Box scorePORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Charles Odum scored 18 points to lead Portland State to an 82-62 victory over Northern Arizona on Thursday night.
Chehales Tapscott had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Vikings (7-8, 1-2 Big Sky). Michael Harthun and Lateef McMullan each scored 12.
Michael Dunn led the Lumberjacks (5-10, 1-2) with 16 points.
Portland State jumped to an 18-5 lead in the first 9 minutes thanks to an 11-0 run and cold shooting by Northern Arizona, which connected on just two of its first 11 shots.
In the second half, the Vikings put the game out of reach with a 17-5 run that provided a 53-33 lead with 14:52 left. Portland State later led by 28 points as it secured its first Big Sky victory.
Northern Arizona was coached by assistant Jay Collins, who filled in for interim coach Dave Brown after Brown became ill and remained at the team hotel.
“We had way too many turnovers,” Collins said. “We prepared for the press, but obviously not well enough. We got down 12 and made a couple mistakes and then they really broke the game open.”
The Lumberjacks cut the Vikings deficit to six points early in the second half before Portland State took control of the game. The Vikings shot 70 percent in the second half, making 16 of 23 attempts.
Dunn's 16 points were a career high. He made two 3-pointers and shot 5 of 7 from the field. Junior Gabe Rogers had 13 points, while Durrell Norman added 11,
“I am really proud of Mike,” said Collins. “He is an effort-guy. He continued to give effort on both ends of the floor. He is a warrior.”
NAU shot just 41.4 percent from the field, while the Vikings finished at 62 percent. The Lumberjacks had 23 turnovers in the game, including 13 in the second half.
The Lumberjacks travel to Eastern Washington to face the Eagles on Saturday. The Eagles lost to Weber State Thursday 76-69. Tipoff Saturday is 7:05 p.m. Arizona time from Cheney, Wash.
