Complete notes and stats in pdf

A banged up Viking basketball team goes on the road for a Thursday game at Eastern Washington, then returns home to host Sacramento State on Saturday in a pair of Big Sky Conference games this week. Both games tip off at 7:05 p.m. and can be heard on Freedom 970 AM or www.970.am.
   
The Vikings, who lost two players to injury last week (see INJURY BATTLE below), are 10-9 on the season. PSU stands at 3-4 and tied for fourth in the Big Sky. The Vikings have dropped three of their last four games.
   
Portland State won its previous meeting with Eastern Washington, 74-58, on Jan. 8 at the Stott Center. However, the Vikings are 1-6 on the road this year, 3-6 including neutral site games.
   
Eastern Washington is 5-14 this season, including a 5-3 home record. The Eagles are 2-5 in the Big Sky Conference and stand in seventh place. Despite a win over Northern Arizona last week, EWU has lost six of its last seven games.
   
The game with Eastern Washington will be part of the Dam Cup Competition. PSU leads 7-6 with men's and women's basketball games scheduled for Thursday. Each game is worth two points and nine points wins the season-long competition (see DAM CUP below). So, a win by the Vikings would capture the Dam Cup for 2010-11.
   
Sacramento State is 4-15 this year, 1-7 in the Big Sky. The Hornets won their last outing, 57-55 at home against Eastern Washington. They had lost nine straight prior to that. Sac State is 0-10 on the road this year. They have also lost four overtime games this year.

INJURY BATTLE CONTINUES FOR VIKING TEAM
Nobody is going to feel sorry for the Vikings but they continue to fight an unending battle with injuries this year. The latest Vikings to go down are JR C Nate Lozeau and JR F Chehales Tapscott. The loss of a pair of inside players has made the Vikings particularly thin in the post. PSU has nine healthy bodies available this week. PSU has lost 26 player games to injury this season, but figures to lose several more in the coming weeks.
   
PSU was without SR F Phil Nelson for the first 14 games of the season (after losing him for the last 12 of last year) as he recovered from a twice broken foot. Nelson has played in the last five games, coming off the bench, but is still trying to get in game shape. He is averaging just 3.6 points and shooting 18% from the field.
   
JR G Terry Coleman has struggled with ankle and lower leg injuries all year and has missed nine games as a result.
   
Lozeau suffered a severe left ankle sprain at Montana on Jan. 15 and has missed the last two games. He is expected to miss at least another week. He has averaged 6.3 points and 2.5 rebounds this season.
   
Tapscott injured his right knee at the end of the Jan. 20 win over Weber State. He has cartilage damage and will undergo surgery on Wednesday. Tapscott, who has averaging 11.7 points and 8.2 rebounds, may be able to return in about three weeks.

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (10-9, 3-4) vs.  EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES (5-14, 2-5)
Thursday, January 27, 2011, 7:05 p.m. @ Reese Court (6,000), Cheney, WA
Television: None
Radio: Freedom 970 AM, www.970.am • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Pregame Show: 6:30 p.m.
Live Video Stream: www.b2tv.com • Live Stats: www.GoViks.com
All-Time Series: PSU leads 18-17 • PSU in Cheney: EWU leads 11-6
Big Sky Series: EWU leads 16-15 • PSU in Cheney: EWU leads 10-5

STORYLINES
• The series: Portland State took the advantage in the all-time series with a 74-58 win on Jan. 8. The Vikings lead the series, 18-17. However, Eastern Washington still leads the Big Sky Conference series, 16-15... PSU has won six consecutive times against the Eagles. That includes the last two trips to Cheney. Last season, PSU won 85-77 at Reese Court... EWU holds the advantage 10-5 in Big Sky games in Cheney.
• Jan. 8: Portland State beat Eastern Washington 74-58 at the Peter W. Stott Center. The Vikings held Eastern Washington to .308 shooting for the game in leading wire-to-wire... Chehales Tapscott and Chris Harriel each had double-doubles. Tapscott had 12 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots. Harriel added 16 points, a career-high 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals... the game marked the return of Phil Nelson after missing 26 straight games... Tremayne Johnson had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Eagles.
• The Eagles: The Eagles rank last in the conference in shooting at just .402 from the field. However, they have made 7.7 three-point field goals per game... SO G Glen Dean leads the team with a 12.3 scoring average and 4.7 assists per game... guards Kevin Winford and Jeffrey Forbes average 11.2 and 11.1 points, respectively...  Cliff Ederaine leads the team with 8.2 rebounds per game and 26 blocked shots... Head Coach Kirk Earlywine is in his fourth year at Eastern Washington. He has a 37-72 record. Earlywine is 1-6 against the Vikings.

THE DAM CUP
The Portland State Vikings and Eastern Washington Eagles have begun a five-sport rivalry cup called The Dam Cup in 2010-11. The Dam Cup celebrates the friendly rivalry between the states of Oregon and Washington within the Big Sky Conference.  Saturday's basketball game will be worth two points in the Dam Cup series. Portland State currently leads the competition, 7-6. Nine points are needed to win the Cup.
   
The so-named rivalry refers to the four dams linking Oregon and Washington that one passes on the 339-mile drive from the Portland State campus to the Eastern Washington campus. Located along the Columbia River, they are Bonneville Dam, The Dalles Dam, The John Day Dam and the McNary Dam. 
   
The five sports competing for the cup are football, women's soccer, women's volleyball, women's basketball and men's basketball.  The purpose of the Dam Cup is to create a rivalry between Portland State University and Eastern Washington University and provide a sense of pride between alumni in the Portland and Spokane areas. Other goals include increasing attendance at events between both schools and building school spirit among each institutions' student body.
   
The winner of the Dam Cup will possess The Dam Trophy acknowledging the achievement for the following year.
   
The Dam Cup is based on a point system.  Each game played in the five sports between the two schools has a point value. Points are only rewarded for regular season contests. The annual football game is worth four points, the women's soccer match is worth one point, each women's volleyball match is worth two points for a total of four points possible, and each men's and women's basketball game is worth two points for a total of four points possible in each sport, The total points possible are 17 which means that to win the cup a school would need to win at least 9 points.

The 2010-11 Dam Cup Series
Soccer - Oct. 8, @ PSU 3, Eastern Washington 0 - PSU leads 1-0
Volleyball - Oct. 9, @ PSU 3, Eastern Washington - PSU leads 3-0
Football - Oct. 30, Eastern Washington 50, @ PSU 17 - EWU leads 4-3
Volleyball - Nov. 6, PSU 3, @ EWU 2 - PSU leads 5-4
Women's Basketball - @ EWU 72, PSU 60 - EWU leads 6-5
Men's Basketball - Jan. 8 @ PSU 74, EWU 58 - PSU leads 7-6
Women's Basketball - Jan. 27 @ PSU
Men's Basketball - Jan. 27 @ EWU

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (10-9, 3-4) vs.  SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS (4-15, 1-7)
Saturday, January 29, 2011, 7:05 p.m. @ Peter W. Stott Center (1,500), Portland, OR
Television: None
Radio: Freedom 970 AM, www.970.am • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Pregame Show: 6:30 p.m.
Live Video Stream: www.b2tv.com • Live Stats: www.GoViks.com
All-Time Series: PSU leads 21-9 • PSU in Portland: PSU leads 14-1
Big Sky Series: PSU leads 20-8 • PSU in Portland: PSU leads 13-1

STORYLINES
• The series: Portland State holds a 21-9 advantage in the all-time series, and 20-8 lead in the Big Sky series... PSU has swept the season series seven times in 14 seasons... the Vikings are 14-1 against the Hornets in Portland... PSU has won the last seven meetings between the teams, all by 12 points or more... PSU has won four straight in Portland.
• Last year: Portland State's 94-66 win over Sacramento State last year in the Stott Center was the biggest Viking win ever over the Hornets (28 points). Jamie Jones and Dominic Waters each scored 26 points in that game. Jones added 15 rebounds and five blocked shots. PSU made 13 three-pointers and outrebounded the Hornets 43-25 in the win... it was closer during a February meeting in Sacramento, but the Vikings prevailed 76-62. Five Vikings scored in double figures including a career-high 12 from Alonzo Brandon on 4-7 three-pointers. Paul Guede had 11 points and seven boards. A 36-25 rebound advantage again made a difference.
• The Hornets: Sacramento State was 9-21 last season, 3-13 and ninth in the Big Sky Conference... two starters and three letterwinners return from that team... Head Coach Brian Katz is in his third year at Sacramento State. He has a 15-63 record. Katz is 0-4 all-time against Portland State.
• This year: The Hornets have been a hard-luck team again, going 4-15 so far with four overtime losses. Sacramento State had lost nine in a row before a 57-55 win over Eastern Washington last Saturday. The Hornets host Idaho State on Thursday prior to facing the Vikings... Sacramento State ranks last in the league in scoring at 61.9 points per game while shooting .410 from the field, .319 from three-point range and .666 at the line... SR G Sultan Toles-Bey is the Hornets' top player, leading the Big Sky in minutes played at 36.8 per game. He scores 12.4 points per game and averages 4.3 assists per game. Toles-Bey also leads the team in three-pointers (39), free throw shooting (.784) and steals (31)... John Dickson averages 10.8 points and 4.1 rebounds.

VIKING HEAD COACH TYLER GEVING
Tyler Geving is in his second season as Head Coach and sixth season overall with the Portland State program. Geving has a 23-28 record with the Vikings. He was 13-19 in 2009-10 and led PSU to the Big Sky Tournament semifinals. Geving is a 1996 graduate of Central Washington and has been in collegiate coaching for 16 years.
   
Geving is 3-0 against Eastern Washington and 2-0 against Sacramento State. He is 11-14 all-time against Big Sky Conference opponents. Geving is 12-14 all-time in non-conference games.
   
The second-year Head Coach is assisted by Andy McClouskey (1st year, Oregon State, 1982), Eric Harper (6th year, Central Washington, 1995) and Anthony Owens (2nd year, Great Falls, 2006). Former Viking player Mickey Polis is the Director of Operations (2nd year, Portland State, 2009).

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
VIKINGS ON RADIO: All Portland State basketball games can be heard on Freedom 970 AM and www.970.am. The Viking Pregame Show begins one-half hour prior to tipoff with Tom Hewitt calling all the action.
INTERNET STREAMING: Live streaming video of all Portland State home and Big Sky Conference games can be seen free at www.b2TV.com. Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.GoViks.com.
TICKETS: Portland State Basketball tickets are priced from $10-$15 for adults and $7-$10 for juniors and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com. They are also available to the Portland State ticket office, or at the Stott Center beginning 90 minutes prior to the game. The Portland State Ticket Office is located Smith Memorial Union, 1825 SW Broadway on the Portland State campus or call 888-VIK-TIKS/503-725-3307.

MELVIN JONES WILL BE FEATURED IN “AMERICAN STORY”
SR G Melvin Jones is the subject of what will be a nationally-recognized feature on NBC's Today Show. Reporter Bob Dotson, who produces a regular feature called “American Story” on The Today Show, was in town earlier in January to interview Melvin, his family and their unique story. The feature will appear on the Today Show later this month on a date to be announced.

Jones has already been featured on the front page of the Seattle Times and in the Portland Tribune for his inspiring story. Jones has risen up from a high school student on a path to failure to an Academic All-Conference level student at Portland State while excelling in the sport of basketball. He has done so with the assistance of his adoptive mother, Jennifer Annable, former high school coach, Kasey Poirrer, and their family.

WINNING LINES 
• PSU is 7-3 at home this year, 2-2 in Big Sky home games... since the start of the 2007-08 season, Portland State is 40-9 at home, including 24-6 in Big Sky Conference games.
• The Vikings have now come back to win three times when trailing at halftime this year. They are 3-7 when trailing at half, 7-2 when leading or tied.
• The Vikings are 3-6 on the road this season, including 2-0 in neutral site games... PSU is 1-2 in Big Sky road games.
• PSU is 35-20 in Big Sky games since the start of the 2007-08 season, 40-21 including tournament games.

HOT:
• JR G Charles Odum is shooting .639 from the field, .688 from three-point range and averaging 17.4 points in Big Sky Conference games.
• SR G Melvin Jones has committed just five turnovers in eight games as the starting point guard. Portland State has averaged 10.6 turnovers in those games, after averaging 15.3 in the first 11 games.
• Tree Thomas has made 15-25 shots in his last three games (.600) and averaged 13.3 points.

NOT:
• The training room: PSU has played 10 of its 19 game with just nine players suited up due to injury.
• PSU is 1-6 on the road this year.
• PSU has been outrebounded by 3.6 per game in seven Big Sky contests.
• SR F Phil Nelson has made only 5-28 shots since returning from injury five games ago.
   
SAD SATURDAY: Coming off a big win over Weber State on Thursday night, the Vikings were dealt the bad news of the loss of JR F Chehales Tapscott (knee) on Saturday morning. They were already without JR C Nate Lozeau, and went into Saturday night's game undermanned. The result was not pretty as PSU was beaten by Northern Arizona, 71-59, in the Altitude/Big Sky Conference Game of the Week. The Vikings' 59 points were the fewest scored at home since beating Sacramento State 59-42 on Feb. 8, 2009. And, you would have to go back to Jan. 8, 2004 to find a home game in which PSU scored fewer points (a 61-54 loss to Montana State).

GIVING HIS BIG SKY BEST: JR G Charles Odum has been red-hot lately and tearing up the Big Sky. In seven Big Sky games, Odum averages a team-best 17.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He is shooting .639 from the field, .688 from three-point range and .733 at the line in Big Sky games.  Odum has led the team in scoring four times and twice set a new career-high. Most recently, Odum scored a career-high 24 at Montana (1/15), and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds against Northern Arizona (1/22)... Odum was averaging 12.7 points in non-conference games.

NO GIVEAWAYS HERE: Moving Odum into the starting lineup has meant moving SR G Melvin Jones over to the point from his more comfortable shooting-guard role. Jones has responded by committing just five turnovers in eight games... the Viking team has committed just 85 turnovers in those games (10.6). PSU had been averaging 15.3 turnovers per game prior to that.

FREE IS A GOOD PRICE: The Vikings are making frequent trips to the free throw line thanks in part to the slashing styles of SO G Chris Harriel, JR F Chehales Tapscott, JR G Charles Odum, and the physical play of SR F Tree Thomas. The Vikings have shot 417 free throws, making 307, an average of 16.2-21.9 shooting per game for a .736 mark (last year PSU averaged 14.4-20.1, .717)... Viking opponents are now 219-332, an average of 11.5-17.5 per game for a .660 mark... as a result, PSU is beating its opponents by nearly five points per game at the line this year.

MOST IMPROVED: The play of SO G Chris Harriel makes him the easy choice for Most Improved Viking this season. While Coach Tyler Geving knew his talented sophomore would be better, he probably didn't count on quite this much production. Harriel has already set three new career scoring highs (now 25) and three new career rebounding highs (now 12). Harriel leads the Vikings with 15.2 points per game while averaging 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals.

GREAT TAP-SCOTT!: A knee injury for JR F Chehales Tapscott has put his season on hold for the time being, and the Vikings will now miss their leading rebounder and shot-blocker indefinitely. The former NWAACC Player of the Year from Clackamas CC is averaging 11.7 points, a team-high 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He is shooting .463 from the field and has 13 blocked shots.

MINI-MICROWAVE: JR G Charles Odum is reminiscent of former Detroit Pistons star Vinnie Johnson (aka The Microwave) in both game and physique. In fact, in a role as the Vikings' sixth man, Odum was definitely heating up quickly for the Vikings. As a result, the 6-foot, 205-pounder was moved into the starting lineup after 11 games... Odum has led the team in scoring five times since then, twice setting a new career high (now 24)... he averages 14.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, shoots .544 from the field, .467 from three-point range and .750 at the line.

KEEPING UP WITH MELVIN JONES: SR G Melvin Jones keeps rolling along, now spending most of his time as the Viking point guard. Jones has just five turnovers in eight starts at the point. He is averaging 11.3 points and 2.6 assists per game this season. He also leads the team with 43 three-point field goals and .833 free throw shooting.

A TREE GROWS IN PORTLAND: SR F Tree Thomas has scored 40 points (15-25 FG) in his last three games and raised his scoring average to 8.3 per game this year. Thomas is now shooting .495 from the field and .778 at the line. He averages 9.6 points and shoots .568 in Big Sky Conference games.

HALF-NELSON: It is understandable that SR F Phil Nelson is not up to par yet after returning from a twice-broken foot. In his first five games, Nelson has played 19 minutes a night, made just 5-28 shots and averaged 3.6 points and 2.2 rebounds. However, with JR C Nate Lozeau and JR F Chehales Tapscott now out indefinitely, Nelson's production is needed more than ever... his long-awaited return came on Jan. 8 against Eastern Washington. Nelson had missed 26 straight games after breaking his left foot twice. Nelson broke his foot late last January, missing the final 12 games of the season. He had been averaging 12.9 points and had 48 three-point field goals through 20 games. Nelson reinjured the foot on Nov. 8 and missed the first 14 games of this year. PSU went 13-13 in the 26 games Nelson had missed since Jan. 30... Nelson began practicing on Jan. 6, and is admittedly rusty and not in game condition... prior to coming off the bench in the previous five games, Nelson had started the previous 53 games off his Viking career. PSU is 31-22 in those games and 33-25 overall in games he plays.

FABULOUS 50s: Portland State's up-tempo style means the Vikings will naturally give up more points than most teams. As a result they rank ninth in scoring defense (73.6) in the Big Sky.  However, the defense is much improved over last year when it gave up 79.2 points per game. Moreover, the Vikings held Eastern Washington (1/8) to just 58 points and a season-opponent low .308 field goal percentage. That marked the fourth time this year PSU has held an opponent in the 50s compared to just once last season. Not coincidently, the Vikings are 4-0 in those games.