Wolf Pack edges Portland State

The Nevada Wolf Pack found yet another way to win a basketball game Wednesday night at Lawlor Events Center.

Eric Cooper and Marqueze Coleman each connected on key 3 -pointers in the final three minutes as the Wolf Pack outlasted the Portland State Vikings 76-73 in their home opener.

Cooper’s three broke a 67-67 tie with 2:30 to play and Coleman’s three with the shot clock winding down gave the Pack a 75-70 lead with 30 seconds left.

The Wolf Pack improved to 4-1 while Portland State fell to 2-2.

Coleman led the Wolf Pack with 21 points for his fourth consecutive game of 20 or more points. A.J. West had 16 while D.J. Fenner had a dozen. Cameron Forte led Portland State with a game-high 23.

Forte’s lay-up tied the game at 67-67 with 3:40 to go. The Vikings had earlier taken a 60-59 lead after a 9-0 run with just under seven minutes to play.

Cooper, who had 11 points, hit a 3-pointer for a 62-60 Pack lead and Coleman connected from the top of the key for a 64-60 lead.

The Wolf Pack jumped out to an 8-1 lead four minutes into the game. The Pack also led 25-17 with about eight minutes left in the first half after a 3-pointer and a 12-foot jumper by Fenner. West maneuvered around Forte under the basket for a layup and a 29-23 lead with five minutes to go before halftime.

Portland State then went on a 9-0 run to take a 32-29 lead with two minutes to go in the half. Isaiah Pineiro hit a 12-foot jumper, Donivine Stewart had a layup and De’Sean Parsons had a dunk for the Vikings’ lead.

The Pack, though, recovered to take a 34-33 lead at the break as Coleman hit a 3-pointer from the left elbow to tie the game at 32-32 and West had another layup for a 34-33 advantage with a minute left.

Fenner had 10 points to lead the Pack at halftime. Coleman had nine points and four assists and West had eight points and five boards. Forte had 11 at halftime for Portland State and Pineiro had 10.

The Wolf Pack debuted their new pre-game warmup about 10 minutes before tip-off. The entertaining drill consisted of dribbling, passing, lay-ups and dunks, all set to music.

The Wolf Pack will play at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday before returning to Lawlor Events Center on Monday to play Holy Names.