complete notes and stats in pdf

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Portland State Vikings (4-4) vs. San Francisco Dons (7-1)
Friday, December 16, 2016, 7 p.m. • Sobrato Center (4,200), San Francisco, CA

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Television: None
Live Streaming Video and Audio: www.TheW.tv
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
 
THE OPENING TIP
A pair of good-shooting, high-scoring teams will square off this Friday when Portland State meets San Francisco at the Sobrato Center on the campus of USF.
     
The Vikings (4-4) will go into the game having won three of four and averaging 89.0 points per game this season. The Dons (7-1) have won their last three games, average 81.8 points, and are off to their best start since 1999-2000 under new Head Coach Kyle Smith. It will be just the second time in history the two programs have met on the hardwood. The other game was all USF; a 77-40 win in San Francisco in 2014.
     
Portland State comes off a 110-79 win over New Hope Christian, a lower division school from Eugene. It marked the third time the Vikings have eclipsed 100 points this season. They did so without leading scorer JR F Braxton Tucker, who missed his third straight game with knee soreness. Tucker is questionable for the game with the Dons. Whether he plays or not the Vikings won't lack for scoring. PSU has six players averaging in double figures so far this season, with a seventh averaging 9.8 points. And JR C Traylin Farris has picked up the slack in the post. Starting in Tucker's place, Farris has 37 points and 14 rebounds in the last two games.
     
Friday's contest will be the sixth on the road in nine games for PSU. The Vikings are currently 1-4 on the road, with a loss at one West Coast Conference school (Loyola Marymount) and a win at another (Pepperdine). San Francisco is the third WCC road game for Portland State.
     
San Francisco is riding high thus far on the season, compiling a 4-0 home record. In the Dons' last six games they have shot 50% or better from the field. USF has played two Big Sky Conference schools, beating Sacramento State and losing at Eastern Washington (its only loss and in overtime).
     
Shooting .511 from the field for the season, USF ranks eighth in the nation. The Vikings are 10th in the nation at .509. San Francisco also ranks 19th in the nation in three-point shooting (.410). So, no matter what happens on Friday, it will be a challenge for each team's defense.
     
Friday's game tips off at 7 p.m. It is available via live video and audio stream at www.TheW.tv. Live statistics are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
COMING UP
Portland State wraps up non-conference play next week. The Vikings play at Portland on Dec. 20, then host Walla Walla on Dec. 22 (5:05 p.m.). The Walla Walla game opens a stretch of four straight home games for PSU. Big Sky Conference play begins at home on Dec. 29 against North Dakota (7:05 p.m.), followed by Northern Colorado on Dec. 31 (2:05 p.m.). PSU then hosts Sacramento State on Jan. 7 (7:05 p.m.).
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. SAN FRANCISCO
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State and San Francisco have met only one time. The Dons beat the Vikings, 77-40, in San Francisco on Dec. 18, 2014.
• PORTLAND STATE vs. THE WEST COAST CONFERENCE: Portland State is 34-71 all-time against current members of the West Coast Conference, 1-1 this season. The Vikings play a total of four members of the WCC this season - all on the road. PSU lost at Loyola Marymount, 78-62, and won at Pepperdine, 91-85, in November. The Vikings will play at the University of Portland on Dec. 20.
• COMMON OPPONENTS: Portland State and San Francisco have no common opponents this season. However, the Dons have played two Big Sky Conference schools, beating Sacramento State at a neutral site, 77-59, and losing at Eastern Washington, 96-90.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (101-121/8th season) is 0-1 all-time against San Francisco and 5-10 all-time against WCC schools... Dons Head Coach Kyle Smith is in his first season (7-1) at San Francisco. He was the Head Coach at Columbia for the previous six seasons, compiling a 101-82 record. He has never faced Portland State.
 
SAN FRANCISCO DONS
• The University of San Francisco is a member of the West Coast Conference.
• The Dons were 15-15 last season, 8-10 and fifth place in the WCC.
• USF is currently 7-1 this season, 4-0 at home. The Dons have not played since Dec. 6.
• San Francisco shoots .511 from the field, which ranks eighth-best in the nation. The Dons make 10.5 three-point field goals per game, which also ranks eighth.
• USF averages 81.8 points while allowing only 69.0. The Dons outrebound opponents by 5.1 per game.
• With new Head Coach Kyle Smith, San Francisco's roster includes nine new players. However, holdover senior guard Ronnie Boyce is leading the team in scoring at 18.4 points per game. He also averages 5.4 rebounds.
• Junior forward Chase Foster is averaging 13.4 points and 4.6 rebounds.
• Sophomore forward Nate Renfro leads the team with 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
 
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.
    
So, enjoy the current Stott Center while you can. With construction underway on the new Viking Pavilion, the Stott's main gym is in its final season of use. In fact, the gym, the academic center, the training room, and the new weight room are almost all that is left of the current facility.
     
This season, the Stott Center will be using makeshift ticketing, concessions and restroom facilities. At the end of this season, the gym will be taken off-line and transformed with the remainder of the building into the new Viking Pavilion.
     
Meanwhile, Pardon Our Dust.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 4-4 this season, 3-0 at home, 1-4 on the road.
• Dating to last season, PSU has won six straight home games.
• The Vikings were 13-18 last season, 8-10 in the Big Sky Conference. Portland State's longest winning streak was four games (Feb. 27-Mar. 8).
 
WHO IS HOT?
• The Vikings are shooting .509 from the field and averaging 89.0 points per game - both of which are best in the Big Sky Conference.
• PSU ranks first in the Big Sky assists (18.6) and steals (9.9).
• The Vikings are forcing 16.3 turnovers per game and have a +3.8 turnover ratio.
• JR G Deontae North is averaging 19.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.0 steals in his last three games. He has made 22-36 from the field (.611) and 9-11 at the line (.818).
• JR C Traylin Farris scored a PSU season-high 26 points against New Hope Christian. He made 12-13 field goals (.923) which ranks as the best field goal percentage in school history for a player with 10 or more shots attempts in a game.
• JR F Brandon Hollins has missed only six shots this season (16-22, .727), while JR C Traylin Farris (.646) and SR G Zach Gengler (.577) are also having great shooting seasons. Farris leads the Big Sky Conference in field goal percentage.
 
WHO IS NOT?
• The Vikings are giving up 84.0 points per game and opponents are shooting .480 from the field.
• PSU has been outrebounded by 9.8 per game in its four losses.
• JR F Braxton Tucker missed the last three games with knee soreness.
 
HOT SHOTS: It's early, but Portland State is averaging 89.0 points per game - the most of any team in the Big Sky Conference. The Vikings have eclipsed 100 points three times this season, and passed 90 four times. The scoring can be attributed to good shooting, an up-tempo pace, and an ability to force opponent turnovers.
• The Vikings have shot .655, .530, .571 and .570 in their four wins.
• Portland State has failed to score at least 70 points only once this season.
• PSU is forcing 16.3 turnovers per game while making 9.9 steals per game.
• PSU posted the most points in 38 years with a 113-81 win over George Fox (11/17). The Vikings shot .655 from the field. The last time PSU scored more was a 133-110 win over Rocky Mountain on Feb. 5, 1978 - a game in which Freeman Williams scored a PSU-record 81 points.
• Last year, PSU averaged 77.7 points. The last time PSU averaged over 82 points was 1976-77 when the Vikings averaged 91.0 points per game.
 
6x10: Portland State currently has six players averaging in double figures this season: JR F Braxton Tucker (16.8), SR G Calaen Robinson (14.0), SR F De'Sean Parsons (12.1), JR G Bryce Canda (10.5), JR G Deontae North (10.3) and JR C Traylin Farris (10.0).
• PSU has had at least five players score in double figures in six of eight games this season.
• Portland State averages 4.6 players scoring in double figures per game.
• SR G Zach Gengler (9.8) is two points shy of being a seventh player in double figures.
 
BIG SKY CONFERENCE LEADERS: Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 89.0 points per game
• Field Goal Percentage, .509
• Assists, 18.6 per game
• Steals, 9.9 per game
• Assist-to-turnover ratio, 1.5 (149/100)
Portland State players leading the Big Sky Conference:
• JR C Traylin Farris, field goal percentage (.646)
• SR G Calaen Robinson, steals, 2.8 pg
• SR G Zach Gengler, assist-to-turnover ratio, 3.0 (24/8)
 
VIKINGS IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS (top 30):
• Portland State ranks 10th in steals per game, 9.9
• Portland State ranks 10th in field goal percentage, .509
• Portland State ranks 10th in scoring, 89.0 per game
• Portland State ranks 12th in assists per game, 18.6
• Portland State ranks 15th in assist-to-turnover ratio, 1.49
• SR G Calaen Robinson is 12th in steals, 2.83 per game
 
MR. ROBINSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD: SR G Calaen Robinson has upped his play this season. He ranks second on the team in scoring at 14.0 points and first in assists (4.3) and steals (2.8).
• Robinson leads the Big Sky with 2.83 steals per game and ranks 12th in the nation.
• He ranks 11th in scoring, fifth in assists in the Big Sky Conference.
• Scored in double figures in six of eight games with three 20+ point games.
• Posted a career-high 23 points (8-14 FG, 3-8 3-pt, 4-7 FT) in the Vikings win over George Fox (11/17).
• Had one of the best games of his career at Pepperdine (11/27) with 22 points (8-14 FG, 4-8 3-pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, five assists and five steals.
• Scored 20 points (8-9 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 1-2 FT) with four assists and four steals in a win over UTRGV (12/3).
 
THE DE'SEAN PARSONS PROJECT: SR F De'Sean Parsons has moved into the starting lineup this season after finishing 2015-16 strong.
• He is averaging 12.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Those numbers are up from 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists last year.
• Parsons has scored in double figures in six games with one 20-point game.
• He ranks 18th in scoring, 19th in rebounding, 10th in assists and sixth in steals in the Big Sky Conference.
• Had 12 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals in a win at Pepperdine (11/27).
• Scored 20 points (8-14 FG, 1-1 3-pt 3-5 FT) with six rebounds, six assists, five steals and a block against UTRGV (12/3).
 
CANDA CAN-DO: Newcomer JR G Bryce Canda has taken over as the Vikings starting point guard. So far, so good. Canda is averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He is shooting .468 from the field and .395 from three-point range.
• He ranks 22nd in the Big Sky in scoring and sixth in steals (1.6).
• Had 17 points (5-8 3-pt FG, 2-5 FT), four rebounds and four assists at Cal State Fullerton (11/13).
• Posted 16 points (5-7 FG, 2-3 3-pt, 4-4 FT) with five rebounds and three steals in a win at Pepperdine (11/27).
 
BRAXTON STILL BATTLING KNEE ISSUES: Head Coach Tyler Geving was happy to have Braxton Tucker back at the start of this season. PSU was 14-11 back in 2014-15 when Tucker went down with a knee injury. The Vikings finished the season 1-3, then went 13-18 last year as he redshirted the season. After being the Vikings' leading scorer throught the first five games of this season, Tucker has not played the last three games due to knee soreness. His status for the game with San Francisco is questionable.
• He is averaging 16.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, shooting .493 from the field and .688 at the line.
• Tucker has posted career-scoring highs in back-to-back games: 22 points at Cal State Fullerton (10-19 FG, 2-3 3-pt FG), then 24 points vs. George Fox (8-10 FG, 8-11 FT).
• Tucker has led the team in scoring four times and rebounding three times.
• He has scored in double figures in four games and has two 20-point games.
 
NORTH-ERN EXPOSURE: JR G Deontae North is picking up the pace as the season progresses. After a slow start, North has scored 69 points in the last four games, playing 26 minutes per game off the bench.
• Leading scorer off the bench with 10.3 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game.
• North had 18 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 3-pt, 2-2 FT), a team-high seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in a win over UTRGV (12/3).
• Posted a season-high 25 points (9-13 FG, 2-4 3-pt, 5-7 FT) with seven rebounds and four steals at CSU Bakersfield (12/10).
• Recorded 16 points (7-13 FG, 2-2 FT) with nine rebounds and two steals in a win over New Hope Christian (12/13).
 
GENGLER'S GAMES: SR G Zach Gengler is the most experienced player on the Viking team, having played in 91 career games. He is on pace to finish in the top five in career games played at PSU.
• Gengler is averaging career-highs of 9.8 points and 3.0 assists per game. He is shooting .577 from the field, .529 from three-point range and .818 at the line.
• Leads the Big Sky Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.0), ranks eighth in field goal percentage, 12th in assists and fourth in three-point percentage.
• In his 91 career games, Gengler has only 69 turnovers.
 
THE FARRIS WHEEL: JR C Traylin Farris has moved into the starting lineup in the past three games due to JR F Braxton Tucker being unable to play. Farris has 37 points and 14 rebounds in the last two games.
• He averages 10.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game.
• Shooting .646 from the field to lead the Big Sky Conference.
• Scored a PSU season high 26 points (12-13 FG, 2-4 FT) with 11 rebounds in a win over New Hope Christian (12/13). His .923 field goal percentage set a new PSU record for shooting in a game with at least 10 attempts.
 
FREE IS A GOOD PRICE: SR G Khari Holloway came to PSU with a reputation as a great free throw shooter. He led the nation at the junior college level with a .931 percentage in 2014-15. Last year for the Vikings, Holloway was 16-19 (.842) at the line. This year, he is shooting a team-leading 15-16 (.938) at the line, and ranks second in the Big Sky Conference.
 
BEST OFF THE BENCH: Here are the Vikings top performances from players coming off the bench this season:
• SR G Khari Holloway scored a career-high 13 points against Cal State Fullerton (11/13).
• JR C Traylin Farris had seven points, a team-high nine rebounds and two blocked shots at Cal State Fullerton (11/13).
• JR F Brandon Hollins scored 18 points and tied a PSU record by making 7-7 field goals. He added four rebounds and three steals.
• JR C Traylin Farris scored 13 points (6-9 FG, 1-2 FT) with four rebounds in a win at Pepperdine (11/27).
• JR G Deontae North scored 18 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 3-pt, 2-2 FT) with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in a win over UTRGV (12/3).
• JR G Deontae North posted a team season-high 25 points (9-13 FG, 2-4 3-pt, 5-7 FT) with seven rebounds and four steals in 27 minutes at CSU Bakersfield (12/10).
• JR G Deontae North recorded 16 points (7-13 FG, 2-2 FT) with nine rebounds and two steals in a win over New Hope Christian (12/13).
• JR F Brandon Hollins scored 15 points (7-9 FG, 1-2 FT) with six rebounds, two steals and a block in the win over New Hope Christian (12/13).
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
• Despite the 106-100 double-overtime loss to Cal State Fullerton (11/13), the Vikings got career-high scoring performances from JR F Braxton Tucker (22 pts) and SR G Khari Holloway (13 pts).
• The Vikings won their first game of the season, a 113-81 decision over George Fox (11/17). It was the most points scored by a Viking team in 38 years as the Vikings shot .655 from the field. JR F Braxton Tucker posted a career-high 24 points (8-10 FG, 8-11 FT) with 10 rebounds. SR G Calaen Robinson also had a career-high with 23 points (8-14 FG, 3-8 3-pt, 4-7 FT).
• JR F Brandon Hollins tied a PSU record by making 7-7 field goals in a game, scoring 18 points in the win over George Fox (11/17).
• Portland State forced 20 turnovers with 15 steals and shot .530 from the field in a 91-85 win at Pepperdine (11/27). SR G Calaen Robinson led the way with 22 points (8-14 FG, 4-8 3-pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, five assists and five steals. For the second time this season, six Vikings scored in double figures.
• The Vikings won their second game in a row in an 87-74 decision over UTRGV (12/3). PSU shot .571 from the field and .591 from three-point range (13-22). It was Head Coach Tyler Geving's 100th career win at Portland State. Five players were in double figures led by 20 points each from SR F De'Sean Parsons and SR G Calaen Robinson. Parsons added six rebounds, six assists, five steals and a blocked shot.
• SR F De'Sean Parsons was named College Sports Madness Big Sky Conference Player of the Week following the win over UTRGV (12/3). Parsons scored 20 points (8-14 FG, 1-1 3-pt 3-5 FT) with six rebounds, six assists, five steals and a block in the 87-74 win.
• JR G Deontae North posted a team season-high 25 points (9-13 FG, 2-4 3-pt, 5-7 FT) with seven rebounds and four steals in 27 minutes at CSU Bakersfield (12/10).
• Portland State scored 100 points for the third time this season with a 110-79 victory over New Hope Christian (12/13). The Vikings shot .570 from the field and were led by the 26 points and 11 rebounds from JR C Traylin Farris, who established a new PSU record for field goal percentage in a game (12-13, .923) with at least 10 shot attempts.
 
2016-17 SEASON NOTES
• GEVING GETS 100TH WIN: Portland State Head Coach Tyler Geving earned his 100th career victory at Portland State in an 87-74 win over Texas Rio Grande Valley (12/3). The only other 100-win coach is Sharkey Nelson (162-156 in 12 seasons, 1953-65). Marion Pericin (1965-72) actually won 100 games as Viking Head Coach, however 15 of those wins are not recognized by the NCAA as they came against Canadian universities. Here is a list of Portland State's winningest coaches throughout its 56-year history of men's basketball:
 
1. Sharkey Nelson, 162-156, 1953-65
2. Tyler Geving, 101-121, 2009-17
3. Ken Edwards, 93-64, 1972-78 (96-64 overall, 3-0 in games against Canadian universities not recognized by NCAA)
4. Marion Pericin, 85-82, 1965-72 (100-86, 15-4 in games against Canadian universities not recognized by NCAA)
5. Arba Ager, 85-52, 1948-53
6. Ken Bone, 77-49, 2005-09
 
• SR C Namdi Oknokwo will redshirt the 2016-17 season. SO G Daniel Davydov is also expected to redshirt as he recovers from a knee injury.
• 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.
• 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.
• The Vikings' non-conference schedule includes four home games and seven road games. PSU will host Texas-Rio Grande Valley of the Western Athletic Conference. The Vikings also play at WAC opponent CSU Bakersfield. Portland State plays on the road at four West Coast Conference opponents; Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, San Francisco and Portland. The other road games are at Arizona State and Cal State Fullerton. PSU will also host home games with George Fox, Walla Walla and New Hope Christian.