Flagstaff, AZ - An unlikely hero stepped up in the second half for the Portland State Vikings as they pulled out a big road win at Northern Arizona: free throw shooting. The Vikings pulled out an 80-69 Big Sky Conference victory over the Lumberjacks at JL Walkup Skydome with a 21-4 rally and then by making their free throws when they counted.
 
The Vikings were 13-16 at the line in the second half (.813) and 19-24 for the game (.792). While those numbers aren't earth shattering, they are very good and the best that PSU has shot at the line in a difficult free-throw shooting season (just .624 entering the game).
 
In fact, the Viking offense was solid across the board, shooting 27-58 (.466) from the field, 7-15 from three-point range (.467) and committing a season-low four turnovers.
 
Five Vikings scored in double figures, led by 14 points and 11 assists from Qiant Myers. Cole Farrell scored 13 points off the bench, while big men Isaiah Johnson, Tre-Vaughn Minott and Terri Miller Jr. all had 12 points.

The win earned PSU a road split on the difficult Northern Colorado/Northern Arizona trip. The Vikings improved to 11-7 on the season. They are in third place in the Big Sky at 3-2.

"So proud of our team, it's really hard to win on the road," said Vikings Coach Jase Coburn. "Our guys really stepped up in their own way. Shane Nowell was huge for us tonight. I'm happy for him to get it going, he is a tremendous person. Cole has been stepping up at the right times for us all year and Jaylin Henderson's defense tonight was a huge key. He sacrificed for the team and took the challenge. This was a true team win."
 
PSU grabbed the lead off the top and held it for almost the entire first half. But it was never more than seven points. The 'Jacks were able to close in and take their first lead at 32-31 just before halftime on a three-pointer by Monty Bowser. A Miller Jr. jumper just before the halftime buzzer put Portland State back on top, 33-32, at intermission.
 
Going into the game, the Lumberjacks featured the nation's number-two scorer in Trenton McLaughlin (22.7) and number-two rebounder in Carson Towt (11.8). PSU held McLaughlin to a single point in the first half as he was 0-5 from the field. Towt was a different story with 10 points and 10 rebounds by the break.

Johnson paced the Vikings with eight points and six rebounds by halftime.
 
PSU trailed 36-35 early in the second half. That's when Farrell sparked a 21-4 Viking run over a span of six minutes. He had eight points, two rebounds and a steal in a rally that put Portland State ahead 56-40 with 11:22 to play.
 
The Vikings knew the Lumberjacks wouldn't give up on their home court. And they didn't, but NAU could never pull closer than seven points as the Vikings remained efficient on offense and hit their free throws down the stretch.
 
Towt had 14 points and 19 rebounds for the 'Jacks. Diego Campisano led the way with 18 points. McLaughlin was held to seven points on 2-11 from the field.
 
Northern Arizona dropped to 11-8 on the season with the loss. The Lumberjacks are now 2-4 in the Big Sky play.

GAME NOTES

• Qiant Myers had his fifth double-digit assist game of the season and fourth double-double.
• Tre-Vaughn Minott had three more dunks and now has 36 on the season.
• The Vikings are 4-5 on the road this season.
• PSU has won six of the last seven games against NAU, 11 of the last 15.
• Portland State returns home to host Weber State on Thursday night at Viking Pavilion. Game time is 7 p.m. and it can be seen on ESPN+. Tickets are available at GoViks.com.