complete Big Sky Tournament notebook

#6 PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (15-13, 9-9) vs. #3 SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS (19-10, 13-5)
Big Sky Conference Tournament Quarterfinal Round Game
Thursday, March 12, 12:30 p.m. PT • Dahlberg Arena (7,500), Missoula, MT
 
Live Video Stream: www.WatchBigSky.com • Play-by-play: Jay Sanderson • Analyst: Tanoka Bears
Live Audio Stream: www.GoViks.com • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt • Pregame Show: 12:15 p.m. PT
Live Stats: www.statbroadcast.com/events/central.php?tid=212&t=1
 
THE OPENING TIP
The Portland State Vikings will open Big Sky Conference Tournament play on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. PT when they face Sacramento State in a quarterfinal round game. The tournament, hosted by the University of Montana, takes place in Missoula.
     
PSU (15-13, 9-9), the sixth seed, faces the Hornets (19-10, 13-5), the number-three seed, in one of four games being played on Thursday. It will be the second game of the day, with the winner facing the winner of Eastern Washington (#2, 23-8, 14-4) vs. Idaho (#7, 13-16, 8-10).
     
The other quarterfinals feature Northern Arizona (#4, 18-13, 13-5) against Northern Colorado (#5, 15-14, 10-8); and host Montana (#1, 18-11, 14-4) vs. Weber State (#8, 13-16, 8-10).
     
Semifinal round games are Friday at 4:30 and 7 p.m. PT. PSU would play in the 4:30 contest if it wins in the quarterfinal.
     
The Big Sky Tournament Championship is Saturday at 6 p.m. PT and will be televised on ESPNU. The winner advances the the NCAA Tournament.
     
Portland State will be making its 12th appearance in the Big Sky Tournament since joining the league. The Vikings are 9-9 all-time, winning titles in 2008 and 2009. PSU has reached at least the semifinals of the tournament in its last six appearances.
     
The Vikings ended their regular season on Saturday with an 86-73 road win over Southern Utah. Now with a 15-13 record, PSU is guaranteed its second straight winning season and third in four years.
     
Sacramento State lost its final two games of the season, dropping out of first place in the standings. The Hornets would have won the league and hosted the tournament with one win in its final two games. Nonetheless, they have had the best season in their Big Sky history with 19 wins and a third-place finish. Sacramento State entered the Big Sky the same year as PSU (1996-97).
     
The Hornets won both meetings with the Vikings this season, 64-60 in Sacramento on Feb. 7, and 73-60 in Portland on Feb. 28. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Vikings and the Hornets in the Big Sky Tournament.
     
Thursday's game will be available via live video and audio streams, as well as live stats. Go to www.GoViks.com and click on the Game Day box for the links.
 
THE 2015 BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Thursday, Mar. 12
11 a.m. MT/10 a.m. - No. 2 Eastern Washington (23-8, 14-4) vs. No. 7 Idaho (13-16, 8-10)
1:30 p.m. MT/12:30 p.m. PT - No. 3 Sacramento State (19-10, 13-5) vs. No. 6 Portland State (15-13, 9-9)
5:30 p.m. MT/4:30 p.m. PT - No. 4 Northern Arizona (18-13, 13-5) vs. No. 5 Northern Colorado (15-14, 10-8)
8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT - No. 1 Montana (18-11, 14-4) vs. No. 8 Weber State (13-16, 8-10)
 
Friday, Mar. 13
Semifinals are at 5:30 p.m. MT/4:30 p.m. PT and 8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT
 
Saturday, Mar. 14
Championship at 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT
Televised on ESPNU
 
The Big Sky Tournament Champion advances to the NCAA Tournament
 
PORTLAND STATE AND THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
• Portland State is making its 12th appearance in the Big Sky Tournament in 16 seasons eligible.
• The Vikings are 9-9 all-time in the Big Sky Tournament.
• Portland State is 5-3 all-time in Big Sky Tournament quarterfinal round games.
• Head Coach Tyler Geving is 3-3 all-time in the tournament; 3-0 in quarterfinal round games, 0-3 in semifinal round games.
• PSU won Big Sky Conference Tournament titles in 2008 and 2009, advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
• Portland State won Big Sky regular season championships in 2005 and 2008, hosting the tournament those two seasons (Memorial Coliseum in 2005, Rose Garden in 2008).
• The Vikings have reached at least the Big Sky semifinals (or championship) in each of their last six appearances (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014).
• PSU has beaten four of the other seven teams in this year's tournament, holding a 4-8 record against them.
• The Vikings have six players with Big Sky Tournament experience competing in 14 games (Gary Winston, 4 games; Zach Gengler, 2 games; Tim Douglas, 2 games; DaShaun Wiggins, 2 games; Joel King, 1 game; Brandon Cataldo, 3 games).
 
Portland State vs. The Field in 2014-15
vs. #1 Montana: 0-1 - lost 73-54 in Portland
vs. #2 Eastern Washington: 1-1 - lost 92-85 in Portland; won 68-66 in Cheney
vs. #3 Sacramento State: 0-2 - lost 64-60 in Sacramento; lost 73-60 in Portland
vs. #4 Northern Arizona: 0-2 - lost 73-60 in Portland; lost 58-51 in Flagstaff
vs. #5 Northern Colorado: 1-1 - lost 90-85 in Greeley; won 91-75 in Portland
vs. #7 Idaho: 1-1 - won 85-73 in Portland; lost 87-76 in Moscow
vs. #8 Weber State: 1-0 - won 69-63 in Ogden
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE VS. SACRAMENTO STATE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series 26-14. The teams have never played a neutral site game.
• BIG SKY CONFERENCE SERIES: Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference series 25-13.
• BIG SKY TOURNAMENT SERIES: This will be the first time the teams have met in the Big Sky Tournament.
• STREAK: Sacramento State has won three in a row, including both games this season.
• THIS SEASON: Feb. 7 at SAC: Sacramento State 64, Portland State 60: Portland State came back from a 14-point deficit in the second half but couldn't finish the job. The Vikings committed 17 turnovers, 10 in the second half and one in the final 30 seconds when trailing by two. Mikh McKinney had 17 points, four assists and four steals to lead the Hornets. Dylan Garrity added 16 points and five assists. The Vikings got 18 points and five rebounds from Braxton Tucker. Feb. 28 at PSU: Sacramento State 73, Portland State 60: The Hornets broke away from a 49-49 tie with eight minutes to play, making a 12-1 run. The Vikings committed 17 more turnovers while the Hornets had just six. McKinney scored 21 points with four assists. Garrity had 15 points in the game. Tiegbe Bamba posted 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Collin Spickerman blocked a Portland State school record seven shots.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (84-98, 6th season) is 7-5 all-time at against Sacramento State.  Hornets Coach Brian Katz (75-128, 7th season) is 5-9 all-time against the Vikings.
 
SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE
• Sacramento State completed its regular season at 19-10, 13-5 and third place in the Big Sky Conference. It marks the Hornets' best-ever season as a member of the Big Sky. Sacramento State and Portland State joined the league the same season, 1996-97.
• The Hornets average 70.4 points per game and allow 67.4 points - which ranks second-best in the league.
• Sacramento State leads the Big Sky Conference in field goal percentage (.485) and ranks second in three-point percentage (.406). The Hornets are sixth in the nation in three-point shooting and 11th in field goal shooting.
• The Hornets lead the Big Sky with 7.3 steals per game and have a +1.9 turnover margin to rank second.
• Senior guard Mikh McKinney leads the Hornets and ranks second in the Big Sky scoring 19.0 points per game. He shoots .515 from the field, .423 from three-point range and .780 at the line.  McKinney's 5.0 assists per game also ranks second in the Big Sky and he leads the Big Sky in steals (2.6), ranking seventh in the nation.
• Senior guard Dylan Garrity averages 13.3 points, 2.7 assists and has a team-high 69 three-point field goals.
• Junior guard Cody Demps averages 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
 
WIGGINS NAMED HONORABLE MENTION ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Senior guard DaShaun Wiggins was named honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference when the league released its post-season award winners. Wiggins, the Vikings' leading scorer, earned honorable mention for the second year in a row.
     
Wiggins, a native of the Bronx, NY, averaged 15.8 points per game this season, ranking ninth in the Big Sky Conference. He is shooting .438 from three-point range to rank sixth in the Big Sky and his 43 steals is fourth-best in the league.
     
The 6-2 guard is the most consistent offensive performer for the Vikings this year, scoring in double-figures 26 times in 28 games. He has led the team in scoring 15 times. Wiggins has four 20+ scoring games and all four were Viking wins. He posted a career-high 32 points (12-18 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 5-10 FT) in a 90-87 overtime win against Southern Illinois Edwardsville last Nov. 24.
     
Wiggins' .438 three-point percentage ranks fifth-best for a season in Portland State history (56-128).
     
Sacramento State guard Mikh McKinney was named the Big Sky Conference Most Valuable Player. He averaged 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 2.6 steals per game. Montana forward Martin Breunig was named Newcomer of the Year. Bogdan Bliznyuk of Eastern Washington is the Freshman of the Year, Montana State's Marcus Colbert was selected as Sixth Man of the Year, and Jordyn Martin of Northern Arizona was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year.  The Big Sky Coach of the Year Award will be released on Tuesday.
 
Portland State will play in a Big Sky Conference Tournament quarterfinal on Thursday afternoon in Missoula, MT. The sixth-seeded Vikings (15-13, 9-9) take on the third-seeded Sacramento State Hornets (19-10, 13-5). Tip-off is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. PT. Live video, audio and statistics are available at GoViks.com by clicking on the Game Day Box.
 
BIG SKY CONFERENCE POST-SEASON AWARDS
Most Valuable Player – Mikh McKinney, Sr., G, Sacramento State
Newcomer of the Year – Martin Breunig, Jr., F, Montana
Freshman of the Year – Bogdan Bliznyuk, Fr., F, Eastern Washington
Top Reserve – Marcus Colbert, Jr., G, Montana State
Defensive Player of the Year - Jordyn Martin, Jr., F, Northern Arizona
 
FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE
*#Tyler Harvey, Jr., G, Eastern Washington
Venky Jois, Jr., F, Eastern Washington
*Martin Breunig, Jr., F, Montana
Jordan Gregory, Sr., G, Montana
Kris Yanku, So., G, Northern Arizona
*#Mikh McKinney, Sr., G, Sacramento State
 
*Unanimous Selection • #Two-time First Team Selection
 
SECOND TEAM ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Connor Hill, Sr., G, Idaho
Mike Scott, Sr., G, Idaho
Quinton Upshur, Sr., G, Northern Arizona
Dylan Garrity, Sr., G, Sacramento State
Joel Bolomboy, So., F, Weber State
 
HONORABLE ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Drew Brandon, Sr., G, Eastern Washington
Chris Hansen, Sr., G, Idaho State
Jeffrey Solarin, Sr., F, Idaho State
Mario Dunn, So., G, Montana
Aaseem Dixon, Sr., G, Northern Arizona
Tevin Svihovec, Sr., G, Northern Colorado
DaShaun Wiggins, Sr., G, Portland State
Jeremy Senglin, So., G, Weber State
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 15-13 this season, 9-4 at home, 6-9 on the road.
• The Vikings were 9-9 in the Big Sky Conference, 5-4 at home, 4-5 on the road.
• PSU is guaranteed a winning season for the second straight year and third time in four seasons.
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 158-164 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (9-9).
• PSU is 105-51 in home games, 50-108 in road games and 3-6 in neutral site games.
• PSU is 71-67 in Big Sky games since the start of the 2007-08 season, 78-70 including tournament games.
 
HOT SHOTS
• JR C Collin Spickerman has 16 blocked shots in the last three games. He set a Portland State school record with seven blocked shots against Sacramento State (2/28), then followed it with six at Northern Arizona (3/5) and three at Southern Utah (3/7). Spickerman has 28 blocks in the last seven games (4.0). He has blocked at least one shot in 19 straight games, and 25 of 28 overall. He ranks second in the Big Sky Conference (2.4). His 67 blocks ranks third all-time in a season at Portland State and fourth all-time for a career. His 2.4 average ranks first all-time.
• In the last nine games SR F Tiegbe Bamba has averaged 14.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals. He has made 46-78 (.590) from the field and 32-46 at the line (.696). Bamba posted career-highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds at Southern Utah (3/7).
• SR G DaShaun Wiggins had his fourth 20-point game of the season, scoring 23 in the win at Southern Utah (6-11 FG, 3-3 3-pt 8-10 FT). Wiggins added seven rebounds. Wiggins has scored in double figures in 13 straight games and 26 of 28 this season.
• SR G Gary Winston scored 19 points and had six assists in the win at Southern Utah (3/7). Winston was 3-3 from behind the arc and has made his last five three-point attempts.
• PSU is on a school-record pace at the free throw line (.746). The Vikings rank second in the Big Sky Conference and rank 22nd in the nation overall.
 
NOT SO HOT
• Portland State's -3.4 rebounding margin ranks 11th in the Big Sky Conference.
• The Vikings allow opponents to shoot .381 from three-point range, ranking 327th in the nation.
• SO F Braxton Tucker has missed the last three games due to a knee contusion.
• SO G Bryce White will miss the remainder of the season due to low back problems.
• JR C Dorian Cason will miss the remainder of the season due to plantar fasciitis.
 
BIG SKY CONFERENCE LEADERS: SR G Tim Douglas led the Big Sky Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio in league games (58/21, 2.8)... JR C Collin Spickerman led the Big Sky in blocked shots in league games (2.6).
 
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 also hitting at a school-record pace... PSU is shooting .746 at the line (434-582). The school record is .743 set in 2001-02 and matched in 2012-13.
 
SPICKERMAN PROVES REJECTION CAN BE A GOOD THING: JR C Collin Spickerman has provided a defensive presence for the Vikings this season. He has set a school record for blocks in a game (7), and his 67 blocks currently ranks third-most in a season in PSU history... his 2.4 average is best in school history.
• Though he is averaging only 20.5 minutes per game, Spickerman ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in blocks (2.4) while shooting .482 from the field and .800 at the line.
• Spickerman blocked six shots in a win over CSU Bakersfield (12/23).
• He swatted four shots in a win at Weber State (1/22), four in a win at Eastern Washington (2/14), and four in a win over Northern Colorado (2/21).
• Spickerman scored a career-high 10 points with five rebounds, four blocks and three assists in a win over Northern Colorado (2/21).
• Set a school record with seven blocked shots, scoring nine points and grabbing six rebounds against Sacramento State (2/28).
• Spickerman blocked six shots at Northern Arizona (3/5).
• Spickerman has blocked at least one shot in 19 straight games and 25 of 28 overall.
 
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, earning Big Sky Conference co-6th Man of the Year honors... in 2014-15, Wiggins has moved into the starting lineup and improved on that scoring average.
• Wiggins leads the team in scoring at 15.8 per game which is ninth in the Big Sky Conference.
• He shoots .438 from three-point range to rank sixth in the Big Sky.
• Leads the team with 43 steals, ranking fourth 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).
• Posted 27 points (7-16 FG, 3-9 3-pt, 10-10 FT) with six rebounds and three assists in a win over North Dakota (2/19).
• Had 23 points (6-11 FG, 3-3 3-pt, 8-10 FT) and seven rebounds in PSU's win at Southern Utah (3/7).
• Wiggins has scored in double figures in 26 games this season and led the team in scoring 15 times.
 
HE'S THE BAMBA: SR F Tiegbe Bamba has become the Vikings top rebounder with a stretch of excellent play in recent games. Bamba has three double-doubles this season after posting career-highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds at Southern Utah (3/7).
• Bamba is averaging 11.5 points, a team-high 6.8 rebounds and shoots a team-high .560 from the field.
• 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.
• Grabbed a team season-best 14 rebounds in a win at North Dakota (1/10).
• Posted double-doubles at Weber State (1/22) and at Idaho State (1/24).
• Scored 18 points with seven rebounds and two steals at Idaho (2/12).
• Bamba had 17 points (6-9 FG, 5-7 FT), nine rebounds and two steals in a win over North Dakota (2/19).
• Had career-highs of 21 points (7-12 FG, 7-12 FT) and 15 rebounds in a win at Southern Utah (3/7).
• Has led the team in scoring four times and rebounding 16 times this season.
• Bamba ranks eighth in the Big Sky in field goal percentage (.560) and 10th in rebounding (6.8).
 
1,000 WATCH: SR G Gary Winston became only the 18th player in Portland State basketball history to score 1,000 points when he passed that number in a win over Northern Colorado (2/21). He is the eighth player  during the Big Sky Conference era (1996-present) to reach that milestone... here is where Gary stands on some of PSU's all-time lists:
 
Games Played: 112, 4th
Career Points: 1,044, 15th
Assists: 295, 7th
3-pt FGs: 171, 4th
3-pt FGAs: 396, 5th
3-pt FG%: .431, 5th
 
• Winston is second on the team in scoring (11.6), second in three-pointers (51) and first in assists (3.7).
• Winston scored 18 points with five rebounds and four assists in a win over Southern Utah (1/1).
• He had 19 points and career-high eight assists at Northern Colorado (1/8).
• Posted a season-high 25 points (9-16 FG, 5-9 3-pt, 2-2 FT) with five assists and four rebounds against Eastern Washington (1/15).
• Scored 23 points (9-19 FG, 4-11 3-pt, 1-2 FT) with four assists and three rebounds at Idaho (2/12).
• Totalled 19 points (6-12 FG, 5-8 3-pt, 2-2 FT) with two assists in a win over Northern Colorado (2/21).
• Had 19 points (7-18 FG, 3-3 3-pt, 2-4 FT) and six assists as the Vikings beat Southern Utah (3/7).
• Winston has led the team in scoring six times and assists 16 times this season.
 
X-FACTOR: The absence of SO F Braxton Tucker has been a factor in the last three games for the Vikings. PSU had won three straight before Tucker went down with a knee contusion. Since then, the Vikings have lost twice... Tucker, who may not play for the rest of the season, averages 11.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
• Tucker had 18 points (7-10 FG, 4-6 FT), with four rebounds and two blocks against CSU Bakersfield (12/13).
• Posted 20 points (10-15 FG) in a win at North Dakota (1/10). Hit key shot with 39.4 seconds left to seal win.
• Scored 19 points (9-16 FG, 1-1 FT) with seven rebounds and a block in a win over Idaho (1/17).
• Tallied season-high 21 points (9-12 FG, 3-5 FT) with six rebounds in win at Weber State (1/22).
• Had 18 points (8-18 FG, 2-2 FT), five rebounds and two blocks at Sacramento State (2/7).
• Tucker ranks 12th in the Big Sky in rebounding (5.5) and 11th in field goal percentage (.502).
• Has led the team in scoring five times and rebounding six times this year.
 
BEST OFF THE BENCH: Here are Portland State's top performances by players off the bench this season:
• SR G DaShaun Wiggins scored a career-high 32 points (12-18 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 5-10 FT) in 36 minutes off the bench in an overtime win against Southern Illinois Edwardsville (11/24).
• FR G Iziahiah Sweeney was 5-5 from the field for 10 points in 14 minutes at Portland (12/3).
• SR C Brandon Cataldo had career-highs of 16 points (8-9 FG) and 13 rebounds in a win over Walla Walla (12/22).
• SR G Tim Douglas posted 20 points (9-12 FG, 2-3 3-pt), seven assists and three steals in 31 minutes off the bench against Eastern Washington (1/15).
• SO G Zach Gengler had nine points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 25 minutes off the bench in a win over Idaho (1/17).
• Douglas tallied 17 points (5-8 FG, 3-3 3-pt, 4-4 FT) with a game-high five assists in 29 minutes off the bench in a win over Montana State (1/31).
• SR F Tiegbe Bamba was a perfect 5-5 from the field, scoring 13 points and grabbing a game-high seven rebounds in 27 minutes at Sacramento State (2/7).
• Bamba had 18 points (7-11 FG, 4-6 FT), seven rebounds and two steals in 34 minutes against Idaho (2/12).
• Bamba scored 12 points (5-8 FG, 2-2 FT) with nine rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes of a win over Eastern Washington (2/14).
• Bamba had 17 points (6-9 FG, 5-7 FT), nine rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist in 31 minutes in a win over North Dakota (2/19).
• Portland State's bench had 36 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists and only one turnover, making 13-20 shots (.650) in the win over Northern Colorado.
• SR C Brandon Cataldo sparked the Vikings in the second half, hitting 4-4 shots and scoring eight points in a six-minute span as PSU took the lead and went on to win against Southern Utah (3/7).
 
HOME-ROAD DIFFERENTIAL: Portland State is 9-4 at home this season, 6-9 on the road.
• PSU averages 76.8 points at home, shooting .469 from the field, .404 from three-point range and .767 at the line.
• The Vikings average 68.3 points on the road, shooting .420/.365/.725.
• PSU has been out-rebounded opponents at home (-1.7), and by 5.0 per game on the road.
• Opponents shoot .446 from the field, .381 from three-point range and .729 at the line in the Stott Center. They shoot .460/.381/.728 in their own arenas against the Vikings.
 
STRONG INDICATORS: Strong indicators of winning and losing this season:
• The Vikings are 13-2 when leading at halftime, 2-11 when trailing at halftime.
• The Vikings are 7-2 when they out-rebound opponents.
• The Vikings are 11-3 when shooting a higher percentage than opponents.
• Portland State is 8-5 in games decided by eight points or less.
 
LINEUP ROULETTE: Head Coach Tyler Geving has used 10 different starting lineups this season. The constant change was the result of numerous nagging injuries to different players and certainly affected team continuity.
• The most common starting unit has been SR G Gary Winston, SR G DaShaun Wiggins, SO G Bryce White, SO F Braxton Tucker and SR F Tiegbe Bamba. That group has eight starts and a 5-3 record. However, White is out for the season with low back problems.
• The recent starting unit of SR G Gary Winston, SR G DaShaun Wiggins, SO G Zach Gengler, SO F Braxton Tucker and JR C Collin Spickerman has started six times and is 4-2.
• PSU is 1-2 in the last three games, starting SR G Gary Winston, SR G DaShaun Wiggins, SO G Zach Gengler, SR F Tiegbe Bamba and JR C Collin Spickerman.
• 10 different players have started games this season, none have started every game and only three players have competed in every game.
 
A SELLOUT: Portland State's game with Sacramento State at the Stott Center was officially a sellout (1,500). PSU has now had 13 sellouts at the Stott Center in the Big Sky era (1996 to present). The Vikings are 9-4 in home games that are sellouts.
 
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
• ANOTHER WINNING SEASON: Portland State was assured of a winning record after its victory at Southern Utah improved the season mark to 15-13. PSU has had two straight winning seasons and three in the last four years.
• WHITE, CASON TO MISS REMAINDER OF SEASON: SO G Bryce White will sit out the remainder of the 2014-15 season due to back issues. White has played in 13 games, starting 10 for the Vikings, since transferring in from Chemeketa CC. He was averaging 9.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 26 minutes per game... JR  C Dorian Cason will also sit out the rest of the season due to plantar fasciitis. Cason never really got his season started as he battled injuries early on and plantar fasciitis most of the way. He played in three games, averaging 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds.
• 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 8-5 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 was averaging 17.5 points per game and shooting .539 from the field before an injury ended his season. 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.
• In addition to the marked improvement last season, 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... PSU was 9-1 when leading at halftime, matching Montana State for the best record in that category... the Vikings lost only one game when leading at halftime - the fewest such losses by any team in the Big Sky.
• Portland State is in its 19th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference in 2014-15. 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... PSU's trip to the CollegeInsider.com post-season tournament in 2013-14 was its first Division I post-season tournament other than its previous NCAA trips.