Vikings shoot down Pilots

Late-game heroics by senior guard Dominic Waters led the Portland State men’s basketball team to an 86-82 upset over the Portland Pilots at the Chiles Center on Wednesday.

Aided by a Vikings defense that prevented the Pilots from scoring any field goals in the final four-and-a-half minutes of the game, Waters scored 16 of his 23 total points in the last eight minutes to lead Portland State to victory after trailing by 12 points.

Waters shot six of 11 from the field, three of four from long range and eight of eight at the free-throw line. He also tied his career best of nine assists.

The Vikings finished the game sinking 29 of 55 field goals for .527 shooting, and their 15 three-pointers ties the record at the Chiles Center.

Junior guard Melvin Jones finished with 17 points after shooting six of 15 from the field with five three-pointers. Forward Jamie Jones led the Vikings with 11 rebounds, a season high for the senior.

Junior forward Phil Nelson chalked 13 points, while junior forward Phil Guede sank four of his five attempts, nailed all three of his three-pointers and a free throw for 12 points.

The victory brings Portland State to 2-4 on the season and is the fourth consecutive win over the cross-town rivals, and second straight at the Pilots’ court.

Portland State begins conference play at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, when they host Eastern Washington at the Stott Center.