Malibu, CA - Phil Nelson's three-point shooting and career-high 28 points led Portland State to a 93-81 road win over Pepperdine.

The victory was the fourth straight for the Vikings and improved their record to 5-4 on the season. In the Vikings' five wins this year, they have averaged 91.0 points per game.

Better yet, after starting the season 0-3, the Vikings are now over .500 for the year.

PSU hit a season-high 17 three-pointers in the game, coming just one short of the school record for threes in a game.

Portland State continued its' potent offensive ways in Malibu behind Nelson. The junior forward sparked the Vikings through the first eight-and-a-half minutes, hitting four three-point field goals and a fast-break dunk for 14 points. PSU led 27-15 with 11:27 to play in the first half.

Pepperdine went on an 18-8 run and got back within two at 35-33 at the 4:03 mark.

The Vikings went into halftime leading 43-38. PSU shot 50% from the field and made 9-20 from three-point range in the half.

A three-pointer by Pepperdine's Mychel Thompson finally tied the game at 43-43 with 18:50 to go in the game.

Nelson answered back for the Vikings, scoring 11 points on three more threes and a layup as the Vikings rallied with a 13-4 run. PSU was back on top 56-47 at the 15:20 mark and the Nelson already had a career-high 25 points.

The Waves were within 67-62 at the 9:24 mark, but the Vikings turned it on with a 17-4 run over the next four minutes  and cruised to their fifth win of the year.

Nelson scored 28 points on 10-15 from the field and a career-best 8-12 from three-point range. Guards Melvin Jones and Dominic Waters each scored 17 points and combined for 17 assists.

“Phil carried us in the first half and he had 28 points. He's capable of doing that for us,” said Viking Coach Tyler Geving.

Jamie Jones added 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

For the game, PSU hit 34-62 from the field (.548) and 17-33 from three-point range (.515).  Pepperdine was 31-71 from the field (.437) and just 5-15 from three-point range (.333).

Keion Bell and Lorne Jackson scored 16 points each to lead Pepperdine. The Waves dropped to 3-8 on the season.

GAME NOTES: PSU has shot .563 from the field over its last six games... Dominic Waters had a streak of 19 straight free throws made come to an end... the win was the first by the Vikings over Pepperdine in history. The Waves had won the three previous meetings, but the teams had not met since 1978... Portland State continues its road trip in California on Tuesday, when the Vikings play at Saint Mary's in a 7 p.m. game. The Gaels, 7-1, come off a win at Oregon on Saturday. PSU is 2-0 against West Coast Conference teams this year, 4-0 over the last two seasons.