complete notes and stats in pdf

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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (10-17, 6-10) vs. NORTHERN ARIZONA LUMBERJACKS (5-22, 3-13)
Thursday, March 3, 2016, 7:05 p.m. PT • Peter W. Stott Center (1,500), Portland, OR
Live Video and Audio: www.GoViks.com • Pre-Game Show: 6:45 • Play-by-Play: Tom Hewitt
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com

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THE OPENING TIP
Coming off a clutch road win last Saturday at Northern Colorado, the Portland State Vikings will try to build momentum as they look forward to next week's Big Sky Conference Championship Tournament in Reno, NV. The Vikings have the perfect scenario, playing their final two games of the regular season at home against Northern Arizona and Southern Utah, a pair of teams tied at the bottom of the Big Sky standings.
     
PSU (10-17, 6-10) is currently tied for eighth in the Big Sky. The Vikings earned a key win on Saturday when JR G Calaen Robinson hit a three-pointer with two seconds remaining at Northern Colorado for an 89-86 victory. If the tournament were to start today, PSU as the eighth seed would take on Northern Colorado as the ninth seed in a first-round game. But the Vikings still have a chance to climb in the standings as they are one game behind Montana State (7-9). If PSU has success this week and can move up to number seven, it would take on the 10 seed in the Big Sky Tournament - currently Sacramento State (4-12), a team the Vikings have beaten twice this year.
     
But it's a long way from here to there, so the Vikings must take care of immediate business first. That would be Northern Arizona, visitors to the Stott Center on Thursday night. NAU is 5-22 on the season, 3-13 in the Big Sky Conference and tied for 11th with PSU's Saturday night opponent, Southern Utah.
     
The Lumberjacks have had a rough year with only five wins and a 1-13 road record. However, they have a good recent history against the Vikings, winning the last five meetings overall. In the last four games, NAU has held the Vikings to 57.5 points per game. That is not likely to happen this season as the 'Jacks are allowing opponents to score 81.9 points - second most in the Big Sky behind SUU - and PSU is averaging 91.0 points in its last three games, two of which are victories.
     
Due to the Big Sky's unbalanced schedule, PSU is meeting Northern Arizona and Southern Utah for the first and only time this season. Live video, audio and stats for both games are available at www.GoViks.com.
     
Thursday's game is Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night with a pre-game tailgate party hosted by Director of Athletics Mark Rountreee. The regular season wraps up with a Senior Night game Saturday against Southern Utah (5-21, 3-13). The Big Sky Conference Tournament runs Mar. 8-12 in Reno, NV.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. NORTHERN ARIZONA
• ALL-TIME SERIES: The all-time series is tied between the two schools, 22-22. Northern Arizona leads the Big Sky Conference series, 21-20, and has won five in a row overall. Portland State has a 14-6 advantage in Portland.
• LAST SEASON: IN PORTLAND, NAU 73, PSU 60: The Lumberjacks out-shot the Vikings .528 to .393, and out-rebounded them (38-27). The Vikings went seven minutes in the first half without scoring. Five players scored in double figures for NAU, led by 18 points from Ako Kaluna and 13 points and 11 assists from Kris Yanku. Gary Winston scored 18 points for the Vikings while Braxton Tucker added 12 points and 11 rebounds.
IN FLAGSTAFF, NAU 58, PSU 51: Portland State led 45-43 with 6:04 to play, but Northern Arizona closed the Vikings out with a 15-6 run. PSU shot .357 from the field, and NAU was at a paltry .318. But the Lumberjacks won the rebound battle 55-32, including 25 on the offensive glass for 17 second-chance points. Aaseem Dixon scored 15 points to lead NAU. DaShaun Wiggins had 15 for the Vikings.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (94-116, 7th season) is 3-9 all-time against Northern Arizona. Lumberjacks Head Coach Jack Murphy (54-74, 4th season) is 5-1 all-time against Portland State.
 
NORTHERN ARIZONA LUMBERJACKS
• Northern Arizona is an original member of the Big Sky Conference. The Lumberjacks have won four Big Sky regular season titles, two Big Sky tournament titles and made two trips to the NCAA tournament.
• This season the Lumberjacks are 5-22 overall, 3-13 in the Big Sky and tied for 11th. The 'Jacks bring a 1-13 road record to the Stott Center.
• NAU has allowed opponents to score 81.9 points per game, and been out-rebounded by an average of 6.8 per game. On the offensive side, the Lumberjacks average 69.3 points and shoot only .400 from the field - both worst in the Big Sky Conference.
• Point guard Kris Yanku leads Northern Arizona in scoring (14.6), assists (4.7) and steals (45). He also shoots .816 at the free throw line.
• Forward Ako Kaluna is second on the team in scoring at 12.4 points per game and averages a team-leading 6.7 rebounds.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 10-17 this season, 6-6 at home, 4-11 on the road.
• The Vikings are 6-10 in the Big Sky Conference, 3-4 at home, 3-6 on the road.
• PSU has won two of its last three games.
Stott Stuff
• PSU has gone 156-62 in 218 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 187-77 at home over 20 seasons.
• Portland State is 63-33 at home in seven seasons under Tyler Geving.
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 100-36 at home, including 58-29 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
• 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 over that span.
 
WHO IS HOT?
• Portland State is averaging 91.0 points in its last three games, making 107-190 shots (.563) from the field.
• JR G Calaen Robinson scored 14 points with six rebounds, four assists and three steals in the 89-86 win at Northern Colorado. He hit a game-winning three-pointer with two seconds left.
• In his last three games, GR G Donivine Stewart is averaging 10.7 points, 5.7 assists and 2.3 steals while shooting .625 from the field.
• JR F De'Sean Parsons scored 31 points with 11 rebounds in the Vikings two road games last week, making 10-16 shots (.625) and 11-14 free throws (.786). Over his last eight games, Parsons is averaging 10.0 points per game while shooting 29-46 from the field (.630).
• GR F Cameron Forte has six double-doubles in his last 11 games.
• JR G Zach Gengler has scored in double figures in his last four games, averaging 12.0 points and shooting .500 from the field.
 
WHO IS NOT?
• Portland State is shooting .322 from three-point range and .651 from the free throw line, both of which rank last in the Big Sky Conference.
• PSU ranks last in the Big Sky in three-point field goals made per game (5.6).
 
BIG SKY CONFERENCE LEADERS
• Portland State leads the Big Sky in assists per game (17.1).
• Portland State leads the Big Sky in steals per game (8.4).
• Portland State leads the Big Sky in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3).
• GR G Donivine Stewart leads the Big Sky in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9).
 
GAME WINNERS
JR G Calaen Robinson's game-winning three-pointer at Northern Colorado was the first game-winning shot by a Viking inside the final five seconds of a game in two seasons. The last was by Gary Winston on Jan. 11, 2014 against Montana. Prior to that, you have to go back two more seasons (2011-12) when the Vikings had three late game-winners (one by Chehales Tapscott and two by Charles Odum). 
 
TOUR DE FORTE: GR F Cameron Forte has been a tour de force this season - his only year with the Vikings.  Forte has alternated between 6th man and starter, playing equally effective either way. He has started the last eight games in a row.
• Forte leads the Vikings in scoring (18.5), rebounding (9.2) and field goal percentage (.572).
• He ranks sixth in scoring, second in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage in the Big Sky.
• Forte has 23 double-figure games, 11 20-point games and three 30-point games.
• Has 10 double-doubles on the season, eight 20-10 games, and one 20-20 game.
• Named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on Feb. 22 after averaging 27.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and shooting .710 from the field in a pair of games against Idaho (L) and Eastern Washington (W).
• Posted 23 points (8-14 FG, 7-8 FT) and nine rebounds at Nevada (11/25).
• Had 31 points (15-26 FG) with 10 rebounds in a win over Multnomah (11/28).
• Scored 26 points (12-18 FG, 2-4 FT) with 11 rebounds in a win at Montana State (1/9).
• Went for 26 points (12-15 FG, 2-6 FT) with 12 rebounds in a win at Sacramento State (1/23).
• Scored a season-high 37 points (13-24 FG, 11-20 FT) with 13 rebounds at Eastern Washington (1/28). That was the most points scored by a Viking in four seasons.
• Recorded 20 points (7-9 FG, 6-9 FT) and hauled down 20 rebounds at Idaho (1/30). The 20 rebounds were the most by a Viking in PSU's 20-season history in the Big Sky Conference.
• Registered 26 points (11-15 FG, 4-6 FT) and 13 rebounds at Idaho State (2/11).
• Had a string of five consecutive 20-10 games on the road (including a 20-20 game). He averaged 27.0 points and 13.8 rebounds in those games (Jan. 9-Feb. 11).
• Scored 23 points (8-11 FG, 1-1 3-pt FG, 6-6 FT) with 16 rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks against Idaho (2/18).
• Scored 32 points (14-20 FG, 4-7 FT) with nine rebounds in a win over Eastern Washington (2/20). Averaged 34.5 points in two games against the Eagles.
• Posted 24 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and three steals at North Dakota (2/25).
 
FILLING THE ROLE: Whether it be as a starter or sixth man, SO F Isaiah Pineiro has filled the role admirably this season, ranking as the Vikings' second-leading scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker.
• Pineiro shoots .509 from the field, averages 11.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and has 16 blocked shots.
• Has 15 double-figure scoring games and four 20-point games.
• Ranks ninth in the Big Sky Conference in field goal percentage and 14th in rebounding.
• Had back-to-back double-doubles on the road, getting 24 points and 14 rebounds at UTRGV (11/22) and 13 points and 11 rebounds at Nevada (11/25).
• Posted 17 points (6-9 FG, 1-3 3-pt, 4-5 FT) with five rebounds and three steals against CSUN (12/17).
• Totaled 21 points (9-14 FG, 3-3 FT) with five rebounds, three assists and a block in a win over Cal State Fullerton (12/29).
• Had 20 points (6-12 FG, 1-1 3-pt, 7-7 FT) and six rebounds at Montana (1/7).
• Scored 22 points (7-12 FG, 8-9) with three rebounds and two assists in win over Montana State (2/4).
 
DONIVINE IS DIVINE: GR G Donivine Stewart has a good handle on things. The SIUE transfer leads the Big Sky Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (98/34, 2.9).
• Averages 6.3 points and 3.8 assists while shooting .474 from the field and .375 from three-point range.
• Scored a season-high 17 points (6-8 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 2-6 FT) with five assists and two steals in the win over Cal State Fullerton (12/29).
• Had seven assists against Weber State (1/14). Matched that against Sacramento State (1/23).
• Handed out a season-high eight assists at Eastern Washington (1/28) and eight in a win over Montana State (2/4).
• Matched his season-high with 17 points (5-8 FG, 1-3 3-pt, 6-8 FT) and five assists against Montana (2/6).
• Played his best game with 13 points (6-8 FG, 1-1 FT), eight assists, six rebounds, four steals and no turnovers in a win over Eastern Washington (2/20).
• Had 13 points (6-8 FG, 1-1 3-pt), four assists and two steals in the win at Northern Colorado (2/27).
 
MR. ROBINSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD: JR G Calaen Robinson has proven to be the Vikings' top three-point shooter this season. Robinson ranks fourth on the team in scoring (10.1), first in steals (47) and three-point field goals (52), and second in assists (3.3).
• Robinson's 11 assists against Multnomah were the most by a Viking since Feb. 5, 2009.
• Robinson has 14 double-figure scoring games.
• Ranks 10th in the Big Sky Conference in assists and 13th in three-pointers made and fifth in steals (1.7).
• Scored 19 points with five rebounds at Washington State (12/6).
• Posted a career-high 21 points (7-11 3-pt FG) with four assists against CSUN (12/17).
• Had 17 points (4-9 3-pt FG) with three assists and three steals in the win over Sacramento State (1/2).
• Scored 18 points (6-11 FG, 2-3 3-pt, 4-4 FT) with three assists and three steals in a win over Eastern Washington (2/20).
• Had 14 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with two seconds left in an 89-86 win at Northern Colorado (2/27). Added six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
 
ZACH IS BACK: JR G Zach Gengler returned to the starting lineup at mid-season and has seen his production climb.
• Gengler is averaging career-highs of 7.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 21 minutes per game.
• Gengler is shooting .892 at the line for the season (33-37) and earlier this season had a string of 18 made in a row. He shoots .833 for his career.
• Has eight double-figure scoring games.
• Scored a career-high 17 points with three assists against Portland (12/2).
• Posted 13 points (4-5 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 2-2) with a career-high eight assists and two steals in a win at Sacramento State (1/23).
• Had 11 points (5-9 FG, 1-4 3-pt) and seven assists in a win over Eastern Washington (2/20).
• Scored 12 points with five rebounds and four steals at North Dakota (2/25).
 
THE DE'SEAN PARSONS PROJECT: JR F De'Sean Parsons has become a key player off the bench in recent weeks. Parsons averages 6.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. But in the last eight games, Parsons is averaging 10.0 points per game while shooting 29-46 from the field (.630).
• Scored a season-high 18 points (6-8 FG, 6-7 FT) with seven rebounds at North Dakota (2/25).
• Has six double-figure scoring games this season.
 
SWAT STATS: SR C Collin Spickerman set a PSU record for blocked shots per game (2.48) last season while leading the Big Sky Conference. Spickerman has 44 blocks this season and 116 blocks in 53 career games.
• Ranks third all-time in blocks at Portland State in only two seasons.
• Spickerman leads the Big Sky in blocked shots in Big Sky games (1.9).
• Spickerman blocked four shots and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds in the season opener at Grand Canyon (11/13).
• Spickerman scored a career-high 15 points at SIUE (12/12).
• Posted 13 points (6-9 FG, 1-2 FT) and a season-high six blocked shots in a win over Montana State (2/4).
• Shot a perfect 6-6 from the field for 12 points with two blocks against Montana (2/6).
• He has four games of four or more blocked shots.
 
A DIFFERENT LOOK: Head Coach Tyler Geving has started 11 different lineups this season. 
• 10 different players have started games this season.
• No players have started every game while only four have played in every game.
• Last season the Vikings had 10 different starting lineups with 10 different players earning starts.