Complete notes and stats in pdf

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Portland State Vikings (5-4) vs. Portland Pilots (7-3)
Tuesday, December 20, 2016, 7 p.m. • Chiles Center (4,852), Portland, OR

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Television: None
Live Streaming Video and Audio: www.TheW.tv
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
 
THE OPENING TIP
The annual clash of the basketball-playing boatmen takes place this Tuesday at the Chiles Center when the Portland State Vikings and the Portland Pilots meet in a 7 p.m. game. Both teams are on an upswing as they near the conclusion of their non-conference schedules and both seek city bragging rights for the coming year.
     
Portland State (5-4) goes into the game off an 82-78 road win at another West Coast Conference locale; San Francisco. The Vikings beat the Dons last Friday and have won four of their last five games. PSU is 2-1 against WCC teams in the preseason with all three games coming on the road. The Vikings won at Pepperdine and USF, and lost at Loyola Marymount. PSU is 2-4 overall on the road and will be playing its seventh road game out of 10 overall.
     
Portland (7-3) has won its last three games, including a 53-45 decision over Oregon State on Sunday. The Pilots are 3-1 at home, with a pair of neutral site wins at the Moda Center (OSU and South Dakota).
     
As much as continuing their strong play of late, the Vikings eagerly seek a win over the Pilots to end a five-game losing skid to their cross-town rivals. Portland has a 12-7 advantage over PSU since the Viking program was reinstated in 1996-97. PSU's last win against UP came on Dec. 2, 2009, when the Vikings knocked off then-25th-ranked Portland, 86-82, at the Chiles Center.
     
To get a win, the Vikings will need to stop the backcourt duo of Alec Wintering and Jazz Johnson. Wintering is averaging 21.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game, while Johnson is at 18.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting .531 from three-point range.
     
On the Viking side, SR G Calaen Robinson, JR C Traylin Farris and sixth man JR G Deontae North have played particularly well the last few games. Robinson had 23 points in last Friday's win at San Francisco to match a career high. Farris has stepped into the void left by leading scorer JR F Braxton Tucker who has missed the last four games with knee soreness. Farris scored 43 points with 18 rebounds in last week's two wins, hitting 18-25 shots from the field (.720). North has been electric off the bench, averaging 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in the last four games.
     
Tuesday's game is available via live video and audio stream at www.TheW.tv. Live statistics can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
 
COMING UP
Portland State wraps up non-conference play on Thursday night when it hosts Walla Walla University. Tip-off for the game is different from the usual weeknight contest. The game has an earlier start of 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. PORTLAND
• ALL-TIME SERIES: The University of Portland leads the all-time series, 36-17. The Pilots lead 12-7 since Portland State resumed its program in 1996-97 (PSU did not have basketball from 1981-96). PSU is 2-7 in games played at the Chiles Center over that span... the Pilots have won five straight in the series... PSU's last win came on Dec. 2, 2009, when the Vikings won at UP, 86-82. Portland was ranked 25th in the nation at the time.
• PORTLAND STATE vs. THE WEST COAST CONFERENCE: Portland State is 35-71 all-time against current members of the West Coast Conference, 2-1 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, and San Francisco, 82-78.
• COMMON OPPONENTS: Portland State and Portland have one common opponent; Texas Rio Grande Valley. The Vikings beat UTRGV, 87-74. The Pilots beat the Vaqueros, 90-89, in double overtime.
• LAST SEASON, Dec. 2, 2015 at the Stott Center: UP 78, PSU 72: The Vikings shot only .333 from the field and .565 at the free throw line in the game and lost despite grabbing 27 offensive rebounds. The Pilots shot .448 from the field and .786 at the line. Alec Wintering had 21 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals to lead Portland. Cameron Forte scored 18 points with 15 rebounds, and Zach Gengler posted a career-high 17 points for the Vikings.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (102-121/8th season) is 1-5 all-time against Portland and 6-10 all-time against WCC schools... Pilots Head Coach Terry Porter is in his first season (7-3) at Portland. It is his first season as a head coach collegiately, but he was an NBA Head Coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.
 
PORTLAND PILOTS
• The University of Portland is a member of the West Coast Conference.
• The Pilots were 12-20 last season, 6-12 in the WCC.
• Portland is currently 7-3 this season, 3-1 at home, and also won a pair of neutral site games over the weekend at the Moda Center (South Dakota, Oregon State). The Pilots have won three in a row overall.
• UP averages 78.6 points and gives up 72.6 points per game. The Pilots have held opponents to .397 shooting from the field and out-rebound them by four per game.
• Senior guard Alec Wintering is the do-it-all player for the Pilots. He leads the team in scoring (21.6), assists (6.2) and steals (2.1). He also averages 5.2 rebounds per game. Wintering ranks sixth in the nation in minutes played (37.3), 16th in assists and 21st in scoring.
• Sophomore guard Jazz Johnson has stepped up to become a key player, averaging 18.4 points, 2.5 assists and shooting .531 from three-point range and .865 at the free throw line.
• Junior forward Gabe Taylor averages 13.8 points and team-leading 7.4 rebounds.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 5-4 this season, 3-0 at home, 2-4 on the road.
• The Vikings have won two in a row and four of their last five games.
• 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).
Stott Stuff
• PSU has gone 161-62 in 223 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 192-77 at home over 21 seasons.
• Portland State is 68-33 at home in seven seasons under Tyler Geving.
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 105-36 at home, including 60-29 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
• Portland State has lost only eight non-conference home games in the last 10 seasons (44-8). PSU is 25-8 against Division I schools, and 19-0 against lower division schools over that span.
 
WHO IS HOT?
• The Vikings are shooting .501 from the field and averaging 88.2 points per game - both of which are best in the Big Sky Conference.
• PSU ranks first in the Big Sky in assists (17.4) and steals (9.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4).
• The Vikings are forcing 15.8 turnovers per game and have a +3.7 turnover ratio.
• SR G Calaen Robinson tied his career high with 23 points (7-11 FG, 5-7 3-pt, 4-4 FT) in the win at San Francisco.
• Although he is the Vikings' sixth man, JR G Deontae North is averaging 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in his last four games. He has made 25-47 from the field (.532) and 14-17 at the line (.824).
• JR C Traylin Farris has scored 43 points with 18 rebounds in the last two games - both wins. He had a PSU season-high 26 points against New Hope Christian, making 12-13 field goals (.923). That ranks as the best field goal percentage in school history for a player with 10 or more shots attempted in a game.
• SR F De'Sean Parsons is averaging 14.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in the last five games, four of which the Vikings have won.
• JR F Brandon Hollins (.643), JR C Traylin Farris (.617) and SR G Zach Gengler (.564) are having great shooting seasons.
 
WHO IS NOT?
• The Vikings are giving up 83.3 points per game and opponents are shooting .479 from the field.
• PSU has been outrebounded by 9.8 per game in its four losses.
• JR F Braxton Tucker missed the last four games with knee soreness.
 
HOT SHOTS: Portland State is averaging 88.2 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 shot .655, .530, .571 and .570 in their first four wins. A .435 shooting percentage at San Francisco was aided by a 22-26 effort at the line (.846) - a season-best.
• Portland State shoots .501 from the field overall and has failed to score at least 70 points only once this season.
• PSU is forcing 15.8 turnovers per game while making 9.8 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 (15.0), SR F De'Sean Parsons (12.3), JR C Traylin Farris (10.9), JR G Bryce Canda (10.3) and JR G Deontae North (10.3).
• PSU has had at least five players score in double figures in six of nine games this season.
• Portland State averages 4.6 players scoring in double figures per game.
• SR G Zach Gengler (8.9) had been in double figures until the last two games.
 
BIG SKY CONFERENCE LEADERS: Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 88.2 points per game
• Field Goal Percentage, .501
• Assists, 17.4 per game
• Steals, 9.8 per game
• Assist-to-turnover ratio, 1.5 (157/109)
Portland State players leading the Big Sky Conference:
• SR G Calaen Robinson, steals, 2.7 pg
 
VIKINGS IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS (top 30):
• Portland State ranks 8th in steals per game, 9.8
• Portland State ranks 12th in scoring, 88.2 per game
• Portland State ranks 15th in field goal percentage, .501
• Portland State ranks 23rd in assist-to-turnover ratio, 1.41
• Portland State ranks 26th in assists per game, 17.4
• SR G Calaen Robinson is 12th in steals, 2.67 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 15.0 points and first in assists (4.0) and steals (2.7).
• Robinson leads the Big Sky with 2.67 steals per game and ranks 12th in the nation.
• He ranks ninth in scoring, fifth in assists and 11th in free throw percentage (.815) in the Big Sky Conference.
• Scored in double figures in seven of nine games with four 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).
• Matched his career high with 23 points (7-11 FG, 5-7 3-pt, 4-4 FT) in a win at San Francisco (12/16).
 
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 12.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Those numbers are up from 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists last year. In the last five games he has averaged 14.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.
• Parsons has scored in double figures in seven games with one 20-point game.
• He ranks 16th in scoring, 18th in rebounding, 15th in assists and seventh 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).
• Posted 14 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots in the win at San Francisco (12/16).
 
THE FARRIS WHEEL: JR C Traylin Farris has moved into the starting lineup in the past four games due to JR F Braxton Tucker being unable to play. Farris has 54 points and 21 rebounds in the last three games.
• He averages 10.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game.
• Shooting .617 from the field to rank third in 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.
• Had 17 points (6-12 FG, 5-6 FT) and seven rebounds in the win at San Francisco (12/16).
 
CANDA CAN-DO: Newcomer JR G Bryce Canda has taken over as the Vikings starting point guard. So far, so good. Canda is averaging 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He is shooting .471 from the field and .390 from three-point range.
• He ranks 25th 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 four games due to knee soreness. His status for the game with Portland 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 averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in his last four games. He has made 25-47 from the field (.532) and 14-17 at the line (.824).
• He is the leading scorer off the bench with 10.3 points and 4.8 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 92 career games. He is on pace to finish in the top five in career games played at PSU.
• Gengler is averaging career-highs of 8.9 points and 2.8 assists per game. He is shooting .564 from the field, .529 from three-point range and .818 at the line.
• Ranks seventh in field goal percentage, third in three-point percentage in the Big Sky Conference.
• In his 92 career games, Gengler has only 69 turnovers.
• Scored a season-high 16 points (6-7 FG, 2-2 3-pt, 2-3 FT) with four assists at Cal State Fullerton (11/13).
 
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).
• JR G Deontae North scored 11 points with seven rebounds in the win at San Francisco (12/16).
 
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.
• The Vikings picked up an 82-78 road win at San Francisco (12/16) to improve to 5-4 on the season. Although they shot only .435 from the field, a season-best 22-26 (.846) from the free throw line made the difference. SR G Calaen Robinson tied his career high with 23 points (7-11 FG, 5-7 3-pt, 4-4 FT). JR C Traylin Farris scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half as the Vikings came back from a 13-point deficit with 16:45 to play.
 
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, 102-121, 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.