complete notes and stats in pdf
EASTERN WASHINGTON AT PORTLAND STATE
Monday, February 18, 2013, 7:35 p.m. • Peter W. Stott Center (1,500), Portland, OR
PORTLAND STATE: 6-16 • Big Sky: 4-11 • Home: 6-4 • Road: 0-12
EASTERN WASHINGTON: 7-17 • Big Sky: 5-9 • Home: 4-4 • Road: 2-13
Television: None
Radio: Freedom 970 AM, www.freedom970.com • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Pregame Show: 7 p.m.
Live Video: www.BigSkyTV.org • Live Stats: http://vikslive.statb.us
All-Time Series: PSU leads 20-19 • PSU in Portland: 12-6
Big Sky Series: EWU leads 18-17 • PSU in Portland: 10-6
Jan. 28 in Cheney: Eastern Washington 76, Portland State 65
THE OPENING TIP
Portland State and Eastern Washington will meet on Monday night in a game key to both teams' Big Sky Conference Tournament hopes, as well as a potential decider in the Dam Cup season series. A 7:35 p.m. tip-off, the game airs on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. A live video stream is available at www.BigSkyTV.org.
The Vikings (6-16, 4-11) come off a rejuvenating 90-69 win over Southern Utah on Thursday. PSU ended an eight-game losing streak as six players scored in double figures, led by 19 from Michael Harthun. PSU shot 52% from the field and held third-place Southern Utah to just 33%.
Portland State is now 6-4 at home this season and plays four more at home before closing the regular season with two on the road.
Eastern Washington (7-17, 5-9) was idle on Thursday, but will host Southern Utah on Saturday prior to facing the Vikings.
Eastern Washington, 2-12 on the road this season, beat the Vikings, 76-65, in Cheney on Jan. 28.
Portland State, two-time winners of the Dam Cup trophy in the competition with EWU, trails 8-5 this year and needs to get a win to keep hope alive of winning for a third straight year (see DAM CUP below).
JAN 28 @ EWU 76, PSU 65: Eastern Washington led wire-to-wire for the win. The Vikings had won eight of the previous nine meetings... Eagles forward Venky Jois had a big game with 20 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots. Parker Kelly added 17 points, hitting 5-8 three-point field goals. Martin Seiferth pitched in 13 points, six rebounds and four blocks... the Vikings shot just .393 from the field as the Eagles blocked nine PSU shots... Aaron Moore scored 20 points with 10 rebounds and four blocks to lead the Vikings. Michael Harthun added 14 points, five rebounds and three assists.
THE EAGLES: Eastern Washington won a Big Sky Conference title back in 2004... like the Vikings, the ninth-place Eagles are battling for a Big Sky Conference post-season berth this season... EWU leads the Big Sky series with PSU, 18-17. The Vikings lead the all-time series, 20-19... Venky Jois is one of the top newcomers in the Big Sky Conference this season, averaging 13.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game to lead the Eagles. Jois is tops in the Big Sky in rebounding and blocked shots (2.4 per game)... Collin Chiverton is second on the team in scoring... Eastern Washington averages a league-leading 8.7 three-point field goals made per game, though they shoot only .336 from distance... the Eagles rank last in field goal (.397) and free throw (.644) shooting in the Big Sky. They are first in blocked shots (5.3).
THE COACHES: Portland State Head Coach Tyler Geving has a 50-66 record in his fourth season. Geving has a 28-39 Big Sky Conference record. Geving has a 5-2 all-time mark against Eastern Washington... Jim Hayford is in his second season at Eastern Washington. He has a 22-34 mark, including 1-2 against the Vikings. Hayford is 276-118 in 14 seasons as a collegiate head coach.
SCHEDULING QUIRK: The Saturday, Feb. 23 BracketBuster game with UC Riverside will be a non-traditional 1:05 p.m. tip-off to accommodate the Highlanders travel schedule.
THE BIG SKY TOURNAMENT PICTURE
With Thursday's win, Portland State remains in the Big Sky Tournament chase. At 4-11 in league play, the Vikings are two games behind the seventh-place tie between Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado with five Big Sky games to play. The top seven teams get into the Big Sky Tournament, Mar. 14-16, at the site of the regular season champion.
Portland State plays two of the three teams between it and seventh place (Eastern Washington and Northern Colorado) in the last five.
PSU has Saturday night off, while the other 10 Big Sky schools will be in action.
Big Sky Conference Standings
1. Montana, 14-1
2. Weber State, 13-2
t3. Southern Utah, 8-7
t3. North Dakota, 8-7
t5. Sacramento State, 7-8
t5. Montana State, 7-8
t7. Northern Arizona, 6-9
t7. Northern Colorado, 6-9
9. Eastern Washington 5-9
t10. Portland State, 4-11
t10. Idaho State, 4-11
Remaining Big Sky Conference Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 16
*Northern Arizona at North Dakota 2:05
*Southern Utah at Eastern Washington 2:05
*Montana State at Weber State 7:05
*Sacramento St. at Northern Colorado 7:05
*Montana at Idaho State 7:05
Monday, Feb. 18
*Eastern Washington at Portland State 7:35
Wednesday, Feb. 20
*North Dakota at Northern Colorado 7:05
Thursday, Feb. 28
*N. Colorado at Eastern Washington 6:05
*Weber State at Sacramento State 7:05
*Idaho State at Northern Arizona 6:35
*Montana State at Southern Utah 7:05
*North Dakota at Portland State 7:35
Saturday, March 2
*North Dakota at Eastern Washington 2:05
*Weber State at Northern Arizona 2:05
*Idaho State at Sacramento State 7:05
*Northern Colorado at Portland State 7:35
*Montana at Montana State
Monday, March 4
*Montana at Southern Utah 7:05
Thursday, March 7
*Portland State at Weber State 7:05
*Sacramento State at Montana 7:05
*Northern Arizona at Montana State
*Southern Utah at Northern Colorado 7:05
*Eastern Washington at Idaho State 7:05
Saturday, March 9
*Southern Utah at North Dakota 2:05
*Sacramento State at Montana State 2:35
*Eastern Washington at Weber State 7:05
*Northern Arizona at Montana 7:05
*Portland State at Idaho State 7:05
THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT: The top seven teams qualify for the Big Sky Conference Tournament on March 14-16. The regular season champion will host the tournament and receive a first-round bye. In the quarterfinals, the number two seed will play number seven; number three will play number six; and four will meet five.
THE DAM CUP
The Portland State Vikings and Eastern Washington Eagles are in the third year of a five-sport rivalry cup called The Dam Cup. The Dam Cup celebrates the friendly rivalry between the states of Oregon and Washington within the Big Sky Conference. Monday's basketball game will be worth two points in the Dam Cup series. Eastern Washington currently leads the competition, 8-5. Portland State needs to win on Monday, followed by a PSU women's win over Eastern Washington on Thursday, for the Vikings to hold on to the trophy for a third straight. If the Eagles win either game, they will claim the Dam Cup for the first time.
The winner of the Dam Cup will possess The Dam Trophy acknowledging the achievement for the following year. Portland State currently possesses the Dam Trophy having won the inaugural Dam Cup in 2010-11 by a 9-8 score, and the 2011-12 Cup by a 15-2 score.
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 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 2012-13 Dam Cup Series
Volleyball - Sept. 17 PSU 3, @ EWU 0 - PSU leads 2-0
Soccer - Sept. 30 @ PSU 4 @ EWU 0 - PSU leads 3-0
Volleyball - Oct. 18 @ PSU 3, EWU 0 - PSU leads 5-0
Football - Nov. 17 EWU 41, @ PSU 34 - PSU leads 5-4
Women's Basketball - Jan. 21 EWU 68, @ PSU 56 - EWU leads 6-5
Men's Basketball - Jan. 28 @ EWU 76, PSU 65 - EWU leads 8-5
Men's Basketball - Feb. 18 @ PSU
Women's Basketball - Feb. 21 @ EWU
HOT SHOTS:
• SR F Renado Parker has averaged 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds over the last four games.
• SR G Michael Harthun tied his season-high with 19 points (7-11 FG, 1-1 3-pt, 4-4 FT) and his career-high with four assists against Southern Utah.
• SR F Michael Harvey scored a career-high 13 points (2-4 FG, 9-10 FT) with four rebounds and two steals in 16 minutes against Southern Utah.
• Portland State was 24-24 at the free throw line in the second half against Southern Utah, and 31-35 for the game (.886).
• JR F Aaron Moore has six double-doubles in the last 13 games.
• SR PG Lateef McMullan leads the Big Sky in assist-to-turnover ratio in conference games (62/22) at 2.9 to 1. For the season, McMullan ranks 39th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (83/35 or 2.39/1).
• SO G Gary Winston is 19-36 from three-point range (.528) and SR G Michael Harthun is 17-34 from three-point range (.500) over the last 11 games.
• The Vikings shoot .513 from the field, .452 from three-point range, in the Stott Center, and average 75.6 points.
• Portland State ranks 15th in the nation in free throw percentage (.754).
NOT SO HOT:
• As a team, the Vikings shoot .409 on the road, .323 from three-point range, and average 62.8 points.
• Portland State is 0-12 on the road this season.
• SR F Martin Whitmore (elbow) has missed the last three games and JR C Lamont Prosser (knee) has missed the last two games with injury.
ALL ABOUT THE SHOOTING: The Vikings have been a good-shooting home team, and a bad-shooting road team this season. The difference in home and road shooting statistics for the Vikings mirrors Portland State's home (6-4) and road (0-12) records. The Vikings shoot .513 from the field and .456 from three-point range at home. On the road, they shoot just .409 from the field and .323 from three-point range. The free throw shooting numbers have been more consistent at .770 at home and .740 on the road... the scoring averages reflect those shooting numbers: 74.0 at home, and 62.8 on the road... not surprisingly, PSU has shot .565, .492, .532, .561, .500 and .519 in its six wins this season.
A BETTER FIRST HALF... A WIN: Poor first-half play has been a big part of Portland State's problems this season. Prior to Thursday night, the Vikings had routinely fallen behind by large margins, then spent the rest of the game battling back. PSU had been outscored by an average of six points in the first halves of games this year, then outscored opponents by an average of two points in the second halves of games. Against Southern Utah, PSU outscored the Thunderbirds by six (!) in the first half, and that led to a breakaway second-half victory... a good start seems vital for the Vikings, as they are 5-1 when leading at halftime, 1-0 when tied at halftime, and 0-15 when trailing at halftime.
THE DEFENSE SHOULD NOT REST: Portland State's troubles in the first half have stemmed from defense. Last week, Northern Arizona shot 63% in the first half and Sacramento State shot 53%. But on Thursday, PSU played sturdy defense against the Big Sky's third-place team, Southern Utah, holding the Thunderbirds to 36% first-half shooting and 33% overall shooting... this season, PSU allows .485 shooting by opponents and .384 three-point shooting. Both of those marks rank last in the Big Sky Conference.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
• SO G Dre Winston Jr. starts his Viking career off right, scoring 16 points (5-6 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 3-4 FT) with three assists in Portland State's season opening win over Pacific (11/9), 77-58.
• Portland State signed 6-6, 220-pound forward Kyle Benton to a National Letter of Intent (11/16). Benton is a senior at St. Anthony High School in Long Beach, CA.
• Portland State sells out the Stott Center against Oregon State (12/12), marking the first sellout since the 2008-09 season.
• JR F Aaron Moore was perfect against Oregon State (12/12), hitting 7-7 from the field for 14 points. That 7-7 mark matched a PSU record since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97 (also accomplished by Anthony Washington vs. Eastern Washington, Mar. 4, 2006).
• SR G Lateef McMullen dished out a career-high eight assists to go with 14 points as the Vikings beat George Fox, 85-74 (12/15), ending a five-game losing streak. SR G Michael Harthun (16 pts) and SO G Gary Winston (14 pts) combined for 30 points, hitting 11-17 from the field and 6-7 from three-point range.
• SR G Lateef McMullan tied a career-high with 20 points (7-9 FG, 3-5 3-pt FG, 3-5 FT), had four assists and four steals as the Vikings opened Big Sky Conference play with a 63-49 win over Idaho State (12/20). PSU shot .532 for the game, winning its' second straight at home.
• JR F Aaron Moore posted the first double-double of the season by a Viking with career-highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds in an overtime loss to Weber State (12/22). Parker made 8-12 field goals and added two assists and a blocked shot.
• Despite a loss at Montana State (1/3), JR F Aaron Moore had his second straight double-double with 17 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. SR G Lateef McMullan scored 17 points as well, hitting a career-high 5-9 three-point field goals.
• JR F Aaron Moore posted his third double-double in a row with 14 points and 11 rebounds at Montana (1/5).
• Five Vikings scored in double figures as Portland State hit a season-high 12-18 three-pointers in an 87-69 win over Sacramento State (1/10). SR G Michael Harthun scored a season-high 18 points (7-11 FG, 4-5 3-pt), while SR G Lateef McMullan scored 14 points with a career-high nine assists. SR G Martin Whitmore scored a career-high 11 points and SO C Brandon Cataldo blocked a career-high four shots.
• SR F Renado Parker tied his career high with 20 points (7-13 FG, 6-8 FT) and grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds in a 79-74 win over Northern Arizona (1/12). Once again the Vikings had five players score in double figures, including 13 points and seven assists from Lateef McMullan.
• SR G Michael Harthun had his best game of the season at North Dakota (1/19) with 19 points (6-8 FG, 4-4 3-pt FG, 3-3 FT) and three rebounds.
• JR F Aaron Moore posted career-highs of 20 points and four blocked shots, while grabbing 10 rebounds at Eastern Washington (1/28). It was Moore's fourth double-double of the season.
• SR F Martin Whitmore scored 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-3 3-pt) and grabbed a career high nine rebounds in a career-high 22 minutes against Montana (1/31).
• SR F Renado Parker (18 pts, 13 reb) and JR F Aaron Moore (19 pts, 11 reb) each posted double-doubles in a loss at Northern Arizona (2/7). It was Moore's fifth double-double of the year and Parker's second.
• SR G Michael Harthun led six Vikings in double figures - the first time that has occured all season - as Portland State scored a season-high in a 90-69 win over Southern Utah (2/14). Harthun hit 7-11 from the field, 1-1 from three-point range and 4-4 at the line to tie his season-high of 19 points. The Vikings made 24-24 free throws in the second half and a season-high 31-35 at the line overall (.886).
• SR F Michael Harvey scored a career-high 13 points in PSU's win over Southern Utah. Harvey made 2-4 from the field, 9-10 at the line, and added four rebounds and two steals in 16 minutes of play. SR G Gary Winston set a career-high with seven rebounds.
