, leading the Vikings to a 76-66 win over Loyola Marymount.
 
Nuhu saw limited time in a Tuesday loss at Pepperdine – his first game back from a sprained ankle since Nov. 20. The 6-8 center was able to assert himself against the Lions though while playing in only his sixth game of the season.
 
"That was easily Sal's best game of the year," said Viking Coach Barret Peery. "To have him in there and being a factor means a lot to us and what we do."
 
The win for the Vikings wraps up their non-conference schedule with a 6-6 record, slightly better than last season's 5-6 non-conference mark. The game was played in the Galen Center on the campus of USC. It was moved due to the Democratic National Debate taking place simultaneously on the Loyola Marymount campus.
 
"I'm really proud of the guys finishing the preseason the way they did. It was hard fought for us through all the injuries we have had, so finishing it up on the road with a convincing victory is really satisfying," said Peery.
 
Portland State came out on fire offensively, taking an early lead and building it to more than 20 at halftime.
 
Markus Golder hit a pair of early jump shots, staking the Vikings to a 13-4 start over the Lions. When Matt Hauser hit a pull-up jumper at the 11:35 mark, PSU was up, 26-12.
 
PSU's offensive onslaught continued through the half. Holland Woods and Kyle Greeley hit back-to-back three-pointers, followed by a Nuhu dunk to cap a 15-2 run and pushing PSU's lead to 47-23. At that point, the Vikings were shooting 71% from the field.
 
Portland State went into halftime with a 51-29 advantage on 18-26 field goals (.692) and 6-10 from distance (.600). Nine different Vikings had already scored and Woods already had seven assists.
 
PSU didn't shoot it as well in the second half, but was able to hold the Lions off. LMU could get no closer than 15 until the closing moments of the game, and were never closer than the final deficit.
 
Nuhu was particularly strong in the second half, getting 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots after intermission.
 
He wasn't the only Viking to play well though. PSU finished at .500 shooting from the field and out-rebounded the Lions, 39-35. Portland State also had a strong defensive effort. LMU entered the game shooting .520 as a team, which ranked third in the nation. But the Vikings limited the Lions to 25-64 from the field for a .391 mark. The 66 points allowed were the fewest to a Division I opponent this season.
 
Woods finished with eight points and eight assists for the Vikings. Alonzo Walker, also recently returned from injury, had 10 points on 4-6 from the field and 2-2 at the line, with four rebounds.
 
The Viking bench continued to play well, scoring 43 points. In addition to Nuhu's 18, Greeley scored 10 points.
 
Eli Scott, the Lions star forward, was a one-man wrecking crew with 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
 
LMU dropped to 5-7 on the season with the loss.
 
GAME NOTES: PSU's last appearance at the Galen Center was also a win. The Vikings beat USC, 76-68, on Nov. 15, 2014… in this last three games, Kyle Greeley has averaged 12.0 points, shooting 11-14 from the field (.786), 7-9 from three-point range (.778) and 7-7 at the free throw line… PSU is now 2-5 on the road this season… the teams were playing for the fourth year in a row and split the four games… the Vikings begin Big Sky Conference play next Saturday, Dec. 28, at the Viking Pavilion. PSU will host Northern Colorado in a 2:05 p.m. game. The Vikings host Southern Utah on Dec. 30 in a 7:05 p.m. game.