Portland, OR – Jorell Saterfield got his groove back, and that was a good thing for the Portland State Vikings. Behind a big performance from Saterfield, PSU held off a pesky George Fox team for its eighth win of the season, 83-77.
 
Saterfield posted a season-high 25 points on 8-15 from the field, 4-9 from three-point range and 5-6 at the line. He nearly racked up a triple-double for the Vikings, adding a career-high tying 10 rebounds and a career-high eight assists. It was a welcome effort from Saterfield, who had struggled with his shot in recent games.
 
All of those numbers were needed for Portland State, who never trailed, but also never got too comfortable. PSU led by as many as 20 points, but were also up by just five in the closing seconds.
 
"I think Jorell took good shots tonight and did a little of everything," said Viking Coach Jase Coburn. "But that is where his growth has come this season. Last season, he was kind of just a scorer. But moving forward he has done a better job with defense, rebounding, making the right plays and leadership. I couldn't be more proud of how far he has come."
 
In the end, Portland State shot well enough - .456 from the field and .737 at the line – and dominated the glass with a 49-31 advantage. But an uncharacteristic 14 turnovers, and some timely late shooting by the Bruins kept it close.
 
The win moves the Vikings to 8-2 on the season, tying their best 10-game record in school history, set four times previously.
 
Make no mistake, despite being a Division III program, George Fox was always going to be a tough out. Like the Vikings, the Bruins entered the game with a 7-2 record.
 
They love to play at pace as attested by their 90.7 point per game average. This game suited the Bruins as it was up and down the floor, and they were able to convert Viking turnovers into 16 points.
 
In the first half, the much bigger Vikings took advantage inside. They scored readily in the paint and grabbed the rebound edge. PSU led 39-32 at intermission behind nine points, seven rebounds and five assists from Saterfield.
 
Early in the second half, the Vikings gave themselves some breathing room with a 13-point run.
 
Portland State's biggest lead was 69-49, but the Bruins kept fighting. George Fox came back with a 16-2 run of its own, closing the deficit to 71-65 with 5:17 to play.
 
It was nervous time for the Vikings who have never lost to a lower division opponent under Coburn. But Saterfield had an answer, hitting a pair of three-point field goals in the next 60 seconds.
 
George Fox stayed within reach but PSU made just enough plays to hold the Bruins off.
 
"We knew they were a good team. We knew they were not going to quit," said Coburn. "I told the guys the other day that a 20-point lead against a team like this is more like a five-point lead. When you press, run around and create chaos and turnovers the game can change quickly. I have great respect for George Fox, their coach, their players and the way they play."
 
In addition to Saterfield, center Hayden Curtiss and forward Hunter Woods each had double-doubles. Curtiss went for 14 points on 7-8 shooting, grabbed 10 boards and blocked four shots. Woods had 12 points, 11 rebounds and one blocked shot.
 
Keshaun Saunders added 10 points off the bench for the Vikings.
 
Momo Stokes led George Fox (7-3) with 15 points and five assists. Kade Sorenson had 14 points and James Moore scored 11.
 
George Fox shot .414 from the field, made 11-30 three-pointers, but only 8-13 at the free throw line.
 

GAME NOTES

• Portland State had a season-high 25 assists on 31 field goals.
• With an 8-2 record, Portland State has matched its best 10-game start to a season in program history. The Vikings also have matched the best five-game (5-0), six game (5-1), seven-game (6-1) and nine-game starts (7-2).
• So far this season, the Vikings have never lost when: Playing at home (4-0)... leading at halftime (5-0)... out-shooting an opponent from the field (5-0)... scoring 80 or more points (3-0).
• Portland State will go on the road for its next five games. PSU plays at San Diego on Friday, Dec. 15. The next Viking home game is a Big Sky Conference contest against Idaho State on Jan. 11.