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Portland, OR – A big early lead almost got away from Portland State, but some key defensive plays in the final minute allowed the Vikings to beat Northern Colorado, 69-65, in the Big Sky Conference opener at Viking Pavilion. 
 
PSU was up 22 points in the first half, however Northern Colorado was able to trim that down to one point in the late moments before the Vikings came away with the win.
 
Portland State opens Big Sky play at 1-0 and is now 7-6 overall this season. The Bears drop to 7-5, 0-1 as PSU breaks their four-game winning streak.
 
Lamar Hamrick had a career-high 16 points in 16 minutes off the bench for the Vikings. Holland "Boo Boo" Woods scored 15 and set Portland State's career assists record along the way.
 
The opening 15 minutes belonged to Portland State. The Vikings made their first five shots by all five starters, racing to a 10-0 lead in three minutes. They led 22-6 a little more than eight minutes into the game. The Viking lead was 37-15 with 5:59 left in the half. At that point, PSU was shooting 72% from the field.
 
"When you get up like that (in the first half), kids think you might win by 30 or 40," said Viking Coach Barret Peery. "But as a coach, you go 'no, this is conference play' and you have to keep after it." 
 
Indeed, the good times wouldn't last. Northern Colorado entered the game allowing only 60.7 points and holding opponents to 42% shooting on the season. The Bears clamped down and went on a 14-2 run over the final five minutes of the half to close within 39-29. The Vikings shot 55% overall in the half to 32% for the Bears.
 
The Vikings led 51-40 with 12:42 to play in the game. But again, the Bears made a run, scoring 11 of the next 13 points, drawing within 53-52 with 7:57 to play. A 9-4 rally by the Vikings was capped by a corner three-pointer from Hamrick and PSU was back up by eight with 5:41 to go.
 
Still, the Bears closed within a point inside the final two minutes. Northern Colorado had possession of the ball with a minute to go trailing 66-65. A drive to the rim was rejected by Hamrick, then a second shot was blocked by Alonzo Walker. 
 
Woods finally gained possession of the rebound for Portland State with 35 seconds left. He was soon fouled and sank both free throws with 26.9 seconds to play, putting PSU ahead 68-65. 
 
The Bears came up court needing a three to tie. Bodie Hume let one fly with just under 10 seconds left and again Walker got a piece of the shot. It went out of bounds off the Bears and the Vikings had the ball with under three seconds. Hamrick was fouled, made one of two and the Vikings had the victory secured.
 
PSU finished at 30-59 from the field (51%) and 5-9 from three-point range (56%). They were a ghastly 1-7 at the line before making three of four in the final 30 seconds. 
 
With 14:23 left in the first half, Woods found Walker for a three-point field goal. It was the 422nd assist of Woods career, breaking the record of 421 held by Terry Adolph. The junior guard finished the game with six assists and now has 426 in his 78-game career. 
 
Northern Colorado shot 26-58 (45%) but made only 5-23 from three-point range (22%). 
 
"Those guys had been making 12 threes per game and I thought we really, really defended the way we were supposed to today," said Peery.
 
Hume haunted the Vikings for 22 points. Jonah Radebaugh added 14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds for Northern Colorado.
 
GAME NOTES: PSU has now won three straight at home and is 4-1 at home overall this season… Sal Nuhu scored 10 points with six rebounds and a blocked shot in his first start since November 20… Walker had four blocked shots for the Vikings… "It's a different world with Sal and Alonzo around that rim changing shots. Even when they don't block shots, they change shots," Peery said... PSU ended a five-game losing streak to the Bears… Portland State is home again on Monday night when it takes on Southern Utah (7-4) in another Big Sky Conference game. Tip-off is 7:05 p.m. at Viking Pavilion. A live stream is available at Pluto TV Channel 532, www.pluto.tv and www.WatchBigSky.com. Live stats are available www.ViksLive.com.