Complete Game Notes for Portland State vs. Montana/Montana State

With just three weeks remaining in the Big Sky Conference regular season, the Portland State Vikings hope the schedule favors them and their run at a sixth consecutive Big Sky Tournament appearance. The Vikings are 5-5 in Big Sky play and in fifth place with six games to play, including four at home. The top six teams will reach the Big Sky Tournament and the Vikings would at least like to get to fourth place - if not better - to get a quarterfinal-round home game.

Portland State's stretch drive begins at home this week with a pair of games against the two teams directly in front of them and a chance to move up in the standings. The Vikings (10-13, 5-5) host third-place Montana (17-7, 8-4) on Friday, then fourth-place Montana State (12-11, 7-5) on Saturday. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. at the Peter W. Stott Center.

The Vikings lost a close contest at Montana State (77-71) on Jan. 8, then were routed by the Grizzlies on Jan. 9 (90-58) in Missoula.

PSU is 6-2 at home this season, having lost its last two contests in the Stott Center. Still, the Vikings have won 23 of their last 24 Big Sky Conference home games. PSU has beaten Montana the last two meetings at the Stott Center, and Montana State the last six meetings at Stott.

Montana comes to PSU having won four in a row and seven of its last eight games. The Grizzlies are 5-6 on the road this season.

Montana State has lost three of its last four games and is 4-8 on the road this season.

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS vs. MONTANA GRIZZLIES
Friday, February 12, 2010, 7:05 p.m., Peter W. Stott Center (1,500), Portland, OR

Television: None
Radio: 800 AM KPDQ, www.kpdq-am.com
Pre-game Show: 6:30 p.m. • Tip-off: 7:05 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt
Live Webcast and Live Stats: www.GoViks.com

All-Time Series: UM leads 24-20 • PSU in Portland: PSU leads 14-7
Big Sky Series: UM leads 16-11 • PSU in Portland: PSU leads 8-5
Streak: Montana has won the last two meetings

STORYLINES
• Notes on the series: Montana has turned around the series trend, winning the last two meetings, both in Missoula. The Vikings had won four straight prior to that.
• First meeting (1/9 in Missoula): Montana handed Portland State its biggest defeat ever in the 44-game all-time series between the schools, 90-58. PSU shot just 19-48 for 40% in the game. More significantly, PSU made just 2-15 from three-point range, its' poorest output from distance this season... Montana was 32-55 from the field, 58% for the game... Anthony Johnson had 20 points and four assists to lead Montana. Brian Qvale added 19 points.... the Vikings got 16 points from Phil Nelson, and 13 points and five assists from Dominic Waters... Julius Thomas did not play in the game due to a hip pointer.
• Montana's season: The Grizzlies are still in the hunt for the Big Sky Conference title at 8-4 in league play. Montana is 17-7 overall and has won seven of its last eight games.
• Head Coach Wayne Tinkle is in his fourth season at Montana. His record is 65-50. He is 3-4 all-time against Portland State.
• Montana features the best defense in the Big Sky Conference, allowing a league-low 59.8 points per game and league-low .407 opponent shooting... the Grizzlies are also the best shooting team in the league - taking that mantle from the Vikings recently - hitting .483 from the field and .391 from three-point range.
• SR G Anthony Johnson, a first team All-Big Sky Conference choice last year - leads Montana again with 17.9 points per game and 3.2 assists... big man Brian Qvale ranks fourth in the league rebounds (6.7), second in shooting (.652) and blocked shots (1.9).

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS vs. MONTANA STATE BOBCATS
Saturday, February 13, 2010, 7:05 p.m., Peter W. Stott Center (1,500), Portland, OR

Television: None
Radio: 800 AM KPDQ, www.kpdq-am.com
Pre-game Show: 6:30 p.m. • Tip-off: 7:05 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt
Live Webcast and Live Stats: www.GoViks.com

All-Time Series: MSU leads 23-16 • PSU in Portland: PSU leads 11-6
Big Sky Series: MSU leads 17-13 • PSU in Portland: PSU leads 10-4
Streak: PSU has won six straight over MSU at Stott Center

STORYLINES
• Notes on the series: The last time Montana State won a game at the Stott Center was during the 2003-04 season. The Vikings have won six straight in the series at Stott since then... MSU has won two in a row in Bozeman, including a game on Jan. 8... MSU won the last meeting, but the Vikings have still won five of the last seven overall.
• Three Titles vs. MSU: PSU has twice clinched Big Sky regular season titles with wins in Bozeman (2005 and 2008), and also beat MSU in the Big Sky Tournament title game last year (in Ogden).
• First meeting (1/8 in Bozeman): Portland State outshot and outrebounded Montana State, but in the end “turned over” the game to the Bobcats, 77-71. The loss nullified a brilliant shooting performance by the Vikings. PSU made 24-46 from the field (52%) and grabbed 32 rebounds to 27 for the Bobcats, but couldn't overcome 20 turnovers. The Bobcats had just nine turnovers...with 1:56 left in the game, PSU trailed 73-71, but the Vikings missed four shots and commited a turnover in their final five possessions... five Bobcats were in double figures, led by 18 points from Bobby Howard... Dominic Waters had 24 points for Portland State. Jamie Jones added 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots... Julius Thomas was limited to one minute due to a hip pointer.
• Montana State's season: The Bobcats have built a 12-11 season record, but have lost three of their last four games. At 7-5 and in fourth place in the Big Sky, MSU must go on the road for three of its final four league games... Montana State is the worst free throw shooting (.672) and rebounding (-4.9) team in the Big Sky.
• Head Coach Brad Huse is in his fourth year at Montana State. Huse has a 52-62 overall record. He is 3-6 all-time against the Vikings... in 13 years as a collegiate head coach, Huse is 236-122.
• JR F Bobby Howard leads the Bobcats with 13.6 points per game. he shoots .513 from the field and averages 5.4 rebounds as well... SR G Will Bynum leads the Big Sky in steals (2.1) and SR G Marquis Navarre leads the league in three-point percentage (.455).

BATTLING FOR THE BIG SKY TOURNAMENT
Portland State plays four of its last six Big Sky Conference games at home where it is 6-2. The Vikings face the four teams they lost to on the road in the first half of the season at home in the second half (Montana, Montana State, Weber State, Idaho State). They have one remaining conference trip to Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado (Feb. 18-20).

The Vikings are currently in fifth place (5-5), one game behind Montana State (7-5) and two games behind Montana (8-4), both of whom they play this week.

The top six teams in Big Sky Conference play earn berths in the Big Sky Conference post-season tournament. The winner of the regular season hosts the post-season final four on Mar. 9-10. That team, along with the second-place team, earns a first round bye. The third- and fourth-place teams host the sixth- and fifth-place teams, respectively, in quarterfinal round games on Mar. 6 at home sites. The winner of the Big Sky Conference Tournament title earns the league's autmatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

Last year, PSU, the second-place team, and Montana State, the sixth-place team, played their way into the Big Sky Championship game, won by the Vikings, 79-77 (in Ogden).

PORTLAND STATE AND THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Portland State has finished first and second in Big Sky Conference regular season action the last two years. The Vikings went on to win the Big Sky Tournament both times and have been to the NCAA Tournament the last two years. Portland State is trying to earn a third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2009-10. If the Vikings can do so, it would be the first time a Big Sky team has accomplished the feat in 30 years (Weber State, 1978-80).

The Vikings were picked to place second by Big Sky Conference media and fourth by Big Sky Conference coaches in this year's preseason polls.

PSU has made five straight trips to the Big Sky Conference Tournament - its longest stretch since joining the conference in 1996-97. Only Montana has made more consecutive trips to the tournament (8), while Montana State matches the Vikings (5).

TELEVISION GAME ADDED TO THE SCHEDULE
Portland State will have a chance to avenge Sunday's loss to Seattle University on March 2 when the Vikings travel to face the Redhawks at Key Arena. That game will be televised on Fox Sports Net at 8 p.m.

Seattle and FSN recently reached an agreement to add the game to the television schedule and set it for an 8 p.m. start. It will be the fifth Portland State game televised in the Portland area this season.

Upcoming, the Vikings will also host a televised game against Weber State from the Stott Center on Feb. 28. That game will air on Altitude TV and Comcast Sports Net at 1 p.m.

Seattle defeated Portland State, 80-77, on Sunday at the Stott Center when the Redhawks' Aaron Broussard hit a three-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining to be played.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
VIKINGS ON RADIO: All Portland State basketball games can be heard on 800 AM KPDQ and www.kpdq-am.com.The Viking Pregame Show begins one-half hour prior to tipoff with Tom Hewitt calling all the action.
VIKINGS ON TV: Portland State has five regular season games scheduled to be televised in the Portland area: Nov. 15 @ Washington, Dec. 19 vs. Washington State, Mar. 2 vs. Seattle (FSN-channel 34/HD 734 in Portland); Jan. 17 vs. Northern Arizona, Feb. 28 vs. Weber State (CSN-channel 37/HD 737 in Portland).
INTERNET STREAMING: Live streaming video of all Portland State home and Big Sky Conference games can be seen free at www.BigSkyTV.org. Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.GoViks.com.
TYLER GEVING ON WHEELS AT WORK WEEKLY: Portland State Basketball Coach Tyler Geving will be a weekly guest on The Wheels at Work Show on 95.5 FM The Game in Portland. Geving will talk Viking basketball and more with hosts Brian Wheeler, Kenny Vance and Jay Allen every Tuesday at 1:35 p.m.
TICKETS: Tickets for all home games can be purchased in prices ranging from $10 to $15, with youth prices as low as $7. To purchase tickets by phone, call 1.888.VIK.TIKS or 503.725.3307. Special group ticket pricing and season tickets are available by calling Scott Boyd at 503.725.5627. Tickets are on sale at the PSU Ticket Office, located in Smith Memorial Student Union, 1825 SW Broadway. You can also purchase tickets on-line at www.GoViks.com, www.TicketMaster.com or at all TicketMaster outlets. 
VIKINGS BASKETBALL BREAKFAST SERIES: The Viking Basketball Breakfast Series takes place on four dates during the course of the basketball season. Head Coach Tyler Geving will speak about Viking basketball at each breakfast event. Dates are Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Feb. 10 and Feb. 24 from 7:30-8:45 a.m. at the Multnomah Athletic Club. Cost is $20. RSVP with Scott Boyd (boyds@pdx.edu).

WINNING LINES
• The Vikings have swept Sacramento State for the third straight season and have won seven in a row over the Hornets... the Vikings also have a season sweep over Eastern Washington.
• With a three-point loss to Seattle, only two Vikings' games have been decided by less than four points this season... only five games have been decided by less than seven points.
• PSU has won 28 of its last 30 home games, and 23 of 24 Big Sky home games.
• Portland State is 6-2 at home... since the start of the 2007-08 season, PSU is 31-4 at home.
• The Vikings are 4-11 in road games this year, with two of those losses being neutral site games... PSU is 1-4 in Big Sky road games.
• PSU is 30-12 in Big Sky games since the start of the 2007-08 season, 34-12 including tournament games.

HOT:
• The Vikings have won two straight road games.
• SR F Jamie Jones has five double-doubles in his last 10  games... Jones has averaged 15.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in those games... Jones had the first two dunks of his 55-game career against Seattle.
• JR G Alonzo Brandon has averaged 8.5 points in the last four games after scoring just 12 points all season.
• After missing most of two games with an injury, SR F Julius Thomas has come back to average 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists in the last six games, hitting 39-54 shots (.722)... in his first 110 career games at PSU, Thomas never led the Vikings in scoring. He has now done so in each of the last two games (16, 19).
• JR F Paul Guede averaged 10.5 points in last week's two games. He had been averaging just over four points this season.
• With 62 points allowed to Sacramento State, the Vikings had its best defensive effort against a Division I opponent this season.

NOT:
• The Vikings have lost two straight home games.
• PSU has made only 9-36 three-point field goals in the last two games (.250).
• JR G Melvin Jones is 1-12 shooting in the last two games, 0-9 from three-point range.
• JR F Phil Nelson (12.9 ppg) is out for the season after suffering a broken bone in his foot during practice on Jan. 26.
• PSU ranks last in the Big Sky in scoring defense (80.7 ppg allowed) and field goal percentage defense (.497) and three-point field goal defense (.411).
• SR G Dominic Waters, the Vikings' leading scorer, is just 12-34 shooting in his last three games.  Still he has 45 points and 14 assists in those three contests.

WHEN SECOND BEST IS OKAY: SR G Dominic Waters ranks second in the nation in free throw percentage (102-110, .927) this season trailing Donald Sims of Appalachian State (110-116, .948)... among other national leaders, released Monday: Portland State ranked 26th in scoring, 21st in field goal percentage, 19th in free throw percentage and 18th in three-point field goals made... JR G Melvin Jones ranked ninth in three-point field goal percentage (.441)... SR F Jamie Jones was 11th in field goal percentage (.579).

HOME SWEET HOME: With a 6-2 home record, the Vikings' numbers in the Stott Center are fantastic as well.

PSU in the Stott Center: 89.2 ppg, .528 FG%, .375 3-pt FG%, .807 FT%
    SR G Dominic Waters (20.9 ppg, .567 FG%, .424 3-pt FG%, .935 FT%)
    JR G Melvin Jones (15.0 ppg, .513 FG%, .468 3-pt FG%, .842 FT%)
    SR F Jamie Jones (15.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg, .657 FG%, .842 FT%, 2.8 bpg)

BIG SKY LEADERS: Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring (78.8), blocked shots (3.7) and three-pointers made (8.3)... SR G Dominic Waters leads the Big Sky in assists (4.7) and free throw percentage (.927)... SR F Julius Thomas leads the Big Sky in field goal percentage (.669)... SR F Jamie Jones leads the Big Sky in rebounding (7.5) and blocked shots (2.3)... in Big Sky-only statistics, PSU leads in scoring (81.6), field goal percentage (.489), rebounding margin (+4.4) and three-pointers made (8.2)... Thomas leads in field goal percentage (.722)... SR G Dominic Waters lead in free throw percentage (.933)... SR F Jamie Jones leads in rebounding (9.1) and blocked shots (2.4).

DOUBLE VISION: SR F Jamie Jones has five double-doubles in the Vikings' last 10 games, averaging 15.8 points and 9.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks over that stretch... Jones averages 13.7 points and a league-leading 7.5 rebounds per game on the season. He has also blocked a league-high 50 shots. Jones is shooting .579 from the field.
• The senior forward is fourth in field goal percentage, ninth in free throw percentage (.779) and ninth in scoring.
• Jones has six double-doubles this season... he led the Big Sky with six double-doubles last season.
• Jones averages 15.7 points, and a league-leading 9.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in Big Sky games.
• With 80 blocked shots in his career, Jones ranks third in PSU history... his 50 blocks this season rank second for a season... his career shooting percentage (.584), ranks second in PSU history.
• Jones made his last five field goals against Cal Poly (11/21), then his first seven against Stanford (11/29). With 12 consecutive field goals made, he tied a PSU mark held by Seamus Boxley.
BIG GAMES: (vs. Sacramento State, 1/2), Jones had his finest game as a Viking, setting a career-high with 26 points (10-14 FG, 6-7 FT) and PSU-career-highs of 13 rebounds and five blocked shots... (vs. Weber State, 1/22), he scored 14 points, tied his career-high with 13 rebounds, blocked shots, made three steals and had two assists... (vs. Idaho State, 1/23), Jones scored 19 points (8-14 FG, 3-4 FT) with 10 rebounds... (vs. Eastern Washington, 1/30), had 26 points (12-19 FG, 2-3 FT), eight rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block... (vs. Seattle, 2/7), made 9-10 field goals for 18 points, nine rebounds, five blocked shots and two steals.

COOL RUNNING WATERS: SR G Dominic Waters has paced the Vikings all season, leading the team in scoring (18.1) and assists (4.7) while shooting .486 from the field, .434 from three-point range and .927 at the line. He ranks second in the nation in free throw shooting.
• Waters was named Big Sky Conference co-Player of the Week on Dec. 7.
• Waters leads the Big Sky in assists and free throw percentage, ranks third in scoring, seventh in three-point percentage and three-pointers made, and 14th in field goal percentage.
• The senior from Grant High School has led the Vikings in scoring 13 times and assists 18 times this season.
• Waters has two streaks of 19 free throws made and one of 13 made this season... he ranks third all-time at Portland State for free throw percentage (158-182, .868).
• Waters has twice set a career-high this season with nine assists in a game... he grabbed a career-high seven rebounds against Saint Mary's (12/15).
• Waters has 21 double-digit scoring games and nine 20+ point games this season.
• With 106-240 three-point field goals made in his career, SR G Dominic Waters is shooting .442 from long range - second-best of any Viking in school history.
• BIG GAMES: (vs. Portland, 12/2), led PSU to victory, scoring 21 of his game-high 23 points in the second half. He did so on just 11 shots (6-11 FG, 3-4 3-pt FG, 8-8 FT). Waters scored 16 in the last nine minutes and hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 2:59 to play... (vs. Cal Poly, 11/21), scored 32 points on just 15 field goal attempts in leading the Vikings to a 92-83 win. Waters hit 10-15 from the field, 2-4 from three-point range and 10-11 at the line. He also had five assists. The 32 points is just the second-best total of his career. Last season, Waters scored 41 in a four-overtime win at Northern Arizona... (vs. Sacramento State, 1/2), scored 26 points on 9-15 FG, 5-8 3-pt FG, 3-4 FT and had five assists.

THE SHARP SHOOTER RETURNS: SR F Julius Thomas holds Portland State records for field goal percentage in a season (.643) and a career (.661). He has missed just 147 shots in 112 career games played... so far this year, Thomas is 89-133 from the field (.669)... while Thomas stands as Portland State's all-time best percentage shooter, teammate Jamie Jones rates as second-best all-time at PSU. Jones is 254-435 for a .584 mark.
• Thomas leads the Big Sky in field goal percentage for the season (.669) and for Big Sky games (.722). He ranks seventh in rebounding (5.6).
• The senior forward ranks fifth in PSU history with 53 blocked shots.
• Thomas handed out a career-high seven assists at Idaho State (1/23).
• JT has played in 112 career games during his PSU career (missing seven games with injuries). He ranks fourth all-time in games played at PSU. The school record for games played is 119 (Scott Morrison). Thomas can still break that mark as the Vikings have nine games remaining this season (not counting the Big Sky Tournament).
• BIG GAMES: (vs. Boise State, 12/21), JT grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds to go with 12 points at Boise State. It was the fifth double-double of his career... (vs. Sacramento State, 1/2), had an 11-rebound game... (vs. Northern Colorado, 1/15), Thomas hit 7-8 FGs for 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 25 minutes in a win over Northern Colorado... (vs. Eastern Washington, 1/30), had one of the best all-around games of his career with 14 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals in a win... (vs. Sacramento State, 2/5), scoring 16 points (6-9 FG, 4-9 FT) with rebounds and two assists. It was the first time in his career that he has led the Vikings in scoring... (vs. Seattle, 2/7), scored a career-high 19 points (7-9 FG, 5-10 FT) with six rebounds and two blocks.

JULIUS THOMAS CAREER SHOOTING MARKS
2006-07: 62-97, .639 (set school record)
2007-08: 45-63, .714 (not enough attempts to qualify for school record)
2008-09: 90-140, .643 (broke his own school record)
2009-10: 89-133 .669 (school record pace)
Career: 286-433, .661 (school record)

KEEPING UP WITH MELVIN JONES: Although he has had two poor shooting games in a row, JR G Melvin Jones continues to lead the Vikings with 60 three-point field goals this season. His .441 percentage ranks fourth for a season and third for a career at this point in the season.
• Jones has ranked among the top 10 in the nation all season for three-point field goal percentage, and currently stands ninth.
• BIG GAMES: (vs. Willamette, 12/29), had a career-high 27 points on just 13 field goal attempts against Willamette (9-13, 3-6, 6-7)... (vs. Pepperdine, 12/13), had a season-high eight assists and four rebounds to go with 17 points in a win at Pepperdine (12/13)... (vs. Wright State, 11/14), rang up 23 points, hitting 7-11 three point field goals... (vs. Idaho State, 1/23), scored 20 points off the bench.

ANOTHER COUNTRY IS HEARD FROM: A native of London, England, JR F Paul Guede has come a long way to be a Viking. His role is to defend the best player on the opposing team every night. Guede has proven to play a big defensive role in Vikings wins... Guede shut down Portland star Nik Raivio in an 86-82 victory over the then-25th-ranked Pilots (12/2). After scoring 15 in the first half, Raivio was held without a field goal by Guede in the second half... against Eastern Washington (12/5), Guede spent most of the night guarding All-Conference guard Benny Valentine. He held Valentine to 1-8 shooting and just two points while the Viks won 98-75... Northern Colorado guard Will Figures came into a game against the Vikings (1/15) leading the league's best team in scoring at 15.9 points per game. Guede held Figures to 2-13 shooting and 12 points in another Viking win, 85-69... in his last two games, Guede has averaged 10.5 points (8-14 FG) after averaging just over four points a game prior to that.