complete notes and stats in pdf

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (13-12) vs. IDAHO VANDALS (15-11)
Saturday, February 18, 2012, 7:05 p.m. @ Cowan Spectrum (7,000), Moscow, ID
Television: None
Radio: Freedom 970 AM, www.970.am • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Pregame Show: 6:30 p.m.
Live Video Stream: GoVandals.com • Live Stats: www.GoViks.com
All-Time Series: PSU leads 10-8 • PSU in Moscow: 3-6

VIKINGS STEP OUT OF CONFERENCE FOR GAME AT IDAHO
The Portland State Vikings will take a three-game winning streak into a non-conference game at the University of Idaho this Saturday. The 13-12 Vikings take on the 15-11 Vandals in a 7:05 p.m. game at Cowan Spectrum in Moscow. It is the first meeting between the schools in six seasons and will air on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. It is part of the annual ESPN BracketBuster series, although the game will not be televised.
    
PSU comes off an 85-67 win over Sacramento State on Wednesday night. The Vikings shot .652 from the field and led by as many as 31 points in the game. That made it three wins in a row for the Vikings and six of the last nine. PSU has also won four of its last five games on the road heading into Saturday's road contest.
    
Idaho has had the week off to prepare for Portland State. The Vandals come into the contest having won four straight and eight of their last 11. Idaho is 9-4 at home this year.

STORYLINES
• The series: Portland State leads the all-time series 10-8... the teams have only met during one season since PSU reinstated basketball in 1996-97. That was the 2005-06 year when the Vikings beat the Vandals twice, 61-59 in Moscow and 81-48 in Portland... prior to that the teams had not met since 1979.
• PSU vs. The WAC: Portland State is 18-28 all-time against teams that are current members of the Western Athletic Conference... the Vikings have faced one WAC school this year - Louisiana Tech - and defeated the Bulldogs, 66-48, at the Wyoming Jim Thorpe Classic (Nov. 26).
• Common Opponents: The Vandals have played three Big Sky Conference schools this year, losing to Montana (57-52) and Eastern Washington (73-66) and beating Montana State (76-67). Other common opponents include Oregon State (UI won 74-60), Seattle (UI won 73-62 and 70-69), CSU Bakersfield (UI won 72-44) and Louisiana Tech (UI won 90-88 in overtime, and 73-64). The Vandals are 7-2 against those schools, while the Vikings are 4-5 against the common opponents.
• The Vandals: Idaho is a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The Vandals were 18-14 last year, 9-7 in the WAC and tied for third... they went on to participate in the post-season College Basketball Invitational...  one starter and seven letterwinners return from that team... this year's squad is currently 15-11, 7-4 in league play, and has won its last four games, and eight of 11... Deremy Geiger and Kyle Barone share team scoring honors at 12.7 points per game, though they get it done in different ways. Geiger, a 5-11 senior guard, has made 72-165 three-point field goals (.436), while Barone, a 6-10 center, shoots .537 from the field while working inside. Barone leads the team with 8.2 rebounds and 43 blocked shots this year... Stephen Madison, a 6-5 guard, averages 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and has made 36 three-pointers this year... Djim Bandoumel (39 blocks) and Landon Tatum (4.4 assists) are also big contributors.
• Head Coach Don Verlin is in his fourth year at Idaho. He has a 65-57 record and has never faced PSU.

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 40-47 all-time at Portland State.
    • 20-27 all-time against Big Sky Conference opponents, 20-20 all-time in non-conference games.
    • Geving is 24-12 at home. He is 15-35 on the road, including 4-2 in neutral site games.
    • Geving has never faced Idaho. He is 1-2 all-time against WAC opponents.

THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
The Big Sky Conference Tournament begins on Mar. 3 with quarterfinal round games at the home sites of the third and fourth-place teams. Portland State took a huge step toward a Big Sky Tournament berth with its win on Wednesday (six teams get in). The Vikings are now tied for third, but can move no higher. With a two-and-a-half game lead over seventh-place Northern Colorado (5-9), PSU would have to lose its final three and UNC win its final two for the Vikings to possibly get bounced out of the tournament. However, that would require some tie-breaking math that would have to be determined at the season's conclusion (as the team's would have had a season split, assuming a UNC win over the Viks on Feb. 28).
    
What the Vikings really seek is that first-round home game. Portland State's final Big Sky Conference games are at Sacramento State (Feb. 23, 4-10), Eastern Washington (Feb. 25, 6-7) and Northern Colorado (Feb. 28, 5-9). Three wins would guarantee a first-round home game (and third seed). Two wins would NOT guarantee a first-round home game, but would make it highly likely depending on other conference results.

VIKINGS IN THE ESPN BRACKETBUSTER GAME
Portland State's game at the University of Idaho marks PSU's sixth appearance in a BracketBuster game. On one occasion the game was televised - a 93-81 win over Boise State on Feb. 21, 2009. PSU is 2-3 all-time in BracketBuster matchups, including an 84-75 win over Loyola Marymount last year at the Stott Center.
    
As part of the BracketBuster program, Idaho will have to return the game at Portland State within the next two seasons.
    
PSU'S BRACKETBUSTER HISTORY: Portland State is 2-3 in ESPN BracketBuster games in the last seven seasons. The home team has won every time. PSU is 2-2 in the return games and still must return a game to Loyola Marymount in 2012-13.

Feb. 19, 2005: at Middle Tennessee State 83, Portland State 62
Feb. 17, 2007: at Cal Poly 92, Portland State 87
Feb. 23, 2008: at Cal State Fullerton 85, Portland State 69
Feb. 21, 2009: at Portland State 93, Boise State 81 (televised on ESPNU)
Feb. 19, 2011: at Portland State 84, Loyola Marymount 75

FAST BREAKS

WINNING LINES  
• THE BROOM: Portland State has been swept by Weber State, Montana and Montana State this season. However, the Vikings have swept Idaho State and Northern Arizona. The other three Big Sky Conference series' will be determined in the next two weeks.
• The Vikings are 7-3 at home this year, 3-3 in Big Sky games... over the last six seasons, PSU is 62-17 at home, including 32-14 in Big Sky Conference games.
• The Vikings are 6-9 on the road this season, including two neutral site wins... the Vikings are 4-3 in Big Sky road games - their most Big Sky road wins since 2008-09, and second-most in history.
• PSU has gone 118-41 in 159 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 149-56 at home over the past 16 seasons.
• PSU is 43-33 in Big Sky games since the start of the 2007-08 season, 48-34 including tournament games.

BETTER THAN EVEN: Portland State is three games over .500 all-time against current members of the Big Sky Conference (151-148). Here are the all-time records: PSU has winning records vs. Idaho State (27-15), Northern Arizona (21-17), Northern Colorado (12-3), Sacramento State (23-10) and Eastern Washington (19-18). PSU has losing all-time records against Montana (20-28), Montana State (18-28) and Weber State (11-29)... And near even: PSU is 128-129 all-time in Big Sky Conference games against current Big Sky schools.

BETTER IN THE BIG SKY: Portland State's 7-6 Big Sky Conference record already has it two better than last season (5-11) with three games remaining. PSU has now matched the win total from 2009-10 (7-9) - Tyler Geving's first season as head coach. At 13-12 overall, PSU's next win will match Geving's best season record (14-16 overall last year)... with six road wins (6-9), Geving already has his best total in that category (5-15, 4-11 the last two years)

ROAD RECOVERY: Portland State began the season with some real struggles on the road, losing eight straight road games (but winning two neutral site games). However, in the last month, the Vikings have won four out of five on the road, improving to 4-9 overall, 6-9 including the neutral site games.
• Now at 4-3 in Big Sky Conference road games, Portland State has its most Big Sky road wins since 2008-09.
• Only once in 16 seasons have the Vikings won more Big Sky road games (6-2 in 2007-08).
• In addition, at 6-9, Tyler Geving has his most away-from-home wins in three years as head coach (5-15 in 2009-10, 4-11 in 2010-11).

BIG SKY BEST: The Viking team leads the Big Sky Conference in field goal shooting (.488), and ranks second in scoring (76.4) and free throw percentage (.739)... SR F Chehales Tapscott leads the Big Sky Conference in rebounding (9.3), double-doubles (10), and blocked shots (1.4). He is second in steals (1.9)... SR C Nate Lozeau leads the Big Sky Conference in field goal shooting percentage (.588)... SR G Charles Odum ranks second in scoring (18.5). He is third in free throw percentage (.839)... in Big Sky Conference only games, the Vikings also lead in field goal shooting (.498)... Tapscott leads in blocked shots (1.8) and rebounding (9.8)... Odum averages 20.2 points to rank second.

HE CAN FILL UP A BOXSCORE: SR F Chehales Tapscott had what must have been one of the great all-around lines by a Viking ever against Sacramento State on Wednesday. In 28 minutes of play, Tapscott scored 17 points (5-8 FG, 1-1 3-pt, 6-6 FT), grabbed 11 rebounds, made a career-high five blocked shots, handed out three assists and made three steals, WITHOUT committing a turnover or a foul... Tapscott's five blocked shots were one off the school record. It also allowed him to leap from 10th to fifth on the all-time best season blocked shots list at Portland State (35).

THE BEST DEFENSE?: SR F Chehales Tapscott might be making a run at top defender in the Big Sky Conference this season. Tapscott currently leads the Big Sky in two of the three major defensive categories with 9.3 rebounds per game and 35 blocked shots. He is second in steals (47/1.9 pg)... in Big Sky games, Tapscott averages 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 2.2 steals... for good measure, Tapscott also ranks seventh in scoring (14.0), fifth in field goal percentage (.544), and 13th in free throw percentage (.738).

LIGHTS OUT: The Vikings have shot over .500 nine times this season and are 7-2 in those games... PSU has shot over .600 four times this year and are 4-0 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... the Vikings also missed just 16 shots in 40 minutes in a win over Sacramento State (85-67 on Feb. 15), going 30-46 (.652).

SHOOTING IS EVERYTHING FOR THIS TEAM: The Vikings are 13-1 when shooting a higher percentage than their opponents, 0-11 when opponents outshot them.

2 VS. 3: Portland State is the league's best overall shooting (.488) and two-point shooting team (.551), while shooting just .333 from three-point range... the only other Big Sky team shooting .500 from two-point range is Weber State (.507).

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. PSU has made more free throws than its opponents have attempted (PSU 438-593, .739; Opponents 312-420, .743), which is pretty good considering the Vikings have played more road games (15) than home games (10).

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... on Jan. 21, SR G Charles Odum made a 12-footer in the lane with two seconds left in overtime to beat Eastern Washington, 78-76.

CHUCK WAGON: SR G Charles Odum has been the Vikings' offensive leader this season, averaging a team-high 18.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He is shooting a stellar .536 from the field and .839 at the line. Odum is shooting 123-195 on two-point attempts, a remarkable .631 percentage. Season highlights:
• Odum is averaging 20.2 points and shooting .580/.462/.808 in Big Sky Conference games.
• Odum has scored in double figures in 23 games this season. He has 10 20-point games.
• Odum ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in scoring, third in free throw percentage and sixth in field goal percentage.
• He was at his best at the Wyoming Jim Thorpe Classic, earning All-Tournament honors. Odum scored a 27 points in a win over Louisiana Tech, then followed it with 25 points in a win over Maryland-Eastern Shore. He shot 16-28 from the field (.571) in those two games and 18-20 at the line (.900).
• Odum was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week after scoring 22 points (7-9 FGs, 4-6 3-pt, 4-5 FT) with five assists and four rebounds in a road win at Northern Colorado (1/12)... he followed that with a second Big Sky POTW honor after wins over Idaho State (1/16) and Eastern Washington (1/21). Odum averaged  24.5 points, shot .517 from the floor, had a career-high against ISU (29) and hit the game-winner with two seconds left in overtime at EWU.
• Odum had a career-high 29 points in the win over Idaho State (1/16).

TAP-INS: SR F Chehales Tapscott is a double-double waiting to happen. He is averaging 14.0 points and 9.3 rebounds this season with a Big Sky best 10 double-doubles... Tapscott also leads the Vikings in steals, rebounds and blocked shots... Highlights this year:
• Tapscott set a new career-high with five blocks against Sacramento State (2/15)... he set a career high with five steals against Idaho State (1/16).
• Tapscott grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds against Montana (1/29) - the most by a Viking in five seasons... he matched that with 16 rebounds at Idaho State (2/9).
• Tapscott is shooting .544 from the field and .738 at the line.
• Tapscott has 10 double-doubles this year to lead the Big Sky, and 16 in 49 career games at Portland State. He has been the team's leading rebounder in 37 of 49 career games.
• Tapscott was named to the Wyoming Jim Thorpe Classic All-Tournament team (11.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg, five assists, four blocks, four steals).
• The 6-5 forward scored six of the final eight points in a win over Seattle (11/15), bringing PSU back from a seven-point deficit with 1:39 to play. He hit the game-winning shot with 4.6 seconds to play.
• Tapscott scored a season-high 26 points (10-15 FG, 1-2 3-pt, 5-6 FT), with eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block against Weber State (1/7).

WINSTON IS SMOKIN' OUTSIDE: FR G Gary Winston is 27-60 from three-point range this season to lead the Vikings with a .450 mark...... he ranks fourth in the Big Sky Conference... Winston averages 7.1 points in 22 minutes per game off the bench.

SIXTH MAN: JR F Renado Parker has been making the impact hoped for when he became eligible for the Vikings at the end of fall term. Though only 6-5, Parker is a powerful post player who has performed well as the Vikings' sixth man. He made 6-6 field goals for 12 points and four rebounds in just 19 minutes against Sacramento State on Wednesday night... Parker averages 8.4 points and 4.7 rebounds and is shooting .574 from the field this season.

THUN-ING UP: JR G Michael Harthun is getting more and more comfortable at shooting guard for the Vikings as the season goes along. “Toon” is now shooting .461 from the field, .400 from three-point range, averages 8.9 points and has a team-high 34 three-pointers made... Harthun ranks 12th in the Big Sky Conference in three-point percentage.

NATE'S NOTES: SR C Nate Lozeau scored a career-high 19 points at Denver. He followed that with 13 points and a career-high 11 rebounds in the win over Seattle... Lozeau then had another career high with 12 rebounds against Linfield. Highlights this year:
• Lozeau is shooting .588 from the field to lead the Big Sky Conference. He is averaging 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds, up dramatically from 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds last year.
• In his last three games, Nate has made 11-13 FGs (.846) and scored 28 points (9.3).
• Lozeau has posted three double-doubles (four career).

EMERGING: JR G Lateef McMullan's game is getting better as the season progresses. He scored a career-high 20 points and along with six assists in the win at Northern Colorado (1/12)... McMullan handed out a season-high seven assists against Montana State (1/26)... averaging 7.0 points and 2.3 assists after eight games, McMullan has improved to 9.2 points and 2.7 assists per game.

“BIGS” BASKETS: Every member of Portland State's “big guys” is currently shooting .500 or better, all the way down the roster: SR C Nate Lozeau (.588), JR F Renado Parker (.574), SR F Chehales Tapscott (.544), FR F Kidus Ephrem (.538), and FR C Brandon Cataldo (.500).

SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
• SR C Nate Lozeau posted a career-high 19 points in the Vikings' 69-61 loss at Denver (11/11).
• SR F Chehales Tapscott hit a short jump shot in the lane with 4.6 seconds left to beat Seattle, 66-65 (11/15). Tapscott brought PSU back from a 65-58 deficit with 1:39 to play. He scored six of the final eight points, and had 12 points and 11 rebounds in the game. SR C Nate Lozeau added 13 points and 11 rebounds.
• Five Vikings scored in double figures as PSU reached 100 points for the first time in 30 games, downing Linfield, 101-64 (11/21). SR F Chehales Tapscott had a game-high 19 points (8-10 FG), while SR C Nate Lozeau scored 14 with a career-high 12 rebounds.
• SR G Charles Odum scored a career-high 27 points (9-14 FG, 9-9 FT) and SR F Chehales Tapscott had a career-high 14 rebounds in leading the Vikings to a 66-48 win over Louisiana Tech (11/26). It was the fewest points allowed by the Vikings in 77 games.
• SR G Charles Odum had 25 points, while JR G Michael Harthun scored a career-high 15, and SR C Nate Lozeau added a double-double in a 79-69 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore (11/27).
• SR G Charles Odum (19.7, 3.7 rpg) and SR F Chehales Tapscott (11.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg) were both named to the Wyoming Jim Thorpe Classic All-Tournament team after leading the Vikings to a 2-1 record.
• PSU routed Walla Walla, 102-47, for its third straight win (12/3), shooting .566 from the field. SR C Nate Lozeau had 18 points and nine rebounds to lead the way. SR G Charles Odum added 17 points, four rebounds and four assists.
• JR G Michael Harthun scored a career-high 22 points (9-11 FGs) in leading the Vikings to a 91-87 win over Cal State Bakersfield. Five players scored in double figures and the Vikings shot .673 from the field (33-49), the best by a PSU team in more than two seasons.
• SR G Charles Odum matched his career high with 27 points (8-13 FG, 2-4 3-pt FG, 9-9 FT) in the Vikings' Big Sky opener at Montana (12/28).
• Portland State shot 62% from the field  and forced 23 Lumberjack turnovers in an 82-62 win over Northern Arizona (1/5). That improved the Vikings' home record to 5-0 on the season. SR G Charles Odum had 18 points (6-8 FG, 2-2 3-pt, 4-4 FT) with five assists, three rebounds and two steals to lead the Vikings.
• SR F Chehales Tapscott scored a season-high 26 points (10-15 FG, 1-2 3-pt, 5-6 FT), with eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block against Weber State (1/7).
• JR G Lateef McMullan scored a career-high 20 points (7-11 FG, 2-4 3-pt, 4-5 FT) with six assists and five rebounds in leading the Vikings to a 86-75 win at Northern Colorado (1/12). SR G Charles Odum scored 22 points (7-9 FG, 4-6 3-pt, 4-5 FT) with five assists. The Vikings shot .617 from the field, including a season-best 13-21 from three-point range (.619).
• SR G Charles Odum was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on Jan. 16 after leading the Vikings to a Big Sky road win at Northern Colorado (1/12). Odum scored 22 points (7-9 FG, 4-6 3-pt, 4-5 FT) with five assists in the win.
• SR G Charles Odum scored a career-high 29 points (10-18 FG, 3-5 3-pt, 6-7 FT) in leading the Vikings to an 80-68 win over Idaho State (1/16). SR F Chehales Tapscott added 15 points, six rebounds, five steals and four blocked shots as the Vikings had to recover from a 10-point first-half deficit to win.
• SR G Charles Odum hit a contested 12-footer in the lane with two seconds remaining in overtime to give the Vikings a 78-76 win at Eastern Washington (1/21). Odum scored 20 points in the win, while Chehales Tapscott added a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. JR G Lateef McMullan hit a three-pointer with 10 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime. McMullan scored 18 in the win, the Vikings third in a row.
• SR F Chehales Tapscott grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds and a career-high tieing five steals in a 69-67 loss to Montana (1/29). Tapscott also scored 14 points. It was the most rebounds by a Viking in five years.
• FR G Gary Winston posted a career-high 14 points, making 4-5 from three-point range at Weber State (2/2). That moved him into the Big Sky lead for three-point percentage (.473).
• SR G Charles Odum led five Vikings in double figures on the way to a 76-65 road win at Northern Arizona (2/4). Odum scored 20 points and the Vikings shot .545 from the field - their 10th 50% shooting game of the year.
• SR F Chehales Tapscott and SR G Charles Odum led the Vikings to their fourth road win in five in a 67-54 victory at Idaho State (2/9). Tapscott had his ninth double-double of the season with 15 points and a career-high tying 16 rebounds. Odum scored a game-high 18 points.
• Portland State shot an outstanding .654 from the field in an 85-67 win over Sacramento State (2/15). The Vikings missed only 16 shots in 40 minutes to pick up their third win in a row. SR F Chehales Tapscott had another great all-around game for the Vikings with 17 points, 11 rebounds, a career-high five blocked shots, three assists and three steals.