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Portland, OR – Deante Strickland scored a career-high 20 points as Portland State put on a three-point shooting clinic at the Viking Pavilion, beating Idaho State, 99-93.
 
PSU made a season-high 15-28 three-pointers for a season-best .536 mark. It was enough to outshoot another talented long-range team in the Bengals, who were 13-26 (.500) from distance.
 
Strickland made 7-10 shots from the field, including 5-6 three-pointers, and dished off six assists. He was part of a bench group that scored 63 of the Vikings' 99 points. Michael Mayhew was also key with 5-8 from long range, matching his season high with 17 points in 16 minutes. Rashaad Goolsby had a season-high 15 points, making 5-7 from the field and 5-5 at the line. Michael Nuga scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
 
"Seeing five guys score in double figures and 63 points off the bench, I was really pleased with that. I feel like everybody contributed and found a way to effect the game," said Viking Coach Barret Peery. "Give Idaho State a lot of credit. They had to adjust their lineup with (center Kelvin) Jones not being here. We had prepared all week for him. But they brought in five guys that can drive the ball and shoot the ball."
 
It was another important win for Portland State as it makes a post-season push for a high seeding in the Big Sky Conference. PSU won its third game in a row and is now 7-8 in the Big Sky, 12-14 overall. With the win, Portland State moves within ½ game of sixth place (Southern Utah, 8-8) in the Big Sky and within one game of fifth (Eastern Washington, 8-7).
 
Idaho State was hindered by the absence of starting center Kelvin Jones (personal) and three-point specialist off the bench, Gary Chivichyan (flu). But that didn't prevent the Bengals from getting off to a hot start.
 
Jared Stutzman scored nine quick points, hitting a pair of three-pointers, and ISU was ahead 13-7 five minutes into the game.
 
Enter Strickland, who came off the bench for a scintillating 28 minutes of action. The senior guard scored 11 points in his first four minutes of action, hitting four straight shots, including three three-pointers. The last triple finally gave the Vikings a 17-16 lead.
 
The game remained close throughout the half as the teams exchanged deep shots. Idaho State's zone defense dared the Vikings to shoot threes... and they did so very well. PSU buried 9-17 three-pointers (.529) in the first half. However, a three by ISU's Sam Dowd gave Idaho State a 49-47 lead at the break.  
 
The Bengals made 7-12 from distance (.583) and took advantage of a free throw advantage (12-17 to just 2-2 for Portland State) to get the lead. Stutzman and Brandon Boyd had 14 points each for the Bengals. Strickland had 13 for the Vikings.
 
A three-pointer by PSU forward Jamie Orme to start the second half gave the Vikings the lead back at 50-49. PSU never trailed again, eventually opening a lead as large as 75-60 with 12:15 remaining.
 
Idaho State finally clamped down on defense, going on a 10-2 run over the next five minutes. The Bengals never got closer than seven points until the final seconds when they hit back-to-back three-pointers.
 
"I thought the guys did a fantastic job coming out of the locker room in the second half, setting the tone and getting the gap we needed to finish it off," said Peery.
 
Portland State shot 35-68 overall (.515) and was 14-19 at the free throw line (.737). Just as important was a 44-32 advantage on the backboards. The Vikings scored 23 second-chance points on 15 offensive boards.
 
Holland Woods scored 16 points, also shooting it well with 6-10 from the field and 2-3 three-pointers. He handed out a game-high eight assists.
 
Boyd and Stutzman finished with 24 points each for the Bengals. ISU made 28-61 from the field (.459) and 24-34 at the line (.706).
 
With the loss Idaho State dropped to 9-16 overall, 5-11 in the Big Sky.
 
GAME NOTES: Sal Nuhu led the Vikings with 13 rebounds and blocked three shots… Portland State is 9-5 at home this season and has won five straight home games… PSU has averaged 93.3 points in the first three games of the home stand, shooting over 53% from the field… Idaho State won the first meeting between the teams, 69-67, on Feb. 2 in Pocatello… Portland State hosts Sacramento State on Saturday night at Viking Pavilion. Tip-off is 7:05 p.m. and it will be live streamed on Pluto TV and www.WatchBigSky.com. Live stats are available at www.ViksLive.com.