Cheney, WA – Eastern Washington won for the fifth straight time behind a late rally, beating Portland State, 92-80, at Reese Court. The Eagles were down six with eight minutes to play before going on a 28-10 run down the stretch.
 
Eastern improved to 9-7 overall and at 3-0 in the Big Sky Conference, remains in first place. The Vikings lost for the fifth time in six games as they battle through a nearly month-long stretch of road games. PSU is now 6-9 on the season, 0-2 in the Big Sky.
 
The game will be chalked up as a loss for Portland State but credit the Vikings for their performance against the hottest team in the league while on the road and missing one of their key players.
 
The Eagles shot 30-51 from the field (.588), making 16-31 from behind the arc (.516). Portland State couldn't match those numbers, shooting 31-74 (.419) and 8-28 (.284) from distance.
 
How did the Vikings stay in the game, gaining a second half lead after a slow start? They went to what has become their trademark in recent seasons; offensive rebounding and forcing turnovers. The Vikings turned the Eagles over 20 times for 31 points. They also had 15 rebounds on the offensive glass for 15 points.
 
Portland State found itself down 28-12 in the first half. The Vikings trailed 39-26 with 4:39 to go before intermission. That's when Kendall Munson inserted himself into the action for PSU. Munson scored on inside baskets on the next two possessions - both following offensive rebounds. His effort sparked a 13-4 Viking run to close out the half and whittle down Eastern Washington's advantage to 43-39.
 
Jorell Saterfield warmed up after intermission, scoring 10 points in the row for the Vikings to tie the game at 54. Then Isiah Kirby gave PSU its first lead on a basket in the lane, making it 56-54 with 14:10 to play. The lead grew to six on two occasions as the Vikings were on top for nearly eight minutes. Behind a pair of inside baskets by Isaiah Johnson the PSU lead was up 70-64 with 8:04 to play. That's when the Eagles took off.
 
Eastern Washington shooters had a big night, making eight straight shots from the field and 11-13 at one point in the second half - five of which were three-point field goals. It was a pace the Vikings could not match, making only three first goals the rest of the way.
 
All-Conference forward Steele Venters led Eastern Washington with 25 points. Angelo Allegri added 21 points and eight rebounds. 
 
Saterfield topped the Vikings with 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Hunter Woods scored 15 points and Bobby Harvey had a dozen points with six rebounds off the bench.
 
Johnson had 10 points and four rebounds off the bench while Mikal Starks led the Vikings with six assists.
 
PSU played without point guard Cameron Parker who was serving a one-game league suspension following an incident in the post-game handshake line at Sacramento State last Saturday. Parker will return to play Saturday at Idaho.
 

GAME NOTES

• Eastern Washington has won six straight games in the series with Portland State.
• Portland State has yet to play a Division I opponent with a losing record this season. That will finally change this Saturday when the Vikings take on the 6-10 Idaho Vandals in Moscow. Tip time is 2 p.m. and the game can be seen on ESPN+.