complete notes and stats in pdf

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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS vs. GRAND CANYON 'LOPES
Friday, November 13, 6 p.m. PT • GCU Arena (5,000), Phoenix, AZ
 
Live Video and Audio Stream: www.GoViks.com (with GCU feed) • Play-by-play: Barry Buetel • Analysts: Scott Williams, Kate Longworth
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com

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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS vs. PACIFIC LUTHERAN LUTES
Monday, November 16, 7:05 p.m. • Peter W. Stott Center (1,500), Portland, OR
 
Live Video and Audio Stream: www.GoViks.com • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Pregame Show: 6:45 p.m.
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com

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THE OPENING TIP
The Portland State Vikings open their 2015-16 season with a first-time opponent this Friday night, traveling to face the Grand Canyon 'Lopes in Phoenix. Tip-off against the Western Athletic Conference team is 6 p.m. PT. The game will be available via live video and audio stream links at www.GoViks.com.
     
PSU turns around on Monday for a home opener against NCAA III Pacific Lutheran at the Stott Center. That game begins at 7:05 p.m. Live video, audio and stats are all available at GoViks.com.
 
The Vikings' game at Grand Canyon is the first of six preseason road games. PSU plays five preseason home games. GCU is one of three WAC opponents the Vikings will see this season.
     
In all, Portland State's preseason slate has five games in November, then six in December. Big Sky Conference play opens on Jan. 2.
 
THE VIKINGS: A QUICK LOOK
The Vikings have only five returning letterwinners, but four played significant roles on last year's team and combined for 63 starts. Back are the Big Sky Conference's leading shot blocker, Collin Spickerman (2.5 bpg); Braxton Tucker who is the team's top returning scorer (11.5 ppg); versatile perimeter player Bryce White (9.5 ppg) and top perimeter defender Zach Gengler (4.6 ppg).
     
Seventh-year Head Coach Tyler Geving also has three Division I transfers expected to make big contributions in guards Calaen Robinson and Donivine Stewart and forward Cameron Forte. In all, eight signees have joined the roster since last year.
     
PSU comes off a 15-14 season in 2014-15. The Vikings were 9-9 in the Big Sky Conference, placing sixth. They will go after a third straight winning season in 2015-16.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. GRAND CANYON
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State and Grand Canyon will be meeting for the first time in history.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (84-99, 7th season) has never faced Grand Canyon. He is 2-4 all-time against Western Athletic Conference teams. 'Lopes Coach Dan Majerle (32-30) is beginning his third season at Grand Canyon and has never faced the Vikings.
• VIKINGS VS. THE WAC: Portland State has never faced Grand Canyon, but is 15-10 all-time against current members of the Western Athletic Conference. Grand Canyon is one of three WAC schools that PSU will play this year (Texas Rio Grande Valley, CSU Bakersfield).
 
GRAND CANYON 'LOPES
• Grand Canyon was 17-15 last season, 8-6 and second place in the Western Athletic Conference.
• Two starters and nine letterwinners return from last year's team.
• Senior guard DeWayne Russell averaged 14.2 points and 3.9 assists last season. He played one season at Big Sky foe Northern Arizona before transferring to Grand Canyon.
• Sophomore guard Joshua Braun averaged 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds last season.
• Grand Canyon was 1-2 last year against Big Sky Conference schools (W, Montana State; L, Idaho State, Northern Arizona).
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. PACIFIC LUTHERAN
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Pacific Lutheran leads the all-time series 3-2. PLU won three straight in the series in the 1960s. PSU has won both meetings (2006-07 and 2013-14) since since moving to Division I and the Big Sky Conference.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (84-99, 7th season) is 1-0 all-time against Pacific Lutheran. Lutes Coach Steve Dickerson (87-130/10th season) is 0-2 all-time against the Vikings.
• VIKINGS vs. LOWER DIVISION SCHOOLS: Portland State is 11-0 against lower division schools under Head Coach Tyler Geving.
• THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Portland State was 4-0 in its non-conference home games in 2014-15. The Vikings have 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.
• HOME OPENERS: Portland State is 15-4 in home opening games since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97.
 
PACIFIC LUTHERAN LUTES
• Pacific Lutheran was 8-17 last year, 6-10 in the Northwest Conference.
• The Lutes have 11 returning letterwinners.
• Junior guard Brandon Lester (12.5 ppg) is the top returning scorer. Senior post Bryce Miller (5.8 rpg) is the top returning rebounder.
 
FAST BREAKS
• Portland State has had back-to-back winning seasons (17-15 in 2013-14, 15-14 in 2014-15) and will try to make it three straight winning seasons for the first time since 2006-09.
• PSU ranked 25th in the nation in free throw percentage (.742) last season, coming within .0006 of setting a school record (.7424 to .7430 in 2012-13).
• Collin Spickerman led the Big Sky Conference in blocked shots in 2014-15, with 72 swats. His 2.5 average per game also set a Portland State record.
• JR G Zach Gengler had only 15 turnovers in 415 minutes of playing time last season (1.4 per 40 minutes). In his two seasons, Gengler has only 30 turnovers in 52 games played.
• Portland State was 4-0 in its non-conference home games in 2014-15. The Vikings have 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.
• Portland State begins its 20th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference in 2015-16. PSU won Big Sky regular season titles in 2004-05 and 2007-08. The Vikings won Big Sky tournament titles, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
• The Vikings' non-conference schedule includes five home games and six road games. PSU will host its annual meeting with the University of Portland on Dec. 2. The Vikings will also host Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Northridge of the Big West. Small college foes include Pacific Lutheran and Multnomah at the Stott Center in the preseason... PSU's road schedule includes trips to Grand Canyon, CSU Bakersfield and Texas Rio Grande Valley of the Western Athletic Conference, Nevada of the Mountain West, Washington State of the Pac-12, and SIU Edwardsville of the Ohio Valley... the Vikings' 18-game Big Sky Conference schedule begins on Jan. 2, hosting travel partner Sacramento State. It continues through a final home game on Mar. 5 against Southern Utah. The regular season conference schedule is still unbalanced. As a result, PSU will not travel to Northern Arizona and Southern Utah this season, and will not host North Dakota and Northern Colorado.
 
VIKINGS NOTCH EXHIBITION WIN
Portland State defeated Lewis and Clark last Friday at the Stott Center, 101-85. The Vikings got 32 points from transfer forward Cameron Forte, who hit 16-20 shots from the field, including his last eight in a row. JR G Bryce White added 20 points for the Vikings who shot .548 from the field and had 28 assists on 40 field goals, while commiting only seven turnovers.
 
VIKING BLOGTALK PREVIEW
Portland State Basketball Coach Tyler Geving will preview the season opener at Grand Canyon this Wednesday night live on The Tyler Geving Basketball Show on Blog Talk Radio at 10:30 p.m.
     
The show takes place each Wednesday night, 10:30-11:00 pm. The link to listen changes each week, but the weekly link can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/tylergevingshow. The shows are archived for later listening. Greg Crawford hosts the show.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State was 15-14, 9-4 at home, 6-10 on the road.
• The Vikings were 9-9 in the Big Sky Conference, 5-4 at home, 4-5 on the road.
• PSU had a winning season for the second straight year and third time in four seasons.
Stott Stuff
• PSU has gone 150-56 in 206 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 181-71 at home over the past 19 seasons.
• Portland State is 57-27 at home in six seasons under Tyler Geving.
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 94-30 at home, including 55-26 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 158-165 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (9-10).
• PSU is 105-51 in home games, 50-108 in road games and 3-7 in neutral site games.
• PSU is 71-67 in Big Sky games since the start of the 2007-08 season, 78-71 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.
• 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 19-43 in games televised in the Portland area since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97. That includes a 9-7 home record and 10-36 road record.
 
VIKING ONE-LINERS (and sometimes two)
• PSU has three players that competed for other Division I schools: Calaen Robinson (Arizona State), Cameron Forte (Georgia) and Donivine Stewart (SIUE).
• SR F Collin Spickerman and JR 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. In 2013-14 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 in 2013-14 after averaging 27.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists at Chemeketa CC.
• JR G Zach Gengler was the Oregon 5A High School Player of the Year in 2012-13.
• JR C Namdi Okonkwo is the first 7-foot player in Portland State's Big Sky era (1996-2015) and perhaps ever. PSU previously has had five players that stood 6-11 since reinstating basketball for the 1996-97 season.
• Portland State is in its 20th 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.
• Construction of the new The Viking Pavilion will begin in January 2016. The Pavilion will consist of an upgraded Stott Center facility, including a new arena for Viking basketball, as well as athletic training enhancements, academic upgrades and overall facility enhancements. The Viking Pavilion will more than double the capacity of PSU's home court (to be situated on the east side of the building) to somewhere between 3,000-4,000 seats. The arena is expected to be available for play beginning in January 2018.
• Portland State received public recognition from the NCAA in 2014 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 six 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 had 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.
• 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.
• Assistant Coach Michael Plank spent a portion of his summer working with the Costa Rican National Team.
• 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, and won an NBA title with the team in 2013-14.
• 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) was a two-time 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 in 2014. Thomas signed a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015.
 
2014-15 SEASON REVIEW
The Portland State Vikings completed their 2014-15 season with a 15-14 record. It was the second straight winning season for PSU and third in four seasons. The Vikings were 9-9 and placed sixth in the Big Sky Conference, earning a bid to the post-season tournament. PSU lost a quarterfinal round game to Sacramento State.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
• With a 15-14 record, Portland State has had three winning records in the last four seasons. PSU had winning streaks of four games and three games during the season. The Vikings were 9-4 at home, 6-10 on the road.
• SR G DaShaun Wiggins was named honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference. He led the Vikings in scoring (15.7), steals (44), three-point field goals made (59) and three-point percentage (.437). He was ninth in the Big Sky Conference in scoring, fourth in steals and seventh in three-point percentage.
• SR F Tiegbe Bamba was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week after leading the Vikings to a 76-68 season-opening win over USC. Bamba scored 19 points (8-11 FG, 3-3 3-pt), had six rebounds, four steals and two assists in the game.
• SR G Gary Winston became the 18th player in Portland State Basketball history to reach 1,000 career points. Winston was the eighth player to reach the number in PSU's Big Sky era (1996-2015). He finishes his career with 1,070 points, good for 14th all-time in PSU history.
• JR C Collin Spickerman had 72 blocked shots to lead the Big Sky Conference. His 72 blocks are second for a season in school history, while his 2.5 average is a school record. Spickerman also set a new PSU record for blocked shots in a game (7)... SR G Tim Douglas led the Big Sky in assist-to-turnover ratio in league games. He had 58 assists and 21 turnovers in 18 games for a 2.8 ratio.
• PSU was 4-0 in its non-conference home games. The Vikings have 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.
 
2014-15 PORTLAND STATE SEASON LEADERS
Scoring: DaShaun Wiggins 15.7, Gary Winston 12.1, Tiegbe Bamba 11.6, Braxton Tucker 11.5
Rebounding: Tiegbe Bamba 6.8, Braxton Tucker 5.3, Collin Spickerman 4.3
Assists: Gary Winston 3.7, Tim Douglas 2.8
Three-point field goals: DaShaun Wiggins 59, Gary Winston 53, Tim Douglas 27
Field Goal Percentage: Tiegbe Bamba .550, Brandon Cataldo .543, Braxton Tucker .500
Free Throw Percentage: Tim Douglas .840, Gary Winston .818, Zach Gengler .800
Three-Point Percentage: DaShaun Wiggins .437, Gary Winston .427, Sebastian Suarez .412
Blocked Shots: Collin Spickerman 72, Braxton Tucker 11
Steals: DaShaun Wiggins 44, Tiegbe Bamba 33