Flagstaff, AZ - Behind a brilliant, 41-point game from Dominic Waters, the Portland State Vikings battled back from a 16-point deficit and won the longest game in Viking history, beating Northern Arizona, 92-91.

Portland State never led in regulation, only tieing the contest with nine seconds left on a driving shot by Waters. But, the Vikings led at the end of four overtimes, after Waters hit a pair of game-winning free throws with 6.5 seconds left.

PSU had played a pair of three-overtime games in its history (1967 and 1998), but never four overtimes. And, the Vikings needed all 60 minutes of action to keep a remarkable run of winning streaks alive.

The Vikings' Big Sky winning streak extends to 17, and PSU's Big Sky road winning streak is now eight. Both are school records.

In addition, the Vikings have beaten the Lumberjacks five straight times.

For his part, Waters' 41 points were the most by a Viking since Blake Walker scored 41 in a Dec. 30, 2003 win over Tennessee State. The last time a Viking scored more than 41 points was Freeman Williams, who did so seven times during the 1977-78 season.

Waters hit 14-24 shots from the field, 6-10 from three-point range and 7-8 at the line. He scored nine points in the last 2:25 of regulation, hit the shot to send the game to overtime, brought PSU back from from the brink in the second overtime, then made the winning free throws in the fourth overtime.

“That's a pretty good game. Maybe he should start,” said Bone, of the Vikings' sixth man. “He's a gamer. He brings it every game. He's such a confident player, a confident shooter... he is good.”

It never looked like the Vikings would have a chance to win this one until the very end.

Through the first five minutes of the game, the Vikings hit only 2-9 field goals, compared to 7-9 for Northern Arizona. The Lumberjacks had a 15-5 lead and PSU needed to regroup.

The Vikings got three-pointers from Andre Murray, Phil Nelson and Jeremiah Dominguez to pull back within 15-14.

NAU came right back to score nine in a row behind five points and an assist from Josh Wilson. Wilson and Zarko Comagic hit back-to-back three-pointers late in the half to give the ?Jacks their biggest lead and a 36-20 halftime advantage.

PSU's 20 points were the fewest in a half all season. The previous low was 29 on two occasions.

The first-half difference was simple: shooting. Rebounding and turnovers were virtually even, but the Lumberjacks shot 15-24 from the field (.624), compared to 8-30 for the Vikings (.267).

Portland State held NAU to just two points in the first seven-plus minutes of the second half, going on a 17-2 run to pull within 38-37. The Vikings forced eight Lumberjack turnovers during that stretch, but were never able to tie or take a lead.

NAU led 54-48 with 2:36 left in the game following a free throw by Shane Johannsen. Then, Waters single-handedly kept the Vikings in the game scoring seven points on a mid-range jump shot, a three-pointer and two free throws, making it 56-55 with 1:06 to play.

Johannsen went to the line with 17.4 seconds left and made one, giving NAU a two-point lead.

Waters followed with a driving shot under pressure with nine seconds left, tieing it at 57-57 and sending the game to overtime.

The teams traded baskets in the opening moments of the first overtime. Dominguez gave the Vikings their first lead of the day with 1:29 left when he hit a running jumper to make it 64-62.

An errant Dominguez pass with 14 seconds left was picked off by Cameron Jones, who was fouled with 9.4 seconds on the clock. He went to the line and tied the game with a pair of free throws, 64-64.

The Vikings were unable to get a shot up in the final possession of the first overtime.

PSU was in trouble when Comagic hit a three-pointer with three minutes left in the second overtime, giving NAU a 70-66 lead.

But again Waters came to the rescue, hitting back-to-back three-pointers, and tossing an alley-oop to Phil Nelson on a fast break for a dunk. Suddenly, PSU led 75-72 with 1:03 left in double overtime.

Comagic's three-pointer with 45 seconds left tied the game and neither team could score after that, sending the contest to a third overtime.

Nelson opened the third overtime by hitting a shot in the lane. A moment later, Kyle Coston hit a three-pointer and the Vikings had their largest lead of the day at 80-75.

This time, NAU made the comeback. With the Vikings leading by four inside the final 20 seconds, Jones hit a driving lay-in for the ?Jacks. NAU then tied up Waters on the in-bound pass, and then took the ball on alternating possession.

Jones followed with a driving shot at the buzzer, tieing it at 84-84, and sending the game to overtime number four.

Julius Thomas opened the scoring in the fourth overtime with a dunk at the 3:45 mark. However, the teams traded baskets again heading into the final minute.

A Waters' jump shot with 28.4 seconds left in the fourth overtime put the Vikings up 90-88.

Wilson answered with a three-pointer with 13 seconds left to play and it appeared NAU may finally have the win.

PSU got the ball to Waters, and the junior guard was fouled on a drive with 6.5 seconds to play. He made both free throws, putting PSU ahead, 92-91.

A desperation three-pointer by the Lumberjacks fell short, and Portland State won the basketball marathon.

“I thought we were mentally tough from the halftime on,' said Viking Coach Ken Bone. “We played through a lot of adversity. There were a lot of times we could have thrown in the towel.

“To beat a really, really good team like NAU on the road is really big.”

PSU is now 12-4 on the season, 3-0 in the Big Sky Conference. NAU dropped to 4-10, 1-2.

Dominguez finished with 22 points, a career-high seven rebounds and four assists.

After a poor-shooting first half, PSU hit 24-47 in the second half and the overtimes (.511). The Vikings made 14 steals and hit 14-35 from three-point range (.400).

GAME NOTES: Also playing big off the bench was Thomas with four points, eight rebounds, and career-highs of five assists and six steals... the game was the first of four Sunday-afternoon contests for the Vikings that will be televised on CSN/Altitude... PSU wrapped up a stretch of five straight games on the road, and seven of eight on the road overall... Portland State returns home for a Thursday night contest at the Peter W. Stott Center. The Vikings will host Weber State in a 7:05 p.m. contest.