STOCKTON, California — In a thrilling matchup on Wednesday, Cole Farrell came off the bench to score 18 points, helping propel Portland State to an 81-75 victory over Pacific.

Farrell also contributed five rebounds, showcasing his versatility for the Vikings, who improved their record to 6-5. His teammate, Shane Nowell, added 15 points to the scoreboard, shooting 33% from the field but capitalizing from the free-throw line with five successful attempts out of six. Isaiah Johnson was another key player for Portland State, finishing the game with 12 points from a combination of four successful field goals and four free throws.

For the Tigers, who dropped to 5-8, Elias Ralph led the way with 15 points along with seven rebounds and three blocks, demonstrating his defensive prowess. Pacific also benefitted from the scoring of Jefferson Koulibaly and Elijah Fisher, both players contributing 15 points to the team’s efforts.

Portland State started strong, leading at halftime 43-29. During this period, Nowell managed to score ten points. The decisive moment of the game came when Farrell drove for a layup with just over five minutes remaining in the second half, giving his team a crucial 64-62 lead which they managed to maintain until the final buzzer.

Both Portland State and Pacific will look to continue their campaigns when they return to the court on Saturday. Portland State is set to face CSU Bakersfield, while Pacific will take on Idaho at home.