ANCHORAGE ? Andre Murray and Phil Nelson scored 16 points apiece as Portland State used a three-point barrage to knock off Northern Illinois, 79-58, Wednesday night in the first round of the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout at Sullivan Arena.

Forward Kyle Coston added 14 points for the Vikings (4-0), who advance to Friday's 5 p.m. semifinal against Hampton.

Guard Darion Anderson led the Huskies (2-3) with 16 points and nine rebounds, but NIU's star sophomore was held to just four points in the second half.

The game was tight early until the Vikings ? the defending Big Sky Conference champions ? used a 15-0 run over the final minute of the first half and the opening four minutes of the second half to take a 48-32 advantage.

NIU, of the Mid-American Conference, sliced its deficit to 55-46 on a tradition three-point play by center Sean Kowal, but that was as close as the Huskies would get.

PSU finished 12 of 28 from three-point range, led by the hot shooting of Nelson (4 of 6) and Coston (4 of 8). Murray went 2 of 6 on treys while grabbing four rebounds and dishing four assists.

NIU will face host Alaska Anchorage (0-4) in Friday's noon consolation semifinal.