complete game notes, stats, updated bios in pdf

MONTANA STATE BOBCATS (12-16, 7-9) vs.
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (16-13, 10-6)
Big Sky Conference Tournament Quarterfinal
Saturday, March 3, 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: 6:30 p.m.
Live Video Stream: www.b2tv.com • Live Stats: www.GoViks.com
All-Time Series: MSU leads 27-18 • PSU in Portland: 12-8
Big Sky Series: MSU leads 21-15 • PSU in Portland: 11-6

Portland State will open the six-team Big Sky Conference Tournament this Saturday by hosting a quarterfinal round game against Montana State. The Vikings (16-13, 10-6) are the number three seed, while MSU (12-16, 7-9) is the number six seed. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Stott Center. The game will air on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. A live video stream is available at www.b2tv.com.
    
The winner of the quarterfinal will advance to the Big Sky Conference semifinals at the University of Montana on Mar. 6-7. If the Vikings win they will play second-seeded Weber State (23-5, 14-2). If Montana State wins, it faces top-seeded Montana (23-6, 15-1).
    
Saturday's other quarterfinal game includes Idaho State (9-20, 7-9) at Eastern Washington (14-16, 8-8).
    
Portland State has reached the Big Sky Conference Tournament for the seventh straight year it has been eligible (PSU was not eligible in 2010-11 due to a low APR score). PSU has reached at least the semifinals in the last four years it has been in the tournament (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010).
    
At the regular season's conclusion, the Vikings have won three straight games overall, six straight games against Big Sky Conference opponents and have a 9-3 home record.
    
Portland State Head Coach Tyler Geving is 1-1 all-time in Big Sky Tournament games (he was 5-2 as an assistant at PSU). No current Vikings have played in a Big Sky Tournament game.
    
Having lost eight of its last nine games, Montana State has backed into the number six seed. However, the Bobcats have beaten the Vikings in both meetings this season, 86-73 on Dec. 30 in Bozeman, and 70-65 on Jan. 26 in Portland.
    
Overall, PSU has reached the Big Sky Tournament in 10 of the 13 seasons it has been eligible. The Vikings are 7-7 all-time in Big Sky Conference Tournament games with titles in 2008 and 2009 (the Vikings won regular season titles in 2005 and 2008). PSU is 3-1 in Big Sky Tournament home games.

STORYLINES
• The series: Montana State leads the all-time (27-18) and Big Sky (21-15) series with Portland State... this season, Montana State won both games in the series... the Vikings lead the series in Portland, 11-6, in Big Sky games... the Vikings have won all three Big Sky Tournament meetings with Montana State: PSU beat Montana State, 96-71, in a 2007 quarterfinal played in Portland; 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 - MSU 86, PSU 73: The Bobcats took the win 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.
• Jan. 26 - MSU 70, PSU 65: Portland State held a 58-43 lead with 11:39 to play, then went more than eight minutes without scoring a point... still the Vikings led 65-62 with 1:45 left, but the Bobcats scored eight straight to close out the game... MSU's Shawn Reid scored 15 points, including five in the last 30 seconds, and had eight rebounds... Xavier Blount also scored 15 in the game, while Rod Singleton had 13... Charles Odum led the Vikings with 15 points and seven rebounds... PSU commited 17 turnovers to just nine for the Bobcats.
• 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 11.7 points per game, but has missed the last four with injury... Christian Moon averages 10.4 points and has made a team-high 58 three-point field goals... Shawn Reid is averaging 10.8 points and has 43 three-pointers... MSU leads the Big Sky in blocked shots (108).
• Head Coach Brad Huse is in his sixth year at Montana State and has a 80-99 record... in 14 seasons overall, Huse has a 264-159 record... Huse is 7-8 all-time against Portland State, 0-3 in tournament games against PSU.

THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
The top six teams in the Big Sky Conference earned berths in the Big Sky Conference post-season tournament. Montana will host the Tournament final four on Mar. 6-7. The winner of the tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Saturday, March 3, Quarterfinals
No. 6 Montana State (12-16, 7-9) at No. 3 Portland State (16-13, 10-6), 7:05 p.m.
No. 5  Idaho State (9-20, 7-9) at No. 4 Eastern Washington (14-16, 8-8), 2:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 6, Semifinals (Televised by Altitude/CSN at the University of Montana)
No. 2 Weber State (23-5, 14-2) vs. the highest remaining seed, 4:30 p.m. PT
No. 1 Montana (23-6, 15-1) vs. the lowest remaining seed, 7 p.m. PT

Wednesday, March 7, Championship (Televised by ESPN2 at the University of Montana)
Semifinal Winners, 6 p.m. PT


PORTLAND STATE vs. THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT TEAMS
vs. #1 Weber State (0-2): lost at Portland, 88-81 (1/7); lost at Ogden, 92-79 (2/2)
vs. #2 Montana (0-2): lost in Missoula, 75-64 (12/28); lost in Portland, 69-67 (1/29)
vs. #4 Eastern Washington (2-0): won in Cheney, 78-76, in OT (1/21); won in Portland, 69-64 (2/25)
vs. #5 Idaho State (2-0): won in Portland, 80-68 (1/16); won in Pocatello, 67-54 (2/9)
vs. #6 Montana State (0-2); lost in Bozeman, 86-73 (12/30); lost in Portland, 70-65 (1/25)

PORTLAND STATE's ALL-TIME TOURNAMENT RECORD vs. THIS YEAR'S FIELD
vs. Eastern Washington (1-1)
vs. Idaho State (2-0)
vs. Montana (0-0)
vs. Montana State (3-0)
vs. Weber State (0-4)

PORTLAND STATE vs. MONTANA STATE IN THE BIG SKY TOURNAMENT
Mar. 3, 2007: PSU 96, Montana State 71 (quarterfinal game at Stott Center)
Mar. 11, 2009: PSU 79, Montana State 77 (championship game at Ogden, UT)
Mar. 6, 2010: PSU 68, Montana State 65 (quarterfinal game at Bozeman, MT)

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 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.

VIKING HEAD COACH TYLER GEVING
Tyler Geving is in his third season as Head Coach and seventh season overall with the Portland State program. 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 43-48 all-time at Portland State.
    • 23-27 all-time against Big Sky Conference opponents, 20-21 all-time in non-conference games.
    • Geving is 27-12 at home. He is 16-36 on the road, including 4-2 in neutral site games.
    • Geving is 2-5 all-time against Montana State, including 1-0 in Big Sky Tournament games.
    • Geving is 1-1 in all Big Sky Tournament games.

Tyler Geving in 2011-12
• Most Season Wins (16)
• Most Big Sky Wins (10)
• Best Big Sky Finish (3rd)
• Best Home Winning Percentage (.750)
• Best Road Winning Percentage (.412)

PORTLAND STATE'S BEST RECORDS SINCE JOINING THE BIG SKY
Portland State is creeping up the best record list since joining the Big Sky Conference 16 years ago. With 16 wins so far this season, the 2011-12 Vikings rank fifth on that list. With 10 Big Sky wins, PSU ranks fourth.

PSU's BEST RECORDS SINCE JOINING THE BIG SKY
Season        
2007-08    23-10    
2008-09    23-10    
2004-05    19-9    
2006-07    19-13    
1998-99    17-11    
2011-12    16-13    

Big Sky
2007-08    14-2
2008-09    11-5
2004-05    11-3
2011-12    10-6
1997-98    10-6

FAST BREAKS

• THE BROOM: Every Big Sky Conference season series that Portland State played in resulted in a sweep. PSU swept five opponents this year going 2-0 against Eastern Washington, Idaho State, Northern Colorado, Northern Arizona and Sacramento State. PSU was swept by Weber State, Montana and Montana State.
• BETTER ALL THE WAY AROUND: Portland State's 10-6 Big Sky Conference record has it five wins better than last season (5-11) with one game remaining. PSU now has third-year Head Coach Tyler Geving's best Big Sky record and season record (16-13). Portland State was picked in preseason polling to place fifth, but finished third.
• Portland State's 16 wins and 10 Big Sky wins are the most since going 23-10/11-5 in 2008-09.

BIG SKY BEST: The Viking team leads the Big Sky Conference in field goal shooting (.483), and ranks second in scoring (76.4) and free throw percentage (.735)... SR F Chehales Tapscott leads the Big Sky Conference in rebounding (9.2), blocked shots (1.4) and double-doubles (11). He is also third in steals (1.8)... SR C Nate Lozeau leads the Big Sky Conference in field goal shooting percentage (.583)... SR G Charles Odum ranks second in scoring (19.1). He is third in free throw percentage (.833)... in Big Sky Conference only games, the Vikings led in field goal shooting (.492)... Tapscott leds in blocked shots (1.8) and rebounding (9.6)... Odum averaged 21.0 points to rank second.

LIGHTS OUT: The Vikings have shot over .500 10 times this season and are 8-2 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 15-1 when shooting a higher percentage than their opponents, 1-12 when opponents outshoot them. Tuesday night's win over Northern Colorado marked the first time all year the Vikings have beaten a team while shooting a worse percentage (.508/.451).

GAME-WINNERS: Portland State has had three game-winning scores 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... on Feb. 28, Odum made two free throws with three seconds to play, turning a 74-73 deficit into a 75-74 Portland State win over Northern Colorado.

SCORING IN BUNCHES: SR G Charles Odum scored the most points by a Viking in more than three years when he exploded for 38 in a win over Sacramento State (2/23). Odum hit 11-16 field goals, 5-8 three-point field goals and 11-12 at the line, to go with five rebounds and two assists. It was the first time he has scored more than 30 in his career... the last Viking to score at least 30 points in a game was Dominic Waters with 32 in a win over Cal Poly on Nov. 21, 2009. The last Viking to score more than Odum's 38 was also Waters with 41 in a four-overtime win at Northern Arizona on Jan. 4, 2009.
• Odum has scored 20 or more points 12 times this season - with 10 of those coming on the road.
• In Odum's 20-point games, he is 91-155 from the field (.587), averaging 25.0 points
• The Vikings are 8-4 when Odum scores at least 20.
• Odum averaged 21.0 points in league games.

MILLENIUM FALCON: It is fair to say few players swoop to the hoop like SR G Charles Odum. All you have to do is look at his scoring average, and the number of free throw attempts he gets by taking it to the rim. The result has been a lot of points, and Odum may soon be the 17th Viking in history to reach 1,000 career points. In just two seasons (59 games), he has 974 points. Only two other two-year players in Portland State history have reached 1,000 points (Jason Hartman, 1997-99, 1,060, and Leon Edmonds, 1968-70, 1,024), though two other big scorers in PSU history reached 1,000 points in their first two seasons - Freeman Williams and Willie Stoudamire - and went on to have longer careers.

CHUCK WAGON: SR G Charles Odum has been the Vikings' offensive leader this season, averaging a team-high 19.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He is shooting a stellar .531 from the field and .833 at the line. Odum is shooting 137-220 on two-point attempts, a remarkable .623 percentage. Season highlights:
• Odum averaged 21.0 points and shot .567/.464/.806 in Big Sky Conference games.
• Odum has scored in double figures in 27 of 29 games this season. He has 12 20-point games and one 30-point game.
• Odum ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in scoring, third in free throw percentage and sixth in field goal percentage.
• He posted a career-high 38 points in a win over Sacramento State (2/23), making 11-16 field goals, 5-8 three-point field goals and 11-12 at the line, to go with five rebounds and two assists.
• Odum earned All-Tournament honors at the Wyoming Jim Thorpe Classic, scoring 27 points in a win over Louisiana Tech, then following it with 25 points in a win over Maryland-Eastern Shore.
• Odum has been named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week three times.

TAP-INS: SR F Chehales Tapscott is a double-double waiting to happen. He is averaging 13.9 points and 9.2 rebounds this season with a Big Sky best 11 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 .527 from the field and .724 at the line.
• Tapscott has 11 double-doubles this year to lead the Big Sky, and 17 in 53 career games at Portland State. He has been the team's leading rebounder in 40 of 53 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).

STRAIGHT SHOOTER: JR F Renado Parker has scored in double figures in his last seven games (12.6 ppg), and for good reason - he is having trouble missing his shots. Parker is 36-55 over those five games (.654)... Parker was a perfect 6-6 against Sacramento State on Feb. 15, 7-11 at Idaho on Feb. 18, then 7-12 against Sacramento State on Feb. 23... though only 6-5, Parker is a powerful post player who has performed well as the Vikings' sixth man. Parker averages 9.4 points and 5.0 rebounds and is shooting .575 from the field this season. Parker ranks second in the Big Sky Conference behind teammate Nate Lozeau in field goal percentage, 27th in scoring and 16th in rebounding despite not having started a game this year.

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 9.4 points and 2.8 assists per game.

THUN-ING UP: JR G Michael Harthun has had a good year at shooting guard for the Vikings. “Toon” is now shooting .466 from the field, .427 from three-point range, averages 8.9 points and has a team-high 44 three-pointers made... Harthun ranks ninth in the Big Sky Conference in three-point percentage, 14th in three-pointers made... his percentage also ranks sixth-best for a season in PSU history.

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 .583 from the field to lead the Big Sky Conference. He is averaging 7.8 points and 4.9 rebounds, up dramatically from 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds last year.
• Lozeau has posted three double-doubles (four career).