Portland, OR - Well, Portland State ought to have good memories of 2024 as the calendar turns over to a new year. The Vikings routed NAIA Walla Walla, 96-39, at Viking Pavilion on Wednesday afternoon to close out '24 and extend their winning streak to four games. 
 
The Vikings complete their non-conference slate with an easy win and an 8-5 record heading into Big Sky Conference action this weekend. PSU's winning streak is its longest since a five-game streak to open the 2023-24 season.
 
Senior guard Jaylin Henderson led five Vikings in double figures with 24 points. He added six rebounds, three steals and two assists. Senior forward Hayden Curtiss came off the bench for 15 points, a team-high nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots. Also big off the bench was sophomore guard Cole Farrell with 14 points, four steals, three rebounds and two assists.
 
Portland State did exactly what it was supposed to do as the heavily-favored home team. The Vikings blitzed the Wolves from the start, scoring 19 in a row to open the game. PSU soon led 29-2 and settled for a 51-15 halftime advantage.
 
The Vikings forced 18 first-half turnovers and turned them into 30 points in transition. A swarming defense amassed 15 steals and five blocked shots by intermission.
 
Portland State continued the onslaught in the second half. Walla Walla was never closer than 30 points after halftime. 
 
PSU's point total was impressive, but it all came from aggressive defense that finished with 26 steals - including eight from senior forward Terri Miller Jr., which was one shy of the school record. PSU blocked six shots in all and had a 49-31 rebounding advantage.
 
Portland State finished with a .525 shooting mark - aided by 12 dunks, most of the breakaway variety. The only blemish on the Vikings' day was a poor three-point shooting mark (9-33, .273).
 
Walla Walla, a member of the Cascade Collegiate Conference, got nine points and five rebounds from Almonds Sebirokwa. Andrew Vaughn and Soren Dalan each scored eight points.

GAME NOTES

• Portland State improved to 4-1 at home this season.
• Senior guard Shane Nowell scored 12 points with seven rebounds and two steals... junior forward Isaac Brice went for a career-high 11 points... senior guard Qiant Myers had seven of the Vikings' 29 assists... Miller had five assists, six rebounds and four points to go with his eight steals.
• PSU is shooting .498 from the field as a team this season while averaging 83.4 points.
• Cole Farrell has averaged 13.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in the last four games while coming off the bench.
• The Vikings will open Big Sky Conference play on Saturday at Sacramento State. The Vikings and Hornets meet in a 1 p.m. game that can be seen on ESPN+.