Portland State handles North Dakota 82-75

Jan 10, 2015, 05:30 pm

GRND FORKS, N.D. -- Braxton Tucker scored 20 points Saturday and Portland State held off a second-half surge by North Dakota to win 82-75, snapping a two-game losing streak and ending a five-game road skid.

DaShaun Wiggins scored 18, Bryce White 12, and the Vikings (8-6, 2-2 Big Sky) outrebounded North Dakota 41-27.

White opened with a 3, sparking a 15-6 Vikings run, but North Dakota rallied and Jaron Nash pulled them within two, 20-18, with a layup. The Vikings led 31-22 at halftime after an 11-4 run.

Wiggins hit back-to-back 3s and the Vikings pulled to a 50-37 second-half lead, but North Dakota again rallied, closing within two, 75-73, after a layup and free throw by Nash with 1:07 left. Tucker hit a jumper and the Vikings scored seven points in the final 38 seconds to seal the win.

Quinton Hooker led North Dakota(5-10, 1-3) with 18, Nash had 16, and Terrell de Rouen 13.