complete notes and stats in pdf

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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS vs. ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS
Friday, November 11, 2016, 6 p.m. PT • Wells Fargo Arena (14,000), Tucson, AZ
Television: Pac-12 Network
Live Streaming Video and Audio: None
Live Stats: www.statbroadcast.com/events/statmonitr.php?gid=asu

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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS vs. CAL STATE FULLERTON TITANS
Sunday, November 13, 2016, 4 p.m. • Titan Gym (4,000), Fullerton, CA
Television: None
Live Streaming Video and Audio: www.bigwest.org/tv
Live Stats: www.fullertontitans.com/sports/m-baskbl/2016-17/boxscores/20161113_3h88.xml

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THE OPENING TIP
The Portland State Vikings have a challenging start to their 2016-17 season as they go on the road to play Arizona State and Cal State Fullerton on opening weekend. The Vikings play the Sun Devils on Friday night in a 6 p.m. game televised on the Pac-12 Network. On Sunday, it will be a matinee against the Titans tipping off at 4 p.m. That game is not televised but can be watched via live stream at www.bigwest.org/tv.
     
The opening weekend of play will be part of seven non-conference road contests for the Vikings during the first two months of the season. PSU plays four home games as well before Big Sky Conference play begins on Dec. 29.
     
After a home-opener against George Fox on Nov. 17, the Vikings again travel, playing at West Coast Conference schools Loyola Marymount (Nov. 25) and Pepperdine (Nov. 27). That makes it four out of five on the road to open the season.
     
Portland State, led by eighth-year Head Coach Tyler Geving, comes off a 13-18 season in 2015-16. The Vikings were 8-10 in Big Sky Conference play and reached the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Tournament before being knocked out by eventual champion Weber State.
     
Arizona State, led by second-year Head Coach Bobby Hurley, was 15-17 last season. Cal State Fullerton, coached by former Viking assistant Dedrique Taylor, was 10-20 last year.
    
Geving has a deep group that will be led by four veteran players - a pair in the backcourt, Calaen Robinson (10.2 ppg, 3.2 apg) and Zach Gengler (7.8 ppg, 2.5 apg), and a pair in the front court - Braxton Tucker (11.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg in 2014-15) and De'Sean Parsons (6.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg). Junior transfer Bryce Canda is expected to play a key role as well as the Vikings have increased their size and depth, and look for improved shooting to make a big difference in the coming season.
     
In all, the Vikings have seven newcomers this season. Big contributions are also expected from transfers Traylin Farris, Brandon Hollins, Michael Mayhew and Deontae North. Geving has also added freshmen Brendan Rumel and Tyrell Henderson.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. ARIZONA STATE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Arizona State leads the all-time series, 3-2, but the Vikings have won the last two meetings, in 2001-02 (79-69 in OT) and 2006-07 (71-67). All five games in the series have been played at Arizona State.
• PORTLAND STATE VS. THE PAC-12: Portland State is 5-50 all-time against Pac-12 opponents. The Vikings have two wins each against Arizona State and Oregon, and one win over USC... this is PSU's only meeting with a Pac-12 team this season.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (97-117, 7th season) has never faced the Sun Devils. He was an assistant coach for PSU the last time the teams met (2006-07). Geving has a 1-10 all-time record against Pac-12 opponents... Sun Devils Head Coach Bobby Hurley is in his second season at Arizona State. He is 15-17 with the Sun Devils (57-37 in three seasons overall) and has never faced the Vikings.
 
ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS
• Arizona State is member of the Pac-12 Conference. The Sun Devils were 15-17 last season, 5-13 in the Pac-12 play.
• Two starters and seven letterwinners return from last year's team.
• Junior guard Tra Holder is the top returning scorer at 14.2 points per game last season. He also averaged 3.7 assists.
• Senior forward Obinna Oleka is the top returning big man, averaging 9.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last season.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. CAL STATE FULLERTON
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series 5-4. The Vikings have won three of the last four meetings, however they are 0-4 all-time at Fullerton.
• PORTLAND STATE VS. THE BIG WEST: Portland State is 26-34 all-time against current members of the Big West Conference... this is PSU's only meeting with a member of the Big West this season.
• LAST SEASON: at PSU 89, CSUF 82: The Vikings shot 69% in the second half of last season's win, but still had to make 16-20 free throws in the final 2:32 of the game to earn the win. PSU shot .526 for the game with 10 turnovers, while CSUF shot .477 and committed 18 turnovers. Isaiah Pineiro scored 21 points to lead the Vikings. Donivine Stewart had 17 points and five assists. Zach Gengler came off the bench for 13 points, including 8-8 free throws. Tre' Coggins led the Titans with 23 points and five rebounds. Khalil Ahmad had 15 points and six rebounds.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (97-117, 7th season) is 2-1 all-time against Cal State Fullerton. He is 7-3 against Big West schools overall... Titans' Head Coach Dedrique Taylor begins his fourth season at Cal State Fullerton. Taylor is 30-62 overall, including 0-1 against the Vikings. Taylor was an assistant coach at Portland State from 2002-05 under Head Coach Heath Schroyer. 
 
CAL STATE FULLERTON TITANS
• Cal State Fullerton is member of the Big West Conference. The Titans were 10-20 last season, including 3-13 in the Big West.
• Two starters and five letterwinners return from last year's team.
• A trio of returning guards will lead the Titans this season. Tre' Coggins averaged a team-leading 15.6 points and 3.9 rebounds last year. Khalil Ahmad averaged 14.4 points and 4.4 rebounds. Lionheart Leslie came off the bench to average 8.3 points and 3.1 rebounds.
 
COMING UP
Portland State will come home for a game against George Fox on Nov. 17. The Vikings will then be off until after Thanksgiving, playing at Loyola Marymount on Nov. 25 and Pepperdine on Nov. 27.
 
COMING SOON: AN ALL NEW VIKING PAVILION
The Peter W. Stott Center will remain the home court for the Vikings in 2016-17 while major construction is underway on the eastern portion of the building. That development will become the new Viking Pavilion, a venue that will seat 3000+ for basketball. A completion date is scheduled for winter 2018. PSU will find an alternate home court for 2017-18 until the new Pavilion is opened.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State was 13-18 last season, 8-6 at home, 4-11 on the road, 1-1 at neutral sites.
• The Vikings were 8-10 in the Big Sky Conference, 5-4 at home, 3-6 on the road.
• Portland State's longest winning streak was four games (Feb. 27-Mar. 8).
 
VIKINGS WIN EXHIBITION
      Portland State earned an 87-62 exhibition win over Linfield on Nov. 4. The Vikings were led by 30 points from JR F Braxton Tucker, who made 11-15 from the field and 7-12 at the line. Tucker also had eight rebounds and four assists.
      PSU had three others in double figures, including SR G Khari Holloway (14 pts, 4 ast), SR G Zach Gengler (13 pts, 4 ast) and SR G Calaen Robinson (11 pts, 6 ast, 3 st).
      The Vikings might have had a bigger win but for poor three-point shooting (8-32, .250) and free throw shooting (.600). A 41-31 halftime lead could have been larger, but PSU made only 4-21 three-pointers in the opening half.
      A pair of transfers did not play, JR G Deontae North and JR F Brandon Hollins. North (broken nose) and Hollins (knee) are expected to travel with the team this week.
 
FAST BREAKS
• Portland State begins its 21st season as a member of the Big Sky Conference in 2016-17. 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.
• Portland State led the Big Sky Conference in assists (17.0), steals (8.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4) in 2015-16. The Vikings set a school record for steals in a season with 263… PSU ranked 11th in the nation in assists and 10th in steals. The Vikings led the Big Sky Conference in both categories as well as assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Portland State has lost only eight non-conference home games in the last nine seasons (42-8). PSU is 24-8 against Division I schools and 18-0 against lower division schools.
• Media outlet College Sports Madness has made JR F Braxton Tucker a Preseason 3rd Team All-Big Sky Conference selection. CSM has also picked FR F Brendan Rumel as the Big Sky's Preseason Freshman of the Year.
• SR G Zach Gengler has only 61 turnovers in 83 career games at Portland State. A fourth-year player, Gengler is the most experienced player on the team.
• AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Here are some areas Portland State will look to improve on in 2016-17:
- The Vikings were 2-9 in games decided by six points or less.
- PSU was last in the league in three-point field goals made (5.4), three-point percentage (.322), and free throw-percentage (.659).
• The Vikings lost their top two scorers and rebounders in Cameron Forte (19.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and Isaiah Pineiro (12.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg). Forte's eligibility expired while Pineiro elected to transfer. The other two players gone due to expiring eligibility are center Collin Spickerman (5.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 45 blocks) and guard Donivine Stewart (5.8 rpg, 3.7 apg).
 
PORTLAND STATE IN THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE
• Portland State is in its 21st season of Big Sky Conference play. 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 13 Big Sky Tournament berths in 17 seasons eligible, winning the 2008 and 2009 Big Sky Conference Tournament titles.
• Portland State was picked to place eighth in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, ninth in the Big Sky Media Poll (polls listed on page 8 of this release).
• The 18-game Big Sky Conference schedule is unbalanced due to the 12-team membership. Portland State will not host Idaho or Eastern Washington, and will not travel to Idaho State and Weber State.
• This marks the second year in Big Sky history in which all 12 teams will qualify for the post-season tournament. It also marks the second time that the tournament will be hosted at a neutral site; Reno, NV. The tournament takes place on Mar. 7-11 with the top four teams earning first-round byes into the quarterfinals.
• This season Northern Colorado will not participate in the Big Sky Tournament due to a self-imposed ban. That will give the top five teams byes into the quarterfinals.
• The Vikings are 10-11 all-time in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
 
VIKING ONE-LINERS (and sometimes two)
• PSU has three players that competed for other Division I schools: Calaen Robinson (Arizona State), Deontae North (Long Beach State), Traylin Farris (Incarnate Word).
• SR G Zach Gengler was the Oregon 5A High School Player of the Year in 2012-13.
• SR C Namdi Okonkwo is the first 7-foot player in Portland State's Big Sky era (1996-present) and perhaps ever. PSU previously has had five players that stood 6-11 since reinstating basketball for the 1996-97 season.
• SR F Montie Leunen's brother Matt has been a Viking assistant football coach for five seasons. Matt played for the Vikings between 2005-09.
• Portland State is in its 21st 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 began in April. 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.
• Director of Operations Donivine Stewart was the Vikings' starting point guard in 2015-16 (5.8 ppg, 3.7 apg).
• 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.
 
THE VIKING PAVILION PROJECT
Portland State University broke ground on the new Viking Pavilion during the spring of 2016. It marked the beginning of a $50 million renovation of the outdated Peter W. Stott athletics facility.
     
The building will become a lively center for academics, athletics, the arts and community events. The Viking Pavilion will have a new entrance and glass windows that open onto the South Park Blocks, as well as an energy-efficient design and construction that demonstrate PSU's commitment to sustainability.
     
"This is the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of donors, Legislators, PSU supporters and staff," said Wim Wiewel, PSU president. "The Pavilion will add collaborative study space, create a new destination center on campus, and provide OHSU and PSU with much needed event space."
     
The renovated building will include 15,000 square feet for studying, tutoring and advising. The new 3,000-seat arena will fill Portland's need for a mid-size public venue and attract an estimated 220,000 people to PSU campus. Visitor spending of $6.8 million will add to PSU's $1.44 billion in annual regional economic impact. The project will also create 396 construction jobs and support the equivalent of 24 permanent full-time jobs.
     
"Our existing building is about 50 years old and deferred maintenance costs are high. It's time to renovate and open it up for greater use," said Mark Rountree, PSU athletic director. "It will also provide a beautiful, efficient facility for Athletics that will help to attract the best and brightest student-athletes from around the country."
     
The design of the new facility was created by Portland's Woofter Architecture and Sink Combs Dethlefs Architects with Fortis Construction contracted to build it. The building is scheduled to open in March 2018.
     
The renovation is funded through state bonds, private donors, OHSU, and student fees. Funding does not come from general operating funds or tuition dollars.
 
• $24 million in state bonds
• $17 million in private gifts ($5 million still to raise)
• $7.5 million from OHSU
• $1.5 million from student fees
 
As a basketball venue, the Viking Pavilion has the potential to transform how Portland State Basketball is viewed. PSU will no longer have to compete in the cramped 1,500-seat main gym of the Peter W. Stott Center. That will allow the Viking program to be a more attractive scheduling opportunity for teams from prestigious conferences. It will also be a more attractive recruiting tool for Viking coaches as PSU will have a first-class Division I venue in which to compete.
 
2015-16 SEASON REVIEW
The Portland State Vikings went 13-18 in the 2015-16 season. The Vikings were 8-10 in the Big Sky Conference, placing eighth. PSU defeated Northern Colorado in the first round of the Big Sky Conference Tournament before losing to eventual champion Weber State in the quarterfinals.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
• GR F Cameron Forte was named second team All-Big Sky Conference, placing fourth in scoring (19.2), second in rebounding (9.3) and fifth in field goal percentage (.580). Forte was also named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on two occasions.
• Forte recorded the first triple-double in Portland State history, compiling 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Northern Arizona. Forte also posted a 37-point game (the most by a Viking in four seasons), and a 20-rebound game (the first by a Viking in 20 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
• The Vikings led the Big Sky Conference in assists (17.0), steals (8.5), turnover margin (+1.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4)... GR G Donivine Stewart led the Big Sky in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.8).
• PSU set a school record for total steals in a season with 263. The previous mark was 245.
• Portland State won four straight games late in the season, its longest winning streak since the first four games of the 2014-15 season.
• Portland State was playing its best basketball at the conclusion of the season. Prior to the season-ending loss to Weber State, the Vikings had won four in a row and five of their last six. In the first four wins, the Vikings shot 52% or better from the field, including a .647 mark in a 107-91 win over Eastern Washington. The Vikings shot .571 combined in the four wins and averaged 93.2 points (PSU shot .462 and had 74 points in the win over Northern Colorado)... in the loss to Big Sky Champion Weber State, the Vikings also played well, shooting 50% from the field, committing only nine turnovers while forcing 20, and holding a 74-72 lead with 2:04 to play... coincidently, Head Coach Tyler Geving changed the starting lineup with seven games remaining, going with Donivine Stewart, Khari Holloway, Zach Gengler, Isaiah Pineiro and Cameron Forte. The Vikings were 5-2 with that lineup.