complete notes and stats in pdf

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS vs. SAN DIEGO TOREROS
Collegeinsider.com Tournament First Round
Tuesday, March 18, 2014, 7 p.m. • Jenny Craig Pavilion (5,100), San Diego, CA
 
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS
Record/Big Sky: 17-14
Head Coach: Tyler Geving (69-84/5th year)
 
SAN DIEGO TOREROS
Record/Big Sky: 16-16
Head Coach: Bill Grier (100-127/7th year)
 
Live Video Stream (free): http://www.watchcollegeinsider.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?db_oem_id=29600
Live Audio Stream: http://www.espnradio1700.com/pages/listen_live_1700/  (University of San Diego radio)
Live Stats: http://usdtoreros.cstv.com/gametracker/
 
THE OPENING TIP
On the strength of a late-season run and solid 17-14 record, the Portland State Vikings were selected to compete in the Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament. The Vikings will play at the University of San Diego (16-16) on Tuesday night in a first round game. Tip-off is 7 p.m.
     
Live video, audio and stats for the game can be found at GoViks.com. Just click on the Game Day box.
     
Portland State won five of its last six regular season games to earn the fifth seed in last week's Big Sky Conference Tournament. The Vikings beat defending BSC champion Montana, 70-63, in a quarterfinal round game on Thursday. Then, North Dakota beat PSU, 79-63, in a Big Sky semifinal game on Friday. That has the Vikings winning six of their last eight games.
     
This is the sixth year of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament and the Vikings were one of 32 teams selected to compete. First round games are slated for March 18-19; second round games for March 21-22; Quarterfinals for March 25-27; Semifinals on April 1st; and the Championship on April 3rd. Both semifinal games and the championship game will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Previous champions include East Carolina (2013), Mercer (2012), Santa Clara (2011), Missouri State (2010) and Old Dominion (2009).
     
The CIT berth is Portland State's first post-Big Sky Tournament competition since winning the Big Sky and participating in the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Tournaments. Northern Colorado (18-13) and North Dakota (17-16) of the Big Sky Conference also earned berths to the CIT. Last year, Big Sky member Weber State went all the way to the championship game before losing to East Carolina.
     
The full CIT bracket follows.
 
PORTLAND STATE VS. SAN DIEGO
Portland State is 17-14 this season. The Vikings are 12-5 at home, 5-9 away from home (4-8 road, 1-1 neutral). Despite a loss in the Big Sky Tournament semifinals, PSU had won six of its previous seven games, including four of its previous five away from home.
     
The Vikings are led by second team All-Big Sky Conference selection Gary Winston. The junior guard averages 11.5 points per game and is one of the top three-point shooters in the league at .438 from distance. Junior guard DaShaun Wiggins, the Big Sky's co-6th Man of the Year, leads the Vikings with 12.8 points per game. Tim Douglas, also a junior guard, averages 11.9 points and team-highs of 3.2 assists and 32 steals. Senior forward Kyle Richardson has been Portland State's key big man, averaging 10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds, while shooting .600 from the field and blocking 34 shots. Andre Winston Jr. (9.7 points, .531 FG%) and Marcus Hall (7.6 ppg, 49 3-pt FG) are also key contributors.
     
The University of San Diego is 16-16 on the season. The Toreros went 7-11 in the West Coast Conference and lost a first round game in the WCC Tournament to San Francisco. San Diego is 9-7 at home this season, 7-9 away from home (5-7 road, 2-2 neutral).
     
The Toreros are led by junior guard Johnny Dee (16.8 ppg), a 2014 first team All-West Coast Conference selection and a CollegeInsider.com Preseason Lou Henson All-America Candidate. Dee is USD's No. 3 all-time leading scorer with 1,473 points. Sophomore forward Duda Sanadze (12.9 ppg), senior forward Dennis Kramer (11.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg), junior guard Christopher Anderson (10.0 ppg, 5.9 assists) and sophomore center Jito Kok (school record 56 blocked shots) are all key players for USD.
     
Portland State and San Diego have two common opponents in 2013-14. The Vikings defeated Southern Utah twice, while San Diego earned a non-conference win over the Thunderbirds. PSU lost a non-conference game to the University of Portland, while San Diego beat Portland twice in WCC play, by two points both times.
     
The Vikings and Toreros have not faced one another since the 2001-02 season. San Diego leads the all-time series, 4-1, including 2-0 in San Diego.
 
PSU vs. USD SERIES RESULTS
1968-69 USD 75-67 @ PSU
1996-97 USD 85-66 @ USD
1998-99 PSU 78-70 @ PSU (Rose Garden)
2000-01 USD 74-60 @ USD
2001-02 USD 74-59 @ PSU
 
THE COLLEGEINSIDER.COM TOURNAMENT
The 32-team CIT field is made up of programs not selected to participate in the NCAA or NIT. All 31 games are played on campus sites. In an effort to minimize travel and limit class time missed, the CIT uses the old NIT model, with future round opponents determined by results of previous round play. This ensures geographic stability. The likely matchup for the PSU/San Diego winner will be the winner of the Pacific vs. Grand Canyon game.
 
FIRST ROUND
Monday, March 17
Holy Cross (19-13) @ Brown (15-13)
 
Tuesday, March 18
VMI (19-12) @ Canisius (20-12)
Wright State (20-14) @ East Carolina (17-16)
Norfolk State (19-14) @ Eastern Michigan (21-14)
Chattanooga (18-14) @ ETSU (18-15)
Columbia (19-12) @ Valparaiso (18-15)
Alabama State (19-12) @ Sam Houston State (23-10)
Portland State (17-14) @ San Diego (16-16)
 
Wednesday, March 19
Quinnipiac (20-11) @ Yale (15-13)
Towson (23-10) @ USC Upstate (19-14)
Cleveland State (21-11) @ Ohio (23-11)
Akron (21-12) @ IPFW (24-10)
Murray State (18-11) @ Missouri State (20-12)
North Dakota (17-16) @ Nebraska-Omaha (16-14)
Texas A&M Corpus Christi (17-15) @ Northern Colorado (18-13)
Pacific (15-15) @ Grand Canyon (15-14)
 
SECOND ROUND, March 21-22
 
QUARTERFINALS, March 25-27
 
SEMIFINALS, April 1
 
CHAMPIONSHIP, April 3
 
The semifinals and championship game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
 
PORTLAND STATE: THE 2013-14 SEASON
Portland State entered the 2013-14 season seeking a bounce back from last year's 8-20/5-15 record. By all accounts, the Vikings have accomplished that with a 17-14 record and 11-9 mark in the Big Sky Conference. For perspective, Portland State had been picked eighth and ninth in a pair of Big Sky Conference preseason polls. The Vikings were eighth in a poll of Big Sky Coaches and ninth in the Big Sky Media poll.
     
PSU had an early four-game winning streak to jump out to a 4-1 preseason record. However, the Vikings lost six of seven games from late November through early January. Sitting at 5-7 overall, 0-3 in the Big Sky Conference on Jan. 9, the season looked bleak. But the Vikings persevered.
     
Head Coach Tyler Geving made the difficult decision of suspending starting forward Aaron Moore for the remainder of the season for conduct detrimental to the team. It also became clear that forward Tiegbe Bamba would not be able to return from an achilles injury he suffered in junior college in Feb. 2013. That left the Vikings woefully undersized - though certainly not under-talented.
     
Geving installed - by necessity  - a four-guard offense that ignited the Viking team. 
     
Portland State won six of its next seven games, climbing as high as third in the Big Sky standings. A span of four straight losses in early February - none by more than seven points - forced the Vikings to finish strong to earn a post-season berth. The team responded winning three of four on the road - then their final two home games - to guarantee a winning season and earn the fifth seed in the Big Sky Tournament.
     
Portland State defeated fourth-seeded Montana in a Big Sky Tournament quarterfinal, 70-63, before losing to second-seeded North Dakota, 79-63, in a semifinal.
     
Now at 17-14, the Vikings have tied their mark for most wins in Geving's five seasons as Head Coach (17-15 in 2011-12).
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 17-14 this season, 12-5 at home, 5-9 on the road.
• The Vikings went 11-9 in the Big Sky Conference, 7-3 at home and 4-6 on the road.
• With 17 wins this season, PSU has more than doubled last year's win total (8-20).
• PSU is 10-6 in close games (seven points or less) and 3-1 in overtime.
• The Vikings have come back to win seven games this season when trailing at halftime.
• Portland State has won four games in a row three times this season.
 
HOT SHOTS:
• SR F Kyle Richardson continues to play well. Over the last 15 games, he has made 93-139 shots from the field (.669), averaging 15.1 points and 8.2 rebounds. Richardson posted a career-high 28 points (14-19 FG) with 14 rebounds and two blocked shots against Idaho State (3/8). He was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on Mar. 10. In the Big Sky quarterfinal win over Montana he had 19 points (7-11 FG, 5-6 FT), five rebounds and two blocks. Richardson had 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in the semifinal loss to North Dakota.
• JR G Gary Winston has averaged 16.1 points over the last eight games.
• The Vikings made 15-15 free throws in the last 2:40 of the win over Montana, 18-21 in the second half, and 26-30 overall (.867).
• PSU has won four of its last six games away from home.
 
NOT SO HOT:
• The Vikings were only 17-58 from three-point range in the last four games (.293).
• PSU had 18 turnovers in the loss to North Dakota.
 
HOME/ROAD DIFFERENTIAL:
• Portland State is 12-5 at home this season, 5-9 on the road.
• PSU has shot .439 from the field, .334 from distance and .722 at the line on the road this year.
• At home, PSU shoots .490/.385/.736.
• The Vikings average 69.0 points on the road and 75.8 at home.
 
THE NUMBERS 17 AND 11 MEAN A LOT: With Portland State's 17 wins, the Vikings are guaranteed a winning season. The 11 conference wins also gave them a winning conference season... at 17-14, the Vikings have matched their most wins in five seasons under Head Coach Tyler Geving (PSU was 17-15/10-6 in 2011-12)... PSU has more than doubled last year's win total, and more than doubled the conference win total (8-20/5-15).
 
BEST RECORD?: If Portland State can pull out a win at San Diego on Tuesday, the Vikings will be assured of their best record in the Tyler Geving era with 18 wins. PSU's records under Geving (13-19 in 2009-10; 14-16 in 2010-11; 17-15 in 2011-12; 8-20 in 2012-13; 17-14 in 2013-14).
 
CLOSE CONFERENCE, CLOSE GAMES: In the quarterfinal win over Montana, neither team had a double-digit lead during the game. That marked the ninth time since the start of Big Sky Conference play that PSU has been in a game in which neither team led by more than 10 points... 15 of the 22 games have been decided been nine points or less and four went to overtime (PSU is 3-1).
 
A WINNING LINEUP: The four-guard starting lineup of Tim Douglas, Andre Winston Jr., Gary Winston, and Marcus Hall and forward Kyle Richardson has gone 11-6.
 
MORE POINTS, MORE WINS: This season, the Vikings have gone 6-0 when scoring over 80 points, 13-6 when scoring 70 or more... PSU is 4-8 when scoring less than 70.
 
COMEBACK KIDS: The Vikings have won seven games in which they trailed at halftime. The Vikings were down 28-26 to Montana at the break of the Big Sky quarterfinal before coming back to win... only once this season has PSU given up a halftime lead to lose.
 
SHOOT IT WELL, WIN A GAME: For the season, the Vikings are 11-1 when they shoot a higher percentage than their opponents, 6-13 when they don't.
 
5x10... ALMOST: Portland State (almost) has five players averaging double figures this season: DaShaun Wiggins (12.8), Tim Douglas (11.9), Gary Winston (11.5), Kyle Richardson (10.1) and Andre Winston (9.7). Meanwhile, Marcus Hall averages 7.6 points.
 
KEEP SHOOTING, GARY: JR G Gary Winston has been on a hot streak, averaging 14.6 points over the past 19 games, scoring in double figures in 18 of those games. He posted a career-high 26 points at Southern Utah (2/20). That broke his previous career high (21), recorded at the start of the 16-game run in a win over Montana (1/11)... Winston averages 11.5 points and 2.8 assists this season. He was averaging just 5.0 points prior to the 19-game stretch.
• Gary was named second team All-Big Sky Conference this season.
• Winston ranks third in the Big Sky Conference in three-point percentage (46-105, 438). He led the Big Sky last year (.470).
• Winston ranks second all-time at Portland State in three-point percentage (.441).
• Winston hit clutch three-pointers in two Viking wins this season. He made the game-winner with 2.6 seconds remaining in the third overtime of an 81-78 win against Montana (1/11). Then, with the Vikings clinging to a 61-58 lead against Sacramento State (1/16) in overtime and less than a minute to play, Winston rose up and buried a trey to make it 64-58 with 42 seconds to go. That shot essentially sealed the win for the Vikings.
• Posted 19 points (7-12 FG, 2-4 3-pt, 3-3 FT) with five rebounds and six assists in a win over Northern Colorado (1/30).
• Had 19 points (7-8 FG, 3-3 3-pt, 2-2 FT), two assists and two steals in the win over North Dakota (2/1).
• Put up 22 points (7-14 FG, 3-7 3-pt, 5-6 FT) and a career-high seven assists in a road win at Northern Colorado (3/1).
• Has led the team in scoring eight times and assists 12 times this season.
 
POST PRESENCE: SR F Kyle Richardson is playing the best basketball of his career. Over the last 15 games, he has made 93-139 shots from the field (.669) and averaged 15.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots... after graduating and transferring to Portland State for his final season this year, Big Rich has stepped up his role and his game. Richardson, along with JR G Tim Douglas (who was also a high school teammate), are the only Vikings to start every game. In 27.5 minutes per night, Richardson averages 10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds - both career highs. He also has a team-leading 34 blocked shots which ranks seventh-most in school history for a season.
• Had a big night with 25 points (10-15 FG), 12 rebounds and three blocked shots at Montana (2/6).
• Posted 22 points (8-10 FG, 6-8 FT) with eight rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots in a win at Eastern Washington (2/24).
• Logged 19 points (9-13 FG, 1-5 FT) and career-highs of 14 rebounds and five blocked shots at North Dakota (2/27).
• Posted a career-high 28 points (14-19 FG), matched a career-high with 14 rebounds and blocked two shots in a win over Idaho State (3/8).
• Named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week  after scoring 41 points, grabbing 22 rebounds and blocking four shots in wins over first-place Weber State and Idaho State (3/10). Richardson shot 20-28 from the field (.714) in the two games.
• Went for 19 points (7-11 FG, 5-6 FT), five rebounds and two blocks in the Big Sky quarterfinal win over Montana (3/13).
• Richardson has led the Vikings in rebounding 16 times this season, in scoring four times and has five double-doubles.
• Ranks fourth in the Big Sky in field goal percentage (.600) and eighth in rebounding (6.4).
 
OUR COUSIN VINNIE: If you remember the "Microwave", former Detroit Piston sixth-man Vinnie Johnson, then know that Portland State appears to have their own version in JR G DaShaun Wiggins. Wiggins has come off the bench in 24 of 30 games this season, leads the team in scoring (12.8), ranks second in steals (31), and is fourth in three-pointers (30) in just 23 minutes per night.
• DaShaun was named the Big Sky Conference co-6th Man of the Year and honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference.
• Wiggins' had a 21-point, seven-rebound, three-assist, two-steal performance in a win over UC Davis (11/24).
• He set new career-highs with 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals against Idaho (12/14).
• Scored a game-high 20 points (7-13 FG, 5-6 FT) against Montana State (1/9).
• Posted 21 points (5-11 FG, 3-7 3-pt, 8-9 FT) with five assists in the win over Eastern Washington (1/27).
• Hit for 20 points (4-9 FG, 2-4 3-pt, 10-10 FT) in a win over first-place Weber State (3/6).
• Wiggins has led the team in scoring nine times and rebounding twice.
• Wiggins ranks 14th in the Big Sky Conference in scoring.
 
WINSTON HITTING THE MARK: JR G Andre Winston Jr. has been efficient on offense this season, averaging 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists... for the season, Winston shoots .531 from the field and .772 at the line. He also has an excellent 70/45 assist-to-turnover ratio. Those are nice improvements over his numbers last year of 7.0, .391 and .705.
• Winston had a career-game in the win over Eastern Washington (1/27), scoring a career-high 23 points (7-13, 8-10 FT) with six rebounds, and career-highs of six assists and three steals.
• He scored 20 points (8-11 FG, 4-5 FT) with six rebounds at North Dakota (2/27).
• Ranks eighth in the Big Sky Conference in field goal percentage.

THE LEADER: JR G Tim Douglas is making a big impact for the Vikings this season. He is averaging 11.9 points, a team-leading 3.2 assists and leads the team with 32 steals.
• Douglas has led the Vikings in scoring in five games and assists in 14 games.
• He has scored in double figures a team-high 21 times with a season-high 27 against Portland (12/7).
• Douglas was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 10.
• Douglas ranks 18th in scoring and seventh in assists in the Big Sky Conference.
 
HALL MONITOR: SR G Marcus Hall continues to be a dangerous shooter for the Vikings. He leads the team with 49 three-point field goals made and shoots .392 from distance... Hall's main value has been defending bigger opponents in the Vikings' four-guard lineup. He has handled the role well.
• Ranks 10th in the Big Sky in three-point percentage.
• Posted a career-high 19 against Montana State (1/9), then two nights later hit another career-high in the win over Montana (1/11). Hall had 21 points in that game with seven rebounds and three assists.
• Had 19 points (6-12 FG, 4-9 3-pt, 3-6 FT) and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds in a win over Idaho State (3/8).
 
THE BIG CAT IS ON THE PROWL: JR C Brandon Cataldo has been a "project" player for the Vikings the past two seasons. This season he has begun to assert himself. Cataldo is averaging modest numbers of 4.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in 10 minutes per night. Those work out to 16 points and 12.8 rebounds per 40 minutes... Cataldo has just eight turnovers all season.
• Cataldo leads the team with a .608 field goal percentage. He shoots .578 from the field for his career.
• Cataldo has led the Vikings in rebounding three times this season.
 
FOSTERING GOOD DEFENSE: You wouldn't expect a walk-on player who almost never shoots the ball to have a big impact on your team, but SR G Alyx Foster has for the Vikings. Foster has attempted just 18 shots, scoring 24 points all season. But he has proven valuable in a defensive role playing the "4" position at only 6-foot-3. Foster has averaged 10 minutes per game in conference as a backup to Marcus Hall. And though he averages less than a point and just over one rebound per game, Head Coach Tyler Geving would tell you Foster has been vital to the Vikings' success.
 
FOUR GUARDS AND A GOALIE: By necessity, Portland State Head Coach Tyler Geving has had to play small this season, more so than ever with the suspension of SR F Aaron Moore. The strength of the Viking team is in its guards and Portland State is playing more of them than ever - a little reminiscent of the Don Nelson/RUN-TMC era of the Golden State Warriors in the late 1980s and early 1990s (Google 'em). The starting lineup of four guards and one big man has produced exciting and successful play. Strategically, PSU spreads its opponents out on the floor, attacks on the drive and kicks out for three pointers when open. The "four guards and a goalie" approach has been effective offensively. Meanwhile, defending and rebounding against bigger opponents has also gone well as the Vikings are out-scrapping the competition.
 
... AND SOMETIMES FIVE GUARDS: The Vikings went with five guards down the stretch in the 67-64 win over Southern Utah (1/25). PSU trailed 56-52 with 6:03 to play when Coach Geving inserted a five-guard lineup. The Vikings outscored the Thunderbirds, 15-8, the rest of the way for the victory... Geving went to five guards again in the second half of the Vikings' win over Eastern Washington (1/27). In a 12-minute span, PSU outscored Eastern Washington, 34-18. Including a five-guard stint late in the first half, PSU outscored EWU, 43-26, with that lineup... in the five-guard lineup - which has cropped up for a few minutes here in there in many games - the tallest Viking on the court has been either SR G Marcus Hall (6-4) or SR G Alyx Foster (6-3) with no other player taller than 6-2.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL           
• Portland State made 15 straight field goals to open the second half in a 79-43 win over Pacific Lutheran (11/13). The Vikings did not have a miss until 3:15 remained in the game and outscored the Lutes, 47-20, in the second half. PSU shot 53% from the field in the game. JR G Tim Douglas led four Vikings in double figures with 16 points.
• SR F Aaron Moore led a come-from-behind win over Loyola (11/22), 67-63, by tieing his career-high of 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. JR G Andre Winston Jr. added 16 points as the Viking erased a 17-point second-half deficit.
• For the second game in a row, PSU came from double-digits down in the second half to earn a win. The Vikings beat Southern Illinois Edwardsville, 77-74 (11/23). JR G Tim Douglas scored 18 points to lead the Vikings while JR G DaShaun Wiggins added 17 points off the bench.
• JR G DaShaun Wiggins had a Viking season high of 21 points in a 79-63 victory over UC Davis (11/24). Wiggins added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in just 21 minutes. It marked PSU's fourth win in a row - its longest winning streak since the 2011-12 season.
• JR G Tim Douglas posted a team season-high 27 points in a loss to Portland, 92-76 (12/7). Douglas added six rebounds, four steals and three assists. He was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week for his performance.
• JR G DaShaun Wiggins set season-highs in every category with 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in a loss to Idaho (12/14). JR G Tim Douglas handed out a season-high eight assists in the game.
• Portland State scored a season-high 98 points - its most in 62 games - in a 98-65 win over Evergreen State (12/23). The Vikings shots a season-high .545 from the field. SR F Aaron Moore scored a career-high 21 points, while SR G Marcus Hall added season-bests of 13 points and seven rebounds.
• PSU wrapped up its first winning preseason mark in three years at 5-4 (12/23).
• SR G Marcus Hall scored a career-high 19 points (7-10 FG, 5-7 3-pt), hit a career-best five three-pointers and handing out a best-ever six assists in a 79-76 loss to Montana State (1/9).
• JR G Gary Winston hit a three-pointer with 2.6 seconds left in triple overtime to beat Montana, 81-78 (1/11). Winston scored a career-high 21 points (6-11 FG, 3-7 3-pt, 6-8 FT) in the game and all nine of the Viking points in the third OT. He added five assists. Also posting a new career-high was SR G Marcus Hall with 21 points (5-7 FG, 5-6 3-pt, 6-6 FT), seven rebounds and three assists.
• Portland State ended a 20-game road losing streak with a 68-64 overtime win at Sacramento State (1/16). It was PSU's second straight overtime game and win. The Vikings got career-highs of 12 points (6-9 FG) and 10 rebounds from SR F Kyle Richardson.
• JR C Brandon Cataldo scored a career-high 10 points in a 77-56 loss to Northern Arizona (1/18).
• SR G Marcus Hall hit a decisive three-pointer with 28.6 seconds remaining as the Vikings beat Southern Utah 67-64 (1/25). PSU trailed by four with six minutes to play but came back for a three-point win. JR G DaShaun Wiggins scored 15 points to lead four Vikings in double figures.
• JR G Andre Winston Jr. scored a career-high 23 points (7-13 FG, 8-10 FT) with six rebounds, six assists and three steals in a 92-83 win over Eastern Washington (1/27). JR G DaShaun Wiggins added 21 points as the Vikings shot .655 in the second half of the game to come back from a 10-point halftime deficit.
• Portland State shot a season-high .547 from the field in knocking off first-place Northern Colorado (1/30), 80-57, at the Stott Center. It was PSU's third win in a row and fifth in six games. The Vikings held the top offensive team in the conference to only .393 from the field and 57 points. JR G Gary Winston scored 19 points with six assists. SR F Kyle Richardson scored a career-high 16 points (7-9 FG) with eight rebounds.
• JR G Gary Winston had another excellent shooting night, scoring 15 of his team-high 19 points in a 70-68 win over North Dakota (2/1). Winston made 7-8 from the field, 3-3 from three-point range and 2-2 at the line. The Vikings shot a season-high .614 from the field (27-44).
• SR F Kyle Richardson posted career-highs of 25 points (10-15 FG), 12 rebounds and three blocked shots at Montana (2/6).
• JR G Gary Winston scored 21 of his career-high 26 points in the second half as the Vikings beat Southern Utah, 86-79 (2/20). JR G DaShaun Wiggins added 19 points as the Vikings ended a four-game losing streak.
• Portland State earned back-to-back road wins for the first time in two years with an 87-76 victory at Eastern Washington (2/24). SR F Kyle Richardson had 22 points (8-10 FG, 6-8 FT), eight rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots to lead five Vikings in double figures. PSU shot .607 in the second half, making eight three-pointers, 14-19 FTs and scoring 56 points.
• SR F Kyle Richardson had career-highs of 14 rebounds and five blocked shots to go with 19 points (9-13 FG, 1-5 FT) and three assists at North Dakota (2/27).
• Portland State picked up its sixth come-from-behind win on the season, beating Northern Colorado in Greeley, 77-68, after trailing at halftime. PSU made 15-21 shots (.714) in the second half to outscore the Bears, 45-31. The Vikings shot .551 for the game. JR G Gary Winston scored 22 points (7-14 FG, 3-7 3-pt, 5-6 FT) and handed out a game-high seven assists in the contest.
• The Vikings ended a seven-game losing streak to Weber State and guaranteed themselves at least a .500 season (15-13/10-9) with a 66-59 victory (3/6). PSU knocked off the first-place Wildcats and won for the fourth time in five games in a run for the Big Sky Conference Tournament. JR G DaShaun Wiggins had his team-leading fifth 20-point game (20 pts, 4-9 FG, 2-4 3-pt, 10-10 FT).
• Portland State won its fourth overtime game of the season, beating Idaho State, 78-74 (3/8). The win guaranteed PSU a winning record for the season (16-13) and in conference play (11-9). SR F Kyle Richardson scored a career-high 28 points (14-19 FG) and matched a career-high with 14 rebounds. Marcus Hall scored 19 points (6-12 FG, 4-9 3-pt, 3-6 FT) and had a career-high eight rebounds.
• Portland State advanced to the Big Sky Conference semifinal with a 70-63 win over Montana (3/13). PSU hit 12-21 shots (.571) and 18-21 free throws (.857) in the second half, including 15 in a row in the last 2:40 of the game. It marked the seventh time the Vikings have overcome a halftime deficit to win. SR F Kyle Richardson had 19 points and JR G DaShaun Wiggins added 18 points in the win.
• Portland State earned its third post-Big Sky Conference Tournament bid to a post-season tournament when the Vikings were chosen to participate in the Collegeinsider.com Tournament (3/16). The Vikings will play at San Diego in a first round game. Previously, PSU had twice earned berths in the NCAA Tournament by winning the Big Sky Championship (2008 and 2009).