complete notes and stats in pdf

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (6-4, 0-0) vs. SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS (3-8, 0-0)
Thursday, January 1, 7:05 p.m. • Peter W. Stott Center (1,500), Portland, OR
 
Live Video Stream: www.WatchBigSky.com
Live Audio Stream: www.GoViks.com • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Pregame Show: 6:45 p.m.
Live Stats: www.vikslive.com, www.viksmobile.com
 
THE OPENING TIP
New Year. New Season.
     
The Portland State basketball team completed its preseason schedule last week at 6-4, but when the calendar turns to 2015 on Thursday, the Vikings will hit the reset button as Big Sky Conference play begins and start again at 0-0.
     
Portland State will open its 19th season as a Big Sky member when it hosts Southern Utah in the opening game of the league schedule. For the Vikings and the other 11 members of the Big Sky - traditionally a one-NCAA bid conference - what happened before doesn't really matter. It's the next 10 weeks of league play that leads to the Big Sky Tournament and the post-season that means everything.
     
What that means to the Vikings is making a run for a third trip to the NCAA Tournament in the last eight years. PSU's last NCAA appearance came in 2009. A Big Sky semifinalist last year, the Vikings reached the CollegeInsider.com post-season Tournament in 2014.
     
The Big Sky Conference schedule has been reduced from 20 to 18 games this season with the return of the University of Idaho to the league. Teams will play an unbalanced scheduled, facing seven teams twice and four teams once. The Vikings open with SUU and Northern Arizona (Saturday) at home this week. PSU plays six of 10 games at home during the 31 days of January. That could potentially mean a strong start in the Big Sky standings for the Vikings. PSU is 4-0 at home this year and has won six straight at home overall.
     
Southern Utah comes to PSU with a 3-8 preseason record. The Thunderbirds are 2-6 in road games.
     
PSU has won its last three meetings with the T-Birds, including both Big Sky matchups in Portland since SUU joined the league in 2012-13.
     
This week's games are available via live video stream at www.WatchBigSky.com. Links to live video, audio and statistics can be found at GoViks.com by clicking on the Game Day box.
 
COMING UP
Portland State hosts Northern Arizona on Saturday night. The Lumberjacks, who tied for second in the Big Sky Conference last year, swept the season series with the Vikings. That included a last-second 65-63 win in the Stott Center. The 'Jacks have beaten the Vikings in three straight games overall. 
     
Northern Arizona was 5-8 in non-conference play, going 2-7 in road games.
     
Next week, Portland State embarks on one of the toughest road trips in the Big Sky Conference and perhaps the country. The Vikings play on Thursday, Jan. 8, at Northern Colorado, before traveling for a Saturday, Jan. 10 game at North Dakota. PSU split last year's trip, losing at North Dakota, then winning at Northern Colorado.
 
THE SERIES AND GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE VS. SOUTHERN UTAH
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series with Southern Utah, 4-1, and the Big Sky series, 3-1. PSU has won the last three meetings in the series. The Vikings are 3-0 all-time against the Thunderbirds in Portland. 
• LAST SEASON: Jan. 25, 2014 at PSU: Portland State 67, Southern Utah 64:  Portland State used a five-guard lineup to come from behind in the final six minutes. A Marcus Hall three-pointer with 28.9 seconds left gave the Vikings a 66-64 lead and eventually the win. Neither team led by more than eight points in the game. PSU shot only .408 from the field, but made 23-28 at the line. DaShaun Wiggins led all scorers with 15 points. Jaren Jeffrey and McKay Anderson each tallied a dozen for SUU... Feb. 20, 2014 at SUU: Portland State 86, Southern Utah 79: Gary Winston scored 21 of his career-high 26 points in the second half as the Vikings closed out the game on an 11-3 run. The Viks shot .900 (27-30) at the line and committed just six turnovers. Wiggins had 19 points off the bench for PSU. Casey Oliverson recorded 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Trey Kennedy scored 19 off the bench for the Thunderbirds.
• HAPPY NEW YEAR:  Thursday's game marks only the second time in school history that PSU has played on New Year's Day. The previous New Year's Day game was exactly 10 years ago, Jan. 1, 2005, a 73-62 win over Weber State at the Stott Center.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (75-89, 6th season) is 3-1 all-time against Southern Utah. Thunderbirds Coach Nick Robinson (16-55, 3rd year) is 1-3 against the Vikings.
 
SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS
• Southern Utah is in its third year as a member of the Big Sky Conference. The Thunderbirds were 2-27 last season, 1-19 in Big Sky Conference play. All five starters and eight letterwinners return from that team.
• With three wins this season, the T-Birds already have won more games than a season ago. Southern Utah is 1-5 in away games and 1-1 in neutral site games for a 2-6 road record.
• Southern Utah ranks last in points allowed in the Big Sky at 75.1 per game and three-point percentage defense (.394).
• Junior guard AJ Hess leads the T-Birds with 12.7 points per game. He shoots .454 from three-point range and .900 at the free throw line - second-best in the Big Sky.
• The only other double-figure scorer is freshman guard James McGee, who averages 10.2 points and shoots a Big Sky-best .571 from three-point range. McGee has attempted 49 three-pointers and only eight two-pointers this season.
• Freshman forward Tyler Rawson averages a team-leading 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game.
 
PORTLAND STATE IN THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Portland State begins its 19th season of Big Sky Conference play this week. PSU won the 2004-05 and 2007-08 Big Sky Conference regular season titles. The Vikings have had eight winning records in conference play and earned 11 Big Sky Tournament berths in 15 seasons eligible, winning the 2008 and 2009 Big Sky Conference Tournament titles. The Vikings are 9-9 all-time in the tourney.
  
Where the Vikings have placed in the Big Sky Conference Regular Season Standings:
1st: 2
2nd: 1
3rd: 3
4th: 1
5th: 2
6th: 3
7th: 3
8th: 2
9th: 0
10th: 1
 
BIG SKY CONFERENCE NOTES HEADING INTO LEAGUE PLAY
• The Big Sky expands to 12 schools with the return of the University of Idaho. The conference schedule will be reduced to 18 games. As a result, PSU will not travel to Montana and Montana State this season, and will not host Weber State and Idaho State.
• The Big Sky Conference Tournament expands to the top eight teams (from seven previously). There will be  no first-round byes.
• Three Big Sky schools had winning preseason records, Eastern Washington (9-4), Portland State (6-4) and Sacramento State (6-5).
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 6-4 this season, 4-0 at home, 2-4 on the road.
• The Vikings have won six straight home games dating to last season.
• PSU has lost four straight games on the road after winning its first two.
• Portland State has won two of its last three games.
• The Vikings opened the season with a four-game winning streak, matching the best streak of last season accomplished on three occasions.
• Portland State was 17-15, 12-5 at home, 4-9 on the road, 1-1 in neutral site games in 2013-14.
• The Vikings went 11-9 in the Big Sky Conference, 7-3 at home and 4-6 on the road.
Stott Stuff
• PSU has gone 145-52 in 197 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 176-67 at home over the past 19 seasons.
• Portland State is 52-23 at home in six seasons under Tyler Geving.
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 89-26 at home, including 50-22 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
• Portland State has lost only six non-conference home games in the last nine seasons (39-6). PSU is 23-6 against Division I schools, and 16-0 against lower division schools over that span.
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 149-155 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (9-9).
• PSU is 100-47 in home games, 45-103 in road games and 4-5 in neutral site games.
• PSU is 63-58 in Big Sky games since the start of the 2007-08 season, 70-60 including tournament games.
And The Trivial
• Portland State is 27-24 all-time in overtime. Coach Tyler Geving is 5-4 all-time in overtime, including 1-0 this season. PSU was 3-1 in overtime last season.
• PSU is 2-15 against nationally-ranked opponents since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97.
• Head Coach Tyler Geving is 1-2 all-time against ranked opponents.
• Portland State is 18-42 in games televised in the Portland area since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97. That includes a 9-7 home record and 9-35 road record.
 
HOT SHOTS
• JR C Collin Spickerman has blocked 18 shots in the last seven games. With 20 on the season, he now ranks second in the Big Sky Conference.
• SR C Brandon Cataldo had career-highs of 16 points (8-9 FG) and 13 rebounds in 22 minutes against Walla Walla.
• SR G Tim Douglas broke out of a shooting slump, hitting 6-7 field goals and 4-5 three-pointers for 16 points  against Walla Walla. Douglas also handed out a season-high five assists.
• SR G DaShaun Wiggins has scored 41 points in his last two games. He currently ranks sixth in scoring (16.3) and second in three-point percentage (.545) in the Big Sky Conference. He has scored in double figures in all 10 games this season and posted a career-high 32 points against Southern Illinois Edwardsville  (11/24).
• JR F Sebastian Suarez got the start against Walla Walla, scoring a season-high 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-3 3-pt FG).
• Portland State broke out of a team slump, shooting 38-66 from the field (a season-best .576). PSU had shot .338 over its previous five games.
 
NOT SO HOT
• Portland State is last in the Big Sky Conference in rebounding margin (-6.3).
• SO G Bryce White (left hip), SR F Tiegbe Bamba (back), SO F Braxton Tucker (foot) and JR C Dorian Cason (plantar fasciitis) were all unable to play against Walla Walla.
 
NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS: Where Portland State stands in the NCAA statistical rankings through games of Dec. 28:
• 17th in the nation in free throw percentage (.750).
• 23rd in turnover margin (+3.9).
 
HOME-ROAD DIFFERENTIAL: Portland State is 4-0 at home this season, 2-4 on the road.
• PSU averages 83.2 points at home, shooting .515 from the field, .439 from three-point range and .767 at the line.
• The Vikings average 61.8 points on the road, shooting .348/.313/739.
• PSU has out-rebounded opponents by 2.3 per game at home, but has been out-rebounded by 12.0 per game on the road.
• Opponents shoot .386 from the field and .697 at the line in the Stott Center. They shoot .496/.739 in their own arenas against the Vikings. 
 
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT YOUR HEALTH: ... what have you got? Portland State hopes to have its health when Big Sky Conference play begins this Thursday. The Vikings have lost 12 player games to injury so far this season, including nine in the last three games. Three regular starters missed the last game against Walla Walla. Six different players have missed games already this season due to minor injuries (SO F Braxton Tucker, 2; SO G Bryce White, 3; SR G Gary Winston, 1; SO G Zach Gengler, 2; JR C Dorian Cason, 2; SR F Tiegbe Bamba, 2). And, JR C Collin Spickerman saw limited minutes in the first few games as he was returning from a preseason ankle sprain... all are potentially available this week.
 
THE EVER-CHANGING LINEUP: Head Coach Tyler Geving had to go with his seventh different starting lineup in 10 games when PSU tipped it off with Walla Walla on Dec. 22. The constant change has been the result of numerous nagging injuries to different players and certainly affected team continuity... nine different players have started games this season, none have started all 10 games and only four players have competed in all 10 games.
 
BENCH PRODUCTION: Portland State's bench play has been inconsistent this season, but against Walla Walla, the Vikings got excellent play from the backups.
• JR F Sebastian Suarez got his first start, scoring 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-3 3-pt) and blocking two shots.
• SR G Tim Douglas, who has come off the bench the last three games, broke out of a shooting slump, scoring 16 points (6-7 FG, 4-5 3-pt FG) and handing out a season-high five assists with four rebounds.
• SR C Brandon Cataldo made his first seven shots and finished 8-9 for a career-high 16 points while hauling down a career-high 13 rebounds.
• The six players who came off the bench shot 16-21 (.762) from the field with 20 of the team's 37 rebounds, and nine assists.
 
CHARITY WORK: Once again this season, Portland State is a team adept at drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line. The Vikings are 168-224 this year (.750), ranking 17th in the nation in percentage.
• PSU has also made more charity shots (168) than its opponents have attempted (160).
• SR G DaShaun Wiggins averages seven free throw attempts per game. SO G Bryce White averages six attempts per game.
• The Vikings average 22.4 free throw attempts per game. Opponents average only 16.0.
 
SIXTH-MAN SENSATION NO MORE: SR G DaShaun Wiggins was Portland State's leading scorer last season despite not being a starter. He averaged 12.9 points per game in 22.9 minutes per night. That effort earned him Big Sky Conference co-6th Man of the Year honors... in 2014-15, Wiggins is looking better than ever and has moved into the starting lineup the last five games.
• Wiggins again leads the team in scoring at 16.3 per game, and ranks sixth in the Big Sky Conference.
• He shoots .514 (19-37) from three-point range to rank third in the Big Sky.
• Leads the team with 17 steals, ranking third in the Big Sky.
• Wiggins posted a career-high 32 points (12-18 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 5-10 FT) in a 90-87 overtime win against SIUE (11/24).
• Wiggins had 23 points (8-15 FG, 1-4 3-pt, 6-8 FT), five steals, four rebounds and three assists in a win over Walla Walla (12/22).
• Wiggins has scored in double figures in all 10 games this season.
 
A BIG HAND FOR COLLIN: JR F Collin Spickerman had a big hand in the faces of CSU Bakersfield on Dec. 13, blocking six shots and tying a school record set three times previously (Scott Morrison twice, Seth Scott once). Spickerman had a slow start to the season due to an ankle injury in preseason camp. However, he is seeing his minutes and impact grow.
• Spickerman has started the last five games, blocking 13 shots. He has 18 blocks in the last seven games.
• Though he is averaging only 19.4 minutes per game, Spickerman ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in blocks (2.0).
 
X-FACTOR: When SO F Braxton Tucker was signed in the off-season, it was expected he may play a backup role in his first year as a Viking. But Tucker went out and earned a starting job in preseason practice and has fluorished in his role. He averages 10.1 points and leads the team in rebounding (5.5)... Tucker has missed two games with injury this season.
• Tucker had a season-high 18 points (7-10 FG, 4-6 FT), with four rebounds and two blocks against CSU Bakersfield (12/13).
• He ranks 12th in the Big Sky in rebounding (5.5).
• Tucker shoots .792 at the line.
 
HE'S THE BAMBA: Portland State had to wait a year for SR F Tiegbe Bamba to recover from a junior college achilles injury, but the native of Sarcelles, France has been worth the wait. Starting seven of eight games, Bamba is averaging 10.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and shooting a very efficient .534 from the field and team-best .833 at the line... he missed the last two games with injury.
• Bamba was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week following a 19-point, six-rebound, four-steal, two-assist performance in a win at USC on Nov. 15. Bamba made 8-11 FGs and 3-3 3-pt FGs in the game.
• Has led the team in scoring three times and rebounding three times this season.
 
FILLING THE STAT SHEET: SO G Bryce White is another addition making a big impact on the team this season. White ranks second on the team in scoring (11.1), third rebounding (4.6) and assists (14). He also has eight steals and two blocked shots this season... he has missed the last three games with a left hip injury.
• White has scored in double figures five times this season.
 
MAKING A CONTRIBUTION: Although SR G Gary Winston's shooting percentage is down this year from previous seasons, he has still been making a positive contribution to the team. Winston leads the Vikings in minutes played (32.4 per game) and assists (3.2 per game), while scoring 9.6 points per contest.
 
THE TYLER GEVING BASKETBALL SHOW: The Tyler Geving Basketball Show is available on Blog Talk Radio. The show takes place each Wednesday night, 10:30-11:00 pm, PDT. The link to listen changes each week, but the weekly link can be found at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tylergevingshow. Geving, a 10-year veteran of the Viking basketball program, is in his sixth season as head coach. He will talk Viking basketball, Big Sky basketball and review and preview games. Greg Crawford hosts the show.
 
2014-15 PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS TEAM NOTES
• PRESEASON SUMMARY: Portland State went 6-4 in its 10 preseason games for its first winning preseason record since 2010-11. The Vikings had road wins at USC and Cal State Northridge in the midst of a season-opening four-game winning streak. After three straight losses on the road (Oregon, Portland, UC Riverside), the Vikings won two of their last three. PSU was 4-0 at home in the preseason, 2-4 on the road.
• BEATING THE PAC-12: It doesn't happen often for the Vikings or members of the Big Sky Conference, but it happened on Nov. 15 when Portland State beat USC for the first time in its history, 76-68. It was PSU's fifth all-time win over a Pac-12 school. Head Coach Tyler Geving inserted three new starters into his lineup for the opener at USC, and the results couldn't have been much better. SR F Tiegbe Bamba, SO G Bryce White and SO F Braxton Tucker were playing their first game as Vikings and they combined for 49 points (16-32 FG, 4-7 3-pt, 13-17 FT), 14 rebounds, four assists and six steals with only two turnovers.
• LATE-GAME HEROICS: With an overtime win against Southern Illinois Edwardsville on Nov. 24, the Vikings continue a trend that began last year with late-game heroics. The Vikings never led in the last four minutes of regulation against SIUE, but got a tieing basket from SO F Braxton Tucker with 8.8 seconds left to play. In overtime, DaShaun Wiggins gave the Vikings their first lead with 1:21 to play on a driving three-point play... with the overtime win PSU is now 4-1 in overtime games since the start of the 2013-14 season... this season PSU is 4-0 in games decided by eight points or less and 1-0 in overtime... last year, Portland State proved to be a team that performed well under pressure, going 10-6 in close games (seven points or less) and 3-1 in overtime... the Vikings came back to win seven games when trailing at halftime - the most by any team in the Big Sky Conference.
• EARLY SIGNING: Portland State signed Torrian Epps to a National Letter of Intent for the 2015-16 academic year on Nov. 19. Epps, a 6-4 guard, is the first signee for next year's Viking class. He currently plays at Central Arizona College where he is averaging 17.7 points per game and shooting .561 from the field through the end of December. As a freshman, he played at Howard College in Texas, averaging 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and shooting 52% from the field. Epps is from Holbrook, AZ where he played for Holbrook High School, leading the team to a 34-4 record as a senior. Holbrook finished in the final four of the Arizona Division 3 State Tournament. Epps averaged 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, shot 58% from the field and 44% from three-point range.
• Portland State will try to build on its 17-15/11-9 finish of 2013-14. The Vikings more than doubled their previous years' win total (8-20/5-15). The last time PSU won more than 17 games was a 23-10 season in 2008-09.
 
VIKING ONE-LINERS (and sometimes two)
• Portland State has two players from foreign countries on its roster; Tiegbe Bamba (France) and Sebastian Suarez (Chile). Since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97, Portland State has also had players from England, Canada (3), Nigeria and Lithuania.
• PSU has three players that competed for other Division I schools: Tim Douglas (Portland), Calaen Robinson (Arizona State) and Dorian Cason (Portland). Robinson will redshirt this season due to his NCAA transfer status.
• JR F Collin Spickerman and SO G Bryce White have both returned home after earning NWAACC Region Player of the Year awards. Spickerman prepped less than 10 miles from the PSU campus at Portland's Jesuit High School. He spent one season at Alaska Anchorage and one season at Clark (WA) College. Last winter he was the NWAACC West Region Player of the Year after averaging 17.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocked shots per game. White prepped less than five miles from the PSU campus at Portland's Benson Tech. He was named the NWAACC South Region Player of the Year after averaging 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists at Chemeketa CC.
• SO G Zach Gengler was the Oregon 5A High School Player of the Year in 2012-13.
• With three fourth-year players on the roster this season (Gary Winston, Brandon Cataldo, Joel King), it marks only the second time the Viking program has had three fourth-year seniors in their Big Sky history (also 1999-2000 with Derek Nesland, Ivan Garner, Hasan Artharee).
• FR G Iziahiah Sweeney won the 2014 Ballislife All American Dunk contest. The video is available on YouTube (you won't be disappointed).
• Portland State is in its 19th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference and Division I. PSU played basketball from 1946-1981 before discontinuing the program. Basketball was reinstated for the 1996-97 season.
• The Viking basketball program has graduated 16 of 18 players who have completed their eligibility under Head Coach Tyler Geving.
• Portland State received public recognition from the NCAA last May for being among the top 10 percent of teams in multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores for the four-year period ending in 2012-13. PSU basketball, which received APR sanctions five years ago, is now among the top programs in the nation in APR scores. Head Coach Tyler Geving has led the program to that accomplishment. PSU has the only men's basketball program in the Big Sky Conference and among the state of Oregon's four Division I programs to be among the top 10 percent recognized by the NCAA.
• SR F Tiegbe Bamba, JR G Sebastian Suarez and JR G Kyler Shula were all redshirts for the Vikings last season.
• Head Coach Tyler Geving and Associate Head Coach Jeff Hironaka were both assistant coaches on the 2000-01 Seattle Pacific basketball staff.
• Special Advisor Barry Adams, a high school coaching legend in the state of Oregon, was elected to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame on March 10, 2014. Adams spent more than four decades as a prep coach in the state.
• Over the summer, fifth-year Assistant Coach Anthony Owens was named the new Head Coach at the University of Great Falls, his alma mater.
• Former Viking Ime Udoka played seven seasons in the NBA. He started 75 games for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2006-07. Udoka is now an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs.
• Julius Thomas, who holds Portland State records for games played (121), field goal percentage in a season and career (.671/.663), and career wins (78) is now the starting tight end and a Pro Bowler for the Denver Broncos. Thomas played on two Big Sky Conference Championship/NCAA Tournament teams (2007-08, 2008-09) at PSU. He competed in Super Bowl XLVIII last February.
• Portland State basketball fans will have the opportunity to Get Stuffed again this winter at the Stott Center. Any fan purchasing a ticket for a seat at the Peter W. Stott Center will receive free concessions. That's right, all the food you can eat from the concession stand. Portland State students, with student tickets, can also take advantage of this promotion. It's just that simple. Buy your ticket and you eat for free. Last year, more than 15,000 free hot dogs were eaten at Portland State men's and women's basketball games.
 
2014-15 SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
• In his first game as a Viking, SR F Tiegbe Bamba led the team to a rare win over a Pac-12 school as the Vikings beat USC 76-68 (11/15). Bamba scored 19 points (8-11 FG, 3-3 3-pt), had six rebounds, four steals and two assists in the game, leading five players in double figures. It was the first win over a Pac-12 opponent since the 2006-07 season and just the fifth all-time (5-48).
• SR F Tiegbe Bamba was named Big Sky Conference co-Player of the Week (11/18) after his performance in the win over USC. Bamba had 19 points, six rebounds and four steals in a 76-68 win.
• SO G Bryce White posted 19 points, six rebounds and five assists as the Vikings routed Willamette, 84-63 (11/18). PSU shot .544 from the field, .571 from three-point range and forced 23 turnovers for the second straight game. SR G Tim Douglas scored 15 points and did not miss a shot (6-6 FG, 3-3 3-pt FG).
• SR G DaShaun Wiggins scored a career-high 32 points (12-18 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 5-10 FT) in leading the Vikings to a 90-87 overtime win against Southern Illinois Edwardsville (11/24). Wiggins made a driving three-point play to give the Vikings the lead for good with 1:21 to play in OT. His 30-point effort was the first by a Viking in 68 games.
• With a 63-55 win over Cal State Northridge, Portland State improved to 4-0 to start a season for the first time since 2008-09 (11/26). The Vikings played their best defensive game, holding the Matadors 18 points below their season average, forcing 18 turnovers and .383 shooting. SR F Tiegbe Bamba scored 18 points (7-10 FG, 4-6 FT) with eight rebounds to lead the Vikings.
• JR C Collin Spickerman blocked six shots in a win over CSU Bakersfield (12/13), tying a Portland State school record set three times previously.
• The Viking defense shut down CSU Bakersfield (12/13) in a 65-59 win. Portland State blocked eight shots, forced 15 turnovers and held the Roadrunners to just 18-60 from the field (.300). SO F Braxton Tucker led the Vikings with a season-high 18 points (7-10 FG, 4-6 FT).
• Portland State broke out of a shooting slump, hitting 38-66 shots (a season-best .576) on the way to a 94-52 rout of Walla Walla. The Vikings were led once again by SR G DaShaun Wiggins who had a complete game with 23 points (8-15 FG, 1-4 3-pt, 6-8 FT), five steals, four rebounds and three assists. SR C Brandon Cataldo had career-highs of 16 points (8-9 FG) and 13 rebounds off the bench.