Portland St. has 7 score in double figures, tops North Dakota

PORTLAND — Calaen Robinson had 18 points and seven assists, De’Sean Parsons scored 16 and grabbed seven rebounds and Portland State beat North Dakota 99-62 in the Big Sky opener for both teams on Thursday night.

Zach Gengler and Deontae North each scored 14 while Traylin Farris, Brandon Hollins and Bryce Canda added 10 points apiece.

Parsons hit a jumper 15 seconds in and Portland State (8-4) never trailed. Six Vikings scored during a 16-0 run that made it 34-10 with eight minutes left in the half. A 3-point play by Quinton Hooker pulled North Dakota within 13 but Portland State scored the next 19 to make it 75-43 with nine minutes remaining.

Conner Avants scored 16 on 8-of-9 shooting and Hooker added 12 points for North Dakota (5-6). The Fighting Hawks made just 4 of 22 from 3-point range and 6-of-19 (32 percent) free throws.

Portland State has had at least five players score in double digits in nine of its 12 games. The Vikings shots 56.5 percent from the field, including 13 of 28 from 3-point range. They have won five in a row and seven of their last eight.