MONTANA STATE BOBCATS (10-8, 5-2) vs. PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (10-9, 4-3)

Thursday, January 26, 2012, 7:05 p.m. @ Peter W. Stott Center (1,500), Portland, OR

Television: None

Radio: Freedom 970 AM, www.freedom970.com • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Pregame Show: 6 p.m.

Live Video Stream: www.b2tv.com • Live Stats: www.GoViks.com

All-Time Series: MSU leads 26-18 • PSU in Portland: 12-7 

Big Sky Series: MSU leads 20-15 • PSU in Portland: 11-5

Suddenly one of the hottest teams in the Big Sky Conference, the Portland State Vikings have a lot to play for this weekend as they host third-place Montana State and second-place Montana at the Stott Center. The Vikings (4-3) and Bobcats (5-2) meet on Thursday night in a 7:05 p.m. game. Then, the Vikings and Grizzlies (6-1) play on Sunday afternoon in the Altitude/Big Sky Conference Game of the Week. 

Both games air on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com and can also be seen on www.b2tv.com. The Sunday Game of the Week also airs at 1:05 p.m. on Altitude TV and Comcast SportsNet in the Portland area.

Portland State started last week in sixth place and proceeded to climb to fourth with wins over Idaho State and Eastern Washington. Now 10-9 overall, 4-3 in the Big Sky, the Vikings have won three in a row and four of their last five. 

This week also opens the toughest stretch of the remaining schedule for the Vikings. They face the third-place Montana State, second-place Montana and first-place Weber State (7-0, Feb. 2 in Ogden) in successive games. If PSU can get by those three in good shape, they will then play their last six games against teams currently in fifth through ninth place in the Big Sky (Northern Arizona, Idaho State, Sacramento State (twice), Eastern Washington and Northern Colorado).

But, first things first. PSU will try to avenge an 86-73 loss to Montana State this Thursday. The Bobcats won that game in Bozeman on Dec. 30 and have played well since, improving to 10-8, 5-2 overall. Montana State has also won three straight games and five of its last six. MSU is 4-5 on the road this season.

STORYLINES

• The series: Montana State leads the all-time (26-18) and Big Sky (20-15) series with Portland State following a win in Bozeman on Dec. 30... MSU now leads 14-3 in Big Sky games in Bozeman... the Vikings lead the series in Portland, 11-5, in Big Sky games... Portland State has won all three meetings between the schools in Big Sky Tournament play... in 2009, PSU beat Montana State, 79-77, in the Big Sky Tournament championship played in Ogden, UT... in 2010, PSU won a quarterfinal round game at Bozeman, 68-65. 

• Dec. 30: The Bobcats took an 86-73 decision in Bozeman behind .534 field goal shooting. MSU hit its first nine shots, jumping to an 18-point lead and rolling to the win... Xavier Blount had 24 points and five assists. Christian Moon scored 21 for the Bobcats... Charles Odum racked up 20 points, hitting 7-8 from the field, but was limited to 23 minutes due to foul trouble... Chehales Tapscott had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Vikings.

• The Bobcats: An original member of the Big Sky Conference, MSU has won four Big Sky season championships and two Big Sky Tournament championships during its history. The Bobcats have made three NCAA Tournament appearances... Montana State was 13-18 overall in 2010-11. The Bobcats were 7-9 in Big Sky play, tying for fifth... one starter and five letterwinners return from last season... Xavier Blount is the Bobcats' leading scorer at 11.9 points per game... Christian Moon averages 11.2 points and has made 39 three-point field goals... Tre Johnson averages 9.4 points and a team-best 6.8 rebounds... MSU leads the Big Sky in blocked shots (70) and steals per game (7.3)... Mohammed Fall is the Big Sky leader in blocked shots (27).

• Head Coach Brad Huse is in his sixth year at Montana State and has a 78-91 record... in 14 seasons overall, Huse has a 262-151 record... Huse is 6-8 all-time against Portland State. 

MONTANA GRIZZLIES (13-6, 6-1) vs. PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (10-9, 4-3) 

Sunday, January 29, 1:05 p.m. @ Peter W. Stott Center (1,500), Portland, OR

Television: Altitude TV/CSN (ch. 37/HD 737 in Portland) • Play-by-play: Rich Winter • Analyst: Jay McMillin

Radio: Freedom 970 AM, www.freedom970.com • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Pregame Show: 12:30 p.m.

Live Video Stream: www.b2tv.com • Live Stats: www.GoViks.com

All-Time Series: UM leads 28-20 • PSU in Portland: 14-9 

Big Sky Series: UM leads 20-11 • PSU in Portland: 8-7

Montana is 13-6, 6-2 on the season, including 4-4 on the road. The Grizzlies have won two in a row and eight of their last nine games. Montana plays at Eastern Washington on Thursday prior to facing the Vikings.

STORYLINES

• The series: Portland State and Montana will meet for the 32nd time in a Big Sky Conference game and 49th time in history. Montana leads the all-time series, 28-20, and Big Sky series, 20-11... the Grizzlies have won six straight in the series, including the last two in Portland - by just a combined six points though.

• Dec. 28: Montana won the conference opener over the Vikings in Missoula, 75-64... the Grizzlies shot .532 from the field, and made 9-13 from three-point range (.692), while the Vikings were at just .377 and 4-17 (.235)... Charles Odum scored 27 points for the Vikings and Renado Parker came off the bench for 16 points and eight rebounds.... Kareem Jamar scored 17 points with four assists for the Grizzlies.

• The Grizzlies: Montana was 21-11 last season, 12-4 in the Big Sky Conference. The Grizzlies placed second in the league and advanced to the post-season College Basketball Invitational... throughout history, Montana has won five Big Sky Conference season titles, and seven Big Sky Tournament titles... Montana has played in the NCAA Tournament eight times... four starters and eight letterwinners return from last year's team... the Grizzlies are leading the Big Sky Conference in scoring defense (62.7) and field goal percentage defense (.413)... Will Cherry is the team leader in scoring (15.1), assists (3.5) and the Big Sky leader in steals (2.3)... Kareem Jamar is averaging 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and shooting .422 from three-point range... Mathias Ward averages 10.0 points and shoots .571 from the field.

• Head Coach Wayne Tinkle, a Montana alum, is in his sixth year as head coach for the Grizzlies. He has a 104-70 record... Tinkle is 6-3 all-time against Portland State. 

VIKING HEAD COACH TYLER GEVING

Tyler Geving is in his third season as Head Coach and seventh season overall with the Portland State program. 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 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).

Geving's record breakdown:

• Geving is 37-44 all-time at Portland State.

• 17-24 all-time against Big Sky Conference opponents, 20-20 all-time in non-conference games.

• Geving is 24-10 at home. He is 13-34 on the road, including 4-2 in neutral site games.

• Geving is 2-4 all-time against Montana, 0-5 all-time against Montana - the only Big Sky school he has not beaten.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES

VIKINGS ON THE RADIO: All Portland State basketball games can be heard on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. The Viking Pregame Show begins one-half hour prior to kickoff each week. Tom Hewitt does the play-by-play.

VIKINGS ON TELEVISION: Portland State has four televised games this year in the Portland area. They are: Nov. 11 against Denver on Root Sports; Dec. 12 at Oregon on CSN; Dec. 18 at Oregon State on Root Sports; and Jan. 29 vs. Montana on Altitude/CSN. Other televised games are TBA.

VIKINGS ON THE INTERNET: 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: Tickets for all home games are available for $15 (reserved) and $10 (general admission). Youth prices are $10 and $7. Groups of 15 or more get special admission prices. To purchase tickets by phone, call 1.888.VIK.TIKS or 503.725.3307. Tickets are on sale at the PSU Ticket Office, located in Smith Memorial Student Union. Tickets are also available at the Stott Center beginning 90 minutes prior to tipoff.

ODUM NAMED BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK... AGAIN

For the second straight week, Portland State's Charles Odum has been selected as the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Odum led the Vikings to a pair of league victories last week as the PSU climbed to fourth place in the Big Sky standings. 

The 6-foot, 205-pound senior guard from Lakewood, CA, averaged 24.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.5 assists per game as the Vikings beat Idaho State in Portland, and edged Eastern Washington in overtime on the road. In the two games, he shot .517 from the floor, .600 from 3-point range, and .762 at the free-throw line.

Odum scored a career-high 29 points with four rebounds, two assists and a steal in an 80-68 win over Idaho State on Monday. He connected on 10-18 from the floor, was 3-5 from three-point range, and 6-7 from the free-throw line.

Odum scored 20 points with four rebounds, two steals and one assist in the Vikings' 78-76 overtime win at Eastern Washington on Saturday. With the game tied at 76-76, Odum hit the game-winning shot with two seconds remaining on a contested 12-footer in the lane.

Odum ranks second in the Big Sky and 35th in the nation in scoring with an average of 18.3 points per game. In conference play, Odum is netting 21.1 points per game and shooting .597 percent from the field. He has scored 20 or more points in his last three games, and five of the last seven.

Last week, Odum also won Big Sky Player of the Week honors after leading PSU to a road win at Northern Colorado.  Odum scored 22 points (7-9 FG, 4-6 3-pt, 4-5 FT) with five assists in the win.

FAST BREAKS

WINNING LINES  

• The Vikings are 3-0 in games decided by four points or less.

• PSU was also 10-9 after 19 games last season.

• The Vikings are 6-1 at home this year, 2-1 in Big Sky games... over the last six seasons, PSU is 61-15 at home, including 31-12 in Big Sky Conference games.

• The Vikings are 4-8 on the road this season, including two neutral site wins... the Vikings are 2-2 in Big Sky road games... Portland State ended a nine-game Big Sky Conference road losing streak with the win at Northern Colorado and has now won two in a row.

• PSU has gone 117-39 in 156 games at the Stott Center since the 1996-97 season. Including home games at Memorial Coliseum (12-6) and the Rose Garden (19-9), the Vikings are 148-54 at home over the past 16 seasons. 

• PSU is 41-30 in Big Sky games since the start of the 2007-08 season, 46-31 including tournament games.

NO TIME LIKE OVERTIME: Portland State played its first overtime game in two seasons, beating Eastern Washington 78-76 (1/21). The last time PSU won an overtime game was at Eastern Washington, 66-62, on Feb. 28, 2009... PSU is 23-22 all-time in overtime... Tyler Geving is 1-2 all-time in overtime.

BETTER THAN EVEN: Portland State is now three games over .500 all-time against current members of the Big Sky Conference (148-145). Here are the all-time records: PSU has winning records vs. Idaho State (26-15), Northern Arizona (20-17), Northern Colorado (12-3), Sacramento State (22-10) and Eastern Washington (19-18). PSU has losing all-time records against Montana (20-28), Montana State (18-26) and Weber State (11-28)... And approaching even: PSU is 125-126 all-time in Big Sky Conference games against current Big Sky schools.

LIGHTS OUT: The Vikings have shot over .500 seven times this season and are 5-2 in those games... PSU has shot over .600 three times this year and are 3-0 in those games... PSU shot .673 (33-49) in a win over CSU Bakersfield (12/15). That was the best shooting by a Viking team in 66 games. The last time PSU shot better was a 33-48 (.688) performance against Eastern Washington on Dec. 5, 2009.

BIG SKY BEST: Not surprisingly, the Viking team leads the Big Sky Conference in field goal shooting (.485) and ranks second in scoring (77.5), free throw percentage (.744) and rebounding margin (+3.5)... SR F Chehales Tapscott leads the Big Sky Conference in rebounding (8.9), is second in blocked shots (1.3) and steals (1.9)... SR G Charles Odum ranks second in scoring (18.3) behind the nation's leader Damian Lillard (25.1). He is third in free throw percentage (.842)... SR C Nate Lozeau ranks third in field goal percentage (.571)... in Big Sky Conference only games, Portland State leads the league in scoring (77.7)... Tapscott leads the Big Sky in rebounding (9.1), steals (2.6) and blocked shots (2.0)... Odum leads in three-point field goal percentage (.571).

2 VS. 3: That's right, Portland State is the league's best overall shooting (.485) and two-point shooting team (.555), while shooting just .315 from three-point range... the only other Big Sky team shooting better than .500 from two-point range is Sacramento State (.505). 

NATIONAL RANKINGS: In NCAA statistics released on Monday, Portland State maintained some high rankings among the 338 Division I schools:

• 29th in scoring (77.5)

• 19th in field goal percentage (.485)

• 28th in free throw percentage (.744)

• SR G Charles Odum ranks 35th in scoring (18.3)

• SR G Charles Odum ranks 48th in field goal percentage (.530)

• SR F Chehales Tapscott ranks 48th in rebounding (8.9)

FREE IS A GOOD PRICE: For the second year in a row, Portland State is doing a great job of getting to the free throw line. So far, PSU has made more free throws than its opponents have attempted (PSU 349-469, .744; Opponents 239-322, .742), which is pretty good considering the Vikings have played more road games (12) than home games (7).

GAME-WINNERS: Portland State has had two game-winning shots coming inside the final five seconds of games this season. On Nov. 15, SR F Chehales Tapscott hit a short jumper in the lane against Seattle with 4.6 seconds to play, giving the Vikings a 66-65 win... last Saturday, SR G Charles Odum made a 12-footer in the lane with two seconds left in overtime to beat Eastern Washington, 78-76.

SCORING IN BUNCHES: SR G Charles Odum has scored 20 or more points eight times this season - with seven of those coming on the road. 

• Odum has three straight 20-point games and has scored 20 in five of the last seven games, including a career-high 29 against Idaho State (1/16). 

• In Odum's eight 20-point games, he is 61-105 from the field (.581), averaging 24.2 points and the Vikings are 5-3.

• Odum is averaging 21.1 points in league games.

TOP 10 GUY: SR F Chehales Tapscott ranks first in rebounding (8.9), fifth in field goal percentage (.540), seventh in scoring (14.1), second in blocked shots (1.3) and steals (1.9) in the Big Sky. Alas, he is only 14th in free throw percentage (.733).

A PRETTY GOOD LINE: Over the last four games, SR F Chehales Tapscott is averaging 16.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 steals, 3.0 blocks and is shooting .639 from the field and .750 from the field.

EMERGING: JR G Lateef McMullan's game is getting better as the season progresses. He scored a career-high 20 points and tied his career-high with six assists in the win at Northern Colorado (1/12). That performance continues the trend of recent week's for McMullan... over the last three games, he has averaged 16.0 points, 4.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds, making 13-25 shots (.520)... averaging 7.0 points and 2.3 assists after eight games, McMullan has scored in double figures in nine of the last 11 contests to improve to 10.4 points and 2.6 assists per game.

THE VIKINGS ON TELEVISION: Portland State is 17-34 in games televised in the Portland area since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97. That includes a 9-5 home record and 8-29 road record. PSU is 0-3 on TV this year losing at Denver (69-61), Oregon (79-70) and Oregon State (101-68)... the Vikings are 7-2 in the Altitude/Big Sky Conference Game of the Week over the last four seasons, including 4-1 at home, 3-1 on the road. PSU will play a Big Sky Game of the Week on Jan. 29 against Montana.