North Dakota cruises past Portland State in Big Sky tourney

Mar 9, 2017, 06:30 pm

RENO, Nev. -- Corey Baldwin had his first career double-double, Quinton Hooker scored 17 points with seven assists and No. 1 seed North Dakota cruised to a 95-72 win over Portland State on Thursday in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.

Baldwin, a senior guard, finished with 18 points -- including six 3-pointers -- a career-high 10 rebounds and five assists. Geno Crandall scored 15 with seven assists, Cortez Seales also had 15 points, Carson Shanks added 12 -- on 6-of-6 shooting -- and Conner Avants scored 10 for North Dakota.

The Fighting Hawks will play No. 4 seed Idaho or fifth-seeded Montana in the semifinals Friday.

Baldwin hit a 3-pointer to make it 7-4 and North Dakota (20-9) led the rest of the way. Baldwin made back-to-back 3s to spark a 17-2 run that made it 38-15 when Hooker hit a 3-pointer with 8:12 left in the half and the Vikings (15-16) trailed by double figures the rest of the way. Crandall scored five points during an 11-0 run that gave the Fighting Hawks their biggest lead, 87-57, with 3:53 remaining.

Bryce Canda had 12 points and Deontae North scored 11 for No. 8 seed Portland State.

UND shot 56 percent from the field, including 11 of 20 from 3-point range, and hit 18 of 19 free throws.