RENO, Nev. — Holland Woods scored 11 of his 18 points in the last four minutes to help Portland State hold off Sacramento State 71-67 on Tuesday night in the first round of the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
The sixth-seeded Vikings (20-12) will face No. 3 seed Eastern Washington (18-13) in a Thursday quarterfinal. Portland State has won five of its last six games, and split the regular season series with the Eagles.
The Hornets cut a 17-point, second-half deficit to 60-59 with 3:56 remaining. Woods made a 3-pointer, jumper and four free throws to stretch the Vikings’ lead to 69-64 with 17 seconds left. Kevin Hicks hit a 3 to pull the Hornets to 69-67, but Woods made two more free throws to seal it.
Bryce Canda added 16 points and Deante Strickland 13 for Portland State.
Bryce Fowler shot 4 of 5 from long range and scored 16 points to lead Sacramento State (7-25). Hicks finished with 12 points.
