Hooker leads North Dakota past Portland State 82-73

Mar 4, 2017, 08:54 pm

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Quinton Hooker scored 29 points and snagged six steals to lead North Dakota to an 82-73 win over Portland State on Saturday, clinching the top seed in next week's Big Sky Conference tournament and the regular season title.

Geno Crandall added 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for North Dakota, which shot 52 percent from the field and controlled the glass 35-22. Hooker finished 10 of 18 from the field and hit all seven of his free throws.

In a close game, North Dakota (19-9, 14-4) took the lead for good with Corey Baldwin's 3-point play early in the second half to go up 51-49. Conner Avants then got a dunk to spark a 7-2 spurt and the Fighting Hawks held on as Portland State twice trimmed the gap to two down the stretch.

North Dakota sealed it with five straight free throws in the final 39 seconds.

Traylin Farris led Portland State (14-15, 7-11) with 17 points and Calaen Robinson had 15.