Boxscore – PDF
 
Flagstaff, AZ – Northern Arizona never led until the final three minutes of the game, but that was when it mattered most as the Lumberjacks came from behind to defeat Portland State, 84-82, at JL Walkup Skydome.
 
The Vikings bounced back from a poor offensive showing on Thursday night in Sacramento to take control of the game early and lead for more than 36 minutes. However, a career-high 25 points from Luke Avdalovic, including several key three-pointers in the second half, helped the Lumberjacks come back. At one point, he scored 11 straight points for the 'Jacks including three three-pointers in a row.
 
Still, the Vikings led by six at 76-70 with 4:10 to play after a put-back basket by center Sal Nuhu. Then, Northern Arizona ran off seven points in a row to take its first lead at 77-76.
 
Ian Burke answered with a three-pointer for Portland State with 2:43 to play. That grabbed the lead back for the Vikings at 79-77. But the Vikings wouldn't make another field goal in the game.
 
NAU made 5-6 free throws and a put-back layin down the stretch. Brooks DeBisschop made the second of two free throws with 6.4 seconds to go giving NAU the 84-82 lead. The Vikings inbounded to point guard Holland Woods, who race the length of the court to put up a runner in the lane. It bounced off the back rim and out as the final horn sounded.
 
Nuhu continued his torrid play for the Vikings, compiling his third straight double-double. He scored 18 points on 8-11 field goals and grabbed 15 rebounds to tie his career high. Nuhu also made a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left to pull the Vikings within 83-82.
 
Woods had 16 points and seven assists for the Vikings. And PSU continued to get excellent play off the bench. Lamar Hamrick scored 15 points, Kyle Greeley had 11, and Rashaad Goolsby grabbed six rebounds, blocked two shots and scored five points.
 
Portland State played a strong first half and set the tone from the start. The Vikings raced to a 17-3 lead in the first four minutes of the game. NAU closed the gap with 10 straight points, but the Vikings maintained control throughout the half and led by as many as 15 at 40-25.
 
The Lumberjacks went on a 12-5 run in the final four minutes to cut Portland State's halftime lead to 45-37.
 
The 'Jacks slowly closed the gap early in the second half. A DeBisschop dunk with 12:53 to play tied the game at 56. Portland State then responded with a 10-1 run led by Woods, who scored on an inside basket and followed it with a three-pointer, and PSU led 66-57.
 
After that, Avdalovic went on his 11-point run for the Lumberjacks, setting up the exciting closing moments.
 
Portland State made 30-60 shots from the field and 9-20 from three-point range. The Vikings were 13-20 at the free throw line. They won the rebound battle, 37-32, however the Vikings also committed 10 of their 15 turnovers in the second half.
 
With the loss, PSU is 10-12 on the season, 4-6 in the Big Sky Conference.
 
Avdalovic made 9-13 shots, including 7-11 three-pointers. Bernie Andre scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for NAU. The Lumberjacks were 30-64 from the field, 10-25 free three-point range at 14-18 at the line.
 
The Lumberjacks won their third game in a row. They are now 10-7 on the season, 4-4 in the Big Sky Conference.
 
GAME NOTES: Nuhu had his fourth double-double of the season… the Vikings missed second-leading scorer Matt Hauser for a sixth straight game due to an ankle sprain… the Vikings are 3-10 on the road this season… Portland State returns home to host first-place Montana on Thursday night at the Viking Pavilion. The game will be televised on Eleven Sports and live streamed on Pluto TV, www.pluto.tv and wwwWatchBigSky.com. Live statistics are available at www.ViksLive.com.