Forte, Parsons lead Portland St. by Northern Colorado 74-67
RENO, Nev. (AP) Cameron Forte had 26 points and 12 rebounds for his 12th double-double this season, De'Sean Parsons scored a career-high 21 points and eighth-seeded Portland State beat ninth-seeded Northern Colorado 74-67 in the opener of the Big Sky tournament on Tuesday.
The Vikings (13-17) play top-seeded Weber State in the quarterfinals Thursday.
An eight-point run got the Bears (10-21) within three before seven free throws in the final minute sealed the win for the Vikings.
Forte scored nine points in an 11-2 run to take lead a 19-11 and led 36-30 at halftime. A 16-6 run gave the Vikings a 16-point lead with 15:40 left.
Zach Gengler added 12 points for Portland State, which was only 3 of 15 from the arc but made 23 of 31 free throws, including 11 of 14 by Parsons.
Jordan Wilson scored 20 points, Anthony Johnson 17 and Jordan Davis 13 for the Bears, who only got to the free-throw line 13 times, making nine.
Portland State has won four straight and five of its last six.