complete game notes in pdf

Portland State plays its' first game of the 2011-12 season against a first-time opponent this Friday when the Vikings travel to Denver University for a non-conference game. Tip-off is 6:30 p.m. PT and the game will air on the Vikings' flagship radio station, Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. The game will be televised in the Portland area on tape delay on Root Sports. It airs at 10:30 p.m. PT (Comcast ch. 34/HD 734).
    
The Vikings begin their third season under Head Coach Tyler Geving, who has gone 27-35 overall. Geving is 14-14 all-time against non-conference opponents. PSU was 14-16 last season and returns three players from that squad, including second team All-Big Sky guard Charles Odum (SR, 6-0,14.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and forward Chehales Tapscott (SR, 6-5, 11.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg), who were starters, and center Nate Lozeau (SR, 6-10, 4.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg), who was a part-time starter.
    
Also expected to start are junior college transfer point guard Lateef McMullan (JR, 5-11), and redshirt transfer guard Michael Harthun (JR, 6-3).
    
PSU plays its' home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 15 against Seattle University, beginning a 12-game home schedule at the Stott Center.

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-0) vs. DENVER PIONEERS (0-0)
Friday, November 11, 2011, 6:30 p.m. PT @ Magness Arena (7,200), Denver, CO
Television: Root Sports (Comcast ch. 34/HD734) in Portland on tape delay at 10:30 p.m. PT
Radio: Freedom 970 AM, www.freedom970.com • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Pregame Show: 6 p.m. PT
Live Video Stream: None • Live Stats: www.GoViks.com
All-Time Series: 1st meeting

STORYLINES
• The series: Portland State and Denver will meet for the first time ever in men's basketball.
• Vikings vs. The Sun Belt: Portland State is 3-8 against teams from the Sun Belt Conference all-time but has not played any members in recent seasons.
• The Pioneers: Denver University, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, will be playing the first of 16 home games this season... Denver defeated Big Sky Conference champion Northern Colorado last season, 71-68... the Pioneers were 13-17 last year, 9-7 in the Sun Belt... four starters and eight letterwinners return from that team... Brian Stafford is the top returning scoring at 12.9 points per game last season... brothers Chase (12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and Travis (8.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg) Hallam also return... the Pioneers were a good shooting (.454/.401/.725) but poor rebounding (-5.8) team in 2010-11.
• Head Coach Joe Scott is 58-65 in four seasons at Denver... he has a collegiate record of 151-173 in 11 seasons... Kennedy has never faced the Vikings.

VIKING HEAD COACH TYLER GEVING
Tyler Geving begins his third season as Head Coach and sixth season overall with the Portland State program. Geving has a 27-35 record with the Vikings. He was 13-19 in 2009-10 and led PSU to the Big Sky Tournament semifinals. In 2010-11, his Vikings were 14-16 overall.
    
Geving is 14-14 all-time in non-conference games. He is 13-21 all-time against Big Sky Conference opponents.
    
Geving is a 1996 graduate of Central Washington and has been in collegiate coaching for 17 years.
    
The third-year Head Coach is assisted by Andy McClouskey (2nd year, Oregon State, 1982), Eric Harper (7th year, Central Washington, 1995) and Anthony Owens (3rd year, Great Falls, 2006). Former Viking player Mickey Polis is the Director of Operations (3rd year, Portland State, 2009).

VIKINGS WIN EXHIBITION OVER WESTERN OREGON, 91-82
Michael Harthun led six players in double figures with 21 points and Portland State beat Western Oregon, 91-82, in a preseason exhibition at the Stott Center.
    
Harthun was playing in his first game as a Viking after a redshirt season. The junior guard showed no rust from his time off, hitting 6-10 field goals, including 4-7 from three-point range, and 5-5 at the line.
    
Senior guard Charles Odum scored 16 for the Vikings, while Chehales Tapscott had a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Center Nate Lozeau added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Another newcomer, forward Martin Whitmore, scored 10 points off the bench.
    
New point guard, Lateef McMullan, was solid in his debut as a Viking. The junior transfer had 15 points and seven assists.
    
Portland State made just one of its first 10 shots, falling behind 16-4 after eight minutes. But the drought was short-lived as they roared back to make 9 of their next 10. A Martin Whitmore three-point play put the Vikings on top 26-21 with 7:44 left in the half. The 22-5 run took little more than four minutes.
    
The Vikings lead grew to 15, but they settled for a 43-31 halftime lead. After a poor shooting start, the Vikings made 15 of 18 shots over the final 12 minutes. They also held a 20-8 advantage on the backboards.
    
PSU held a double-digit lead throughout the second half. The Vikings ended up shooting .491 from the field, .450 from three-point range and .765 at the line.
    
Portland State also had a huge advantage on the boards, 43-29.
    
Blair Wheedon led Western Oregon, an NCAA Division II program, with 24 points. Tarance Glynn added14 points and six rebounds.

THE SCHEDULE
Portland State will play a 30-game schedule, including 12 at home. The Vikings play in a preseason tournament at the University of Wyoming and will also travel to an opponent to be named for an ESPN Bracketbuster game. The Vikings face Oregon and Oregon State in the same year for the first time in nine seasons, although they will not play the University of Portland for the first time since 1998.
    
The 16-game Big Sky Conference schedule begins after Christmas. The six-team Big Sky Conference Tournament takes place Mar. 3-7.
    
“Weber State is the team to beat, with the best player in the league. With Damion Lillard on the floor they are a pretty special team,” said Geving. “But, I think on any given night, anybody can beat anybody in this league. After Weber State, I think anyone can finish second through ninth.”

Here are some things we are doing for the basketball game vs. Seattle. We are doing a “Portlandia” Night to celebrate all things Portland.  Any fan wearing Vikings, Blazers, or Timbers gear can buy a GA ticket for $5.00.
 
HOME OPENER vs. SEATTLE IS PORTLANDIA NIGHT
Portland State's home opener against Seattle University on Nov. 15 will be Portlandia Night. Any fans wearing Vikings, Blazers or Timbers gear will receive a $5 general admission ticket. Other city of Portland features:
• Bridgeport Brewery's seasonal Ale Ebenezer will be available. Fans can buy 4 drink tokens for $3.00.
• The Voodoo Doughnuts truck will be outside of the Stott Center selling their world famous Doughnuts.
• The popular Park Blocks cart Blazin' Burritos will also be outside the Stott Center selling food.

TELEVISED GAMES
Currently, Portland State has two games that are scheduled to be televised. They are: Dec. 18 at Oregon State on Root Sports; and Jan. 29 vs. Montana on Altitude/CSN. Other televised games are expected to be announced later this fall.

QUICK NOTES FOR 2011-12
• Portland State returns two starters and three letterwinners from the 2010-11 squad. Seniors Charles Odum and Chehales Tapscott will lead the Vikings in 2011-12. Odum, a guard, was a second-team All-Big Sky Conference selection last year, averaging a team-best 14.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and shooting 52% from the field. Tapscott, a forward, averaged 11.8 points and 8.1 rebounds to rank second in the Big Sky Conference.
• Among six National Letter of Intent signees, the Vikings should have addressed their needs coming into the season. Point guard Lateef McMullan, a transfer from Citrus JC, is the quick playmaker the Vikings need. Freshman guards Gary Winston and Jerron Smith have the scoring ability necessary at the off-guard spot. Junior forward Martin Whitmore brings three-point scoring ability the Vikings need to replace with the graduation of Melvin Jones and Phil Nelson. Junior forward Michael Harvey brings supreme athleticism as a slasher and the ability to defend a number of positions. Freshman forward Kidus Ephrem is an athletic player that will lend depth to the Vikings inside. Sophomore Dre Winston, a transfer from Washington State who will redshirt in 2011-12, may be the point guard of the future for the Vikings.
• Three redshirts figure to make significant contributions in 2011-12: JR G Michael Harthun, JR F Renado Parker and FR C Brandon Cataldo. Harthun transferred from Washington State where he played two seasons and should fit nicely in the shooting guard role. Parker played at North Idaho JC and brings a powerful post presence despite being only 6-5. Cataldo is a promising 6-10 center who spent last year getting his game and body in better condition after missing most of his senior year in high school with a broken leg.
• PSU loses five seniors from the 2010-11 squad: guard Melvin Jones (11.5 ppg, 2.4 apg, 72 3-pt FG), forward Tree Thomas (9.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg), forward Phil Nelson (6.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg), forward Paul Guede (4.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and guard Alonzo Brandon (1.6 ppg). In addition, sophomore guard Chris Harriel (12.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg) elected to transfer following the season and junior guard Dane Johnson (2.8 ppg, 2.9 apg) elected not to return.
• With a 72.3 scoring average in 2010-11, Portland State led the Big Sky Conference in scoring offense for the fourth straight year. Scoring meant winning for the Vikings. PSU was 8-1 in games in which it scored at least 80 points.
• Head Coach Tyler Geving begins his third season at the helm in 2011-12. The Vikings improved from 13-19 in year one to 14-16 in year two under Geving despite playing two fewer games. He spent four seasons as an assistant at PSU before being named Head Coach.
• The modest improvement in wins was significant for the Vikings as they lost 33 games to injuries to four different players in 2010-11. Included was Chehales Tapscott missing six games during the middle of the season with a knee injury (and surgery). Phil Nelson, expected to be a top scorer for the Vikings, missed he first 14 games with a broken foot. PSU played 13 games with just nine available players.