PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland State used an 8-2 run over the final 1:43, including huge 3-pointers from Calaen Robinson and Bryce Canda, on the way to an 83-76 victory over Sacramento State in a Big Sky Conference basketball game Saturday evening at the Stott Center.

Playing in front of a sparse crowd due to brutal weather conditions outdoors, Sacramento State cut Portland State's lead to one point (75-74) on a Marcus Graves layup  with 2:05 remaining. However, Robinson buried perhaps the biggest shot of the game on the Vikings' next possession to make the score 78-74 with 1:43 left. A Justin Strings driving layup put it back at a one-possession game (78-76) with 46 second left, but Canda provided the dagger with a fading 3-pointer from the corner to put the game away and give PSU an 81-76 lead with 23 seconds remaining.

In a game which featured 15 ties and 14 lead changes, no team led by more than four points the first 27:50 of the contest. After the Hornets took their largest lead of the game on a 3-point play by Strings at 58-54 with 10:40 left, the Vikings immediately responded with a 19-4 run over the next 4:33 to take a game-high 73-62 lead with 5:57 remaining. During the PSU spurt, Sacramento State had turnovers on four straight possessions and the Vikings scored six points off those miscues.

However, Sacramento State answered with a 12-2 run, punctuated by Graves' layup to cut the lead all the way down to 75-74. Five Hornets scored during the run which could have been even bigger had the Hornets not missed a pair of free throws. However, the 3-balls from Robinson and Canda proved too much and the Hornets missed three of their last four field goal attempts while also committing a turnover during the final 1:28 of the contest.

With the loss, Sacramento State dropped to 3-11 overall and 0-3 in the Big Sky. The Hornets' record is the team's worst mark after 14 games since the 2010-11 squad had the same record. Sacramento State is also in danger of seeing its run of securing at least 14 wins in four consecutive seasons come to an end. The Hornets dropped to 3-19 all-time when playing the Vikings at the Stott Center.

Portland State improved to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in the Big Sky while also moving its record to 6-1 at home. Each of the Vikings' first three conference games have come at home, including a win over North Dakota and a loss to Northern Colorado.

Sacramento State was playing the first of a three-game road trip which will see the Hornets play at Southern Utah on Thursday and Northern Arizona on Saturday of next week.

The Hornets shot well from the field, converting on 50 percent (25-50) of their attempts from the field and a season-best 62 percent (8-13) from the 3-point line. Sacramento State also went 18-of-26 (.692) from the free throw line, the team's second highest number of free throw makes and attempts this season. However, Portland State also shot well, converting on 53 percent (28-53) from the field, 39 percent (9-23) from distance and 78 percent (18-23) from the free throw line. That included 14-of-18 from the charity stripe in the second half.

Sacramento State held a 31-24 edge on the glass, marking the first time all season the Hornets have lost a game when outrebounding their opponent (3-1). A big reason for the Hornets' loss tonight were the turnovers as Sacramento State committed 14, including nine miscues in the second half. Usually a team that takes care of the ball (11.7 turnovers per game entering tonight), Sacramento State fell victim to a 17-8 Portland State advantage in points off turnovers. In the end, especially considering the miscues on four straight possessions late in the contest, turnovers proved to be the difference in the game.

For the Hornets, Strings led all players with 25 points. The third-year junior forward played all 40 minutes while shooting 9-of-20 from the field, 4-for-7 from the 3-point line and 3-for-3 from the free throw line. He has scored at least 22 points in four of the last seven games, and over that span, is averaging 17.3 points per contest. Senior center Eric Stuteville recorded his third double-double in the last five games, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds on 4-of-7 shooting from the field and 5-for-9 from the free throw line.

Also scoring in double figures was true freshman Izayah Mauriohooho-Le'afa who had a season-high 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field and 3-for-3 from distance in 37 minutes. After being held scoreless five straight games, the guard has combined for 28 points over the last three games. Forward Nick Hornsby added 10 points and six rebounds and Graves had nine points and six assists in 38 minutes. Hornet starters combined to score 68 points in the game, as freshmen Chibueze Jacobs (five points, two rebounds) and Joshua Patton (two points, three rebounds) combined for seven of Sacramento State's eight points off the bench.

Portland State had five players score in double figures, comprised of Traylin Farris (19 points, 13 rebounds, two steals), Canda (15 points, 5-of-10 from the 3-point line), Deontae North (15 points), Zach Gengler (14 points, four assists) and Robinson (11 points, five assists, two steals). North provided 15 of PSU's 22 points off the bench.

Next week, the Hornets will take on Southern Utah on Thursday at 5:35 p.m. PST, and Northern Arizona on Saturday at 11:35 a.m. PST.