complete notes and stats in pdf

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#8 PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (12-17, 8-10) vs. #9 NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS (10-20, 7-11)
Big Sky Conference Tournament First Round Game
Tuesday, March 8, 2016, 12:05 p.m. • Reno Events Center (5,000), Reno, NV
Live Video and Audio: www.GoViks.com and www.eversport.tv • Play-by-Play: Mike McDowd • Analyst: Joe Cravens
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com

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THE OPENING TIP
The Portland State Vikings return to the newly-revamped Big Sky Conference Tournament this Tuesday as they will take on the Northern Colorado Bears in a first-round game at Reno Events Center in Reno, NV.
     
Portland State goes into the tournament on a hot streak, having won three in a row and four out of five. The Vikings are 12-17 on the season, 8-10 in the Big Sky and earned the number-eight seed in the tournament. Northern Colorado comes in as the number-nine seed with a 10-20 record and 7-11 Big Sky mark. The two teams meet in the tournament's first game, at 12:05 p.m. on Tuesday at the REC in Reno. The winner advances to a quarterfinal round matchup with Big Sky Conference regular season champion Weber State (23-8, 14-4) on Thursday at 12:05 p.m.
     
Much is new about the Big Sky Tournament: the location - a neutral site for the first time; the format - all 12 teams get in for the first time; and four teams receive first round byes while the other eight play off to get into the quarterfinals. The one thing that hasn't changed is the prize. The Big Sky Tournament Champion will get the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
     
The lone meeting of the season between Portland State and Northern Colorado came on Feb. 27. It was a thriller, decided by JR G Calaen Robinson's three-pointer with two seconds left, giving the Vikings took an 89-86 win. PSU led most of the way, but a late 20-5 Bears' run had the game in doubt in the closing moments. (SEE GAME STORY BELOW).
     
Live video, audio and stats for Tuesday's game are available at www.GoViks.com.
 
PORTLAND STATE AND THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Portland State will be making its 13th appearance in the Big Sky Conference Tournament in its 20th season as a member. PSU was not eligible in three of those seasons and did not qualify four other times. Prior to 2015-16, Big Sky teams had to qualify for the tournament. Beginning this season, all 12 teams automatically qualify.
     
The Vikings are 9-10 all-time in Big Sky Conference Tournament games winning titles in 2008 (in Portland) and 2009 (in Ogden, UT). PSU reached the semifinals on four other occasions.
     
Viking Coach Tyler Geving is 3-4 all-time in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
 
THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
RENO, NV | Reno Events Center | Mar. 8-12, 2016
 
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 • First Round | Session 1
Game 1 - #8 Portland State (12-17, 8-10) vs. #9 Northern Colorado (10-20, 7-11) - 12:05 p.m.
Game 2 - #5 North Dakota (15-14, 10-8) vs. #12 Southern Utah (5-23, 3-15) - 2:35 p.m.
 
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 • First Round | Session 2
Game 3 - #7 Montana State (14-16, 9-9) vs. #10 Sacramento State (13-16, 6-12) - 5:35 p.m.
Game 4 - #6 Eastern Washington (16-14, 10-8) vs. #11 Northern Arizona (5-24, 3-15) - 8:05 p.m.
 
Thursday, March 10, 2016 • Quarterfinal Round | Session 1
Game 5 - #1 Weber State (23-8, 15-3) vs. Winner of Game 1 - 12:05 p.m.
Game 6 - #4 Idaho State (16-14, 11-7) vs. Winner of Game 2 - 2:35 p.m.
 
Thursday, March 10, 2016 • Quarterfinal Round | Session 2
Game 7 - #2 Montana (19-10, 14-4) vs. Winner of Game 3 - 5:35 p.m.
Game 8 - #3 Idaho (20-11, 12-6) vs. Winner of Game 4 - 8:05 p.m.
 
Friday, March 11, 2016 • Semifinal Round
Game 9 - Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 - 5:35 p.m.
Game 10 - Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8 - 8:05 p.m.
 
Saturday, March 12, 2016 • Championship Game
Game 11 - Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10 - 5:45 p.m.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. NORTHERN COLORADO
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series with Northern Colorado, 17-6, and the Big Sky Conference series, 13-6. PSU has won four of the last five meetings... Portland State and Northern Colorado have never met in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (96-116, 7th season) is 7-6 all-time against Northern Colorado. Bears Coach BJ Hill (86-97, 6th season) is 5-6 all-time against Portland State.
• PREVIOUS MEETING, FEB. 27 IN GREELEY, PSU 89, UNC 86: History nearly repeated itself. And that would have been bad for Portland State. Instead, Viking guard Calaen Robinson prevented the bad memories from coming back, hitting a right-wing, three-pointer with two seconds left to lead PSU to an 89-86 win at Northern Colorado.
      Last season in Greeley, the Vikings held a six-point lead late in the second half but were undone by a 20-4 Bears' run to close out the game. This game was eerily similar. PSU led 77-63 with just over eight minutes to play. But the Bears went on a 20-5 run to take an 83-82 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the game.
      Four lead changes later, the Vikings had possession in an 86-86 contest and 29 seconds to play. Following a timeout, Donivine Stewart drove and made a kick-out pass to Robinson, positioned just in front of the Viking bench. He calmly drained the three and the Vikings picked up the 89-86 win.
      Robinson scored 14 points off the bench as PSU got 33 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists from its reserves. Five Vikings scored in double-figures led by 17 points and five assists from Cameron Forte.
      Donivine Stewart had 13 points and four assists. De'Sean Parsons came off the bench for 13 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Zach Gengler scored 10 for the Vikings.
      Portland State deserved this win, shooting .571 from the field, including 7-16 three-pointers. The Vikings matched the Bears on the backboards at 32-32 and a big key was forcing 18 UNC turnovers while committing just nine.
      Anthony Johnson scored 30 points to lead Northern Colorado in the losing effort.
 
NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS
• Northern Colorado has been a member of the Big Sky Conference since the 2006-07 season. The Bears won the 2010 Big Sky Conference Championship.
• The Bears were 10-20 on the season, 7-11 in the Big Sky Conference, placing ninth. The Bears were only 2-7 in the second half of the conference schedule, but won 78-72 in Missoula last Saturday.
• UNC scores 74.2 points per game, but gives up 80.3 points.
• Anthony Johnson leads the Bears in scoring at 15.8 points per game and averages 4.4 rebounds. He has made 65 three-point field goals, shooting 40% from range.
• Dallas Anglin averages 13.2 point per game. Jordan Wilson averages 12.9 points, has a team-high 84 assists, and has made 62 three-pointers.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 12-17 this season, 8-6 at home, 4-11 on the road, 0-0 at neutral sites.
• The Vikings were 8-10 in the Big Sky Conference, 5-4 at home, 3-6 on the road.
• PSU has won three in a row and four of its last five games.
 
WHO IS HOT?
• Portland State is averaging 93.2 points in its last four wins while shooting .571 from the field.
• SO F Isaiah Pineiro scored a career-high 31 points (12-19 FG, 6-9 FT) with 12 rebounds in the win over Northern Arizona. It was his third double-double of the season. He followed that with 19 points (5-8 FG, 9-10 FT) and five rebounds in the win over Southern Utah.
• GR F Cameron Forte posted the first triple-double in Portland State history with 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists against Northern Arizona. He has 11 double-doubles on the season. Forte followed that with his 13th 20-point game, a 25-point (11-17 FG, 3-4), five-rebound effort in the win over Southern Utah.
• JR G Calaen Robinson has 44 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists and six steals in the last three games.
• JR G Zach Gengler has scored in double figures in his last six games, averaging 12.0 points and shooting .562 from the field.
 
WHO IS NOT?
• Portland State is shooting .327 from three-point range and .661 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 (17.2).
• Portland State leads the Big Sky in steals per game (8.4).
• Portland State leads the Big Sky in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.4).
• GR G Donivine Stewart leads the Big Sky in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9).
 
TRENDING:
• Portland State is 9-2 when scoring over 80 points this season. The Vikings are winless when scoring less than 70 (0-6).
• PSU is 11-4 when leading at halftime, 1-0 when tied, but 0-13 when trailing at halftime.
• The Vikings are 11-5 when out-shooting opponents, 1-12 when being out-shot.
• PSU is 6-4 when out-rebounding an opponent, 6-13 when being out-rebounded or rebounding is even.
• The Vikings are 2-8 in games decided by six points or less.
• PSU is 8-1 against Big Sky Conference teams that placed between 6th and 12th this season, 0-9 against Big Sky teams that placed 1st through fifth.
 
PLAYING THEIR BEST
Portland State goes into the Big Sky Conference Tournament playing its best basketball of the season. The Vikings have won three in a row and four of their last five. In all four wins, the Vikings shot 52% or better from the field, including a .647 mark in a 107-91 win over Eastern Washington. The Viking have shot .571 combined in the four wins and averaged 93.2 points... coincidently, Head Coach Tyler Geving changed the starting lineup five games ago, going with Donivine Stewart, Khari Holloway, Zach Gengler, Isaiah Pineiro and Cameron Forte. The Vikings have gone 4-1 since then.
 
3x2: A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY
GR F Cameron Forte has not been short on highlights this season, and he may have had his biggest last  Thursday night against Northern Arizona. Forte became the first Viking in history to record a triple-double with 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists... Forte has also posted a 37-point game this season (the most by a Viking in four seasons), and a 20-rebound game this season (the first by a Viking in 20 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
 
GAME WINNERS
JR G Calaen Robinson's game-winning three-pointer at Northern Colorado (2/27) was the first game-winning shot inside the final five seconds of a game by a Viking 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 nine games in a row.
• Forte leads the Vikings in scoring (18.8), rebounding (9.3) and field goal percentage (.573).
• He ranks fourth in scoring, second in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage in the Big Sky.
• Forte has 25 double-figure games, 13 20-point games and three 30-point games.
• Has 11 double-doubles on the season, one triple-double, nine 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).
 
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 .522 from the field, averages 12.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and has 17 blocked shots.
• Has 17 double-figure scoring games, five 20-point games, one 30-point game and three double-doubles.
• Ranks eighth in the Big Sky Conference in field goal percentage and 12th in rebounding.
 
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 (2.9).
• Stewart has a 103/35 assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9) that leads the Big Sky Conference.
• Averages 6.1 points and 3.7 assists while shooting .472 from the field and .367 from three-point range.
 
MR. ROBINSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD: JR G Calaen Robinson has proven to be the Vikings' top three-point shooter this season. Robinson ranks third on the team in scoring (10.4), first in steals (50) and three-point field goals (56), and second in assists (3.3).
• Robinson's 11 assists against Multnomah were the most by a Viking since Feb. 5, 2009.
• Robinson has 15 double-figure scoring games.
• Ranks 10th in the Big Sky Conference in assists and 13th in three-pointers made and sixth in steals (1.7).
 
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 7.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 21 minutes per game.
• Gengler is shooting .878 at the line for the season (36-41) and earlier this season had a string of 18 made in a row. He shoots .852 for his career.
• Has 10 double-figure scoring games including the last six games in which he has averaged 12.0 points.
 
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 2.7 rebounds per game. But in the last nine games, Parsons is averaging 9.3 points per game while shooting 35-59 from the field (.593).
• 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 45 blocks this season and 117 blocks in 55 career games.
• Ranks third all-time in blocks at Portland State in only two seasons.
• Spickerman ranks third in the Big Sky in blocked shots (1.7).
• He has four games of four or more blocked shots.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
• With a 105-60 win over Pacific Lutheran (11/13), Portland State had its first 100-point performance in a counting game since a 102-47 win over Walla Walla on Dec. 3, 2011. It was the most points by a Viking team since a 108-56 win at Montana on Mar. 1, 2008. GR F Cameron Forte had 22 points and eight rebounds and JR G Bryce White scored 20 points with four assists.
• SO F Isaiah Pineiro posted 24 points and 14 rebounds in a 79-61 win at UT Rio Grande Valley (11/22). GR F Cameron Forte had a double-double as well with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
• The Vikings had their second 100-point game of the season with a 100-82 win over Multnomah (11/28). GR F Cameron Forte had 31 points on 15-26 shots while grabbing 10 rebounds. JR G Calaen Robinson scored 13 points and handed out 11 assists - the most by a Viking since Feb. 5, 2009 - in the win.
• JR G Zach Gengler scored a career-high 17 points in the Vikings' 78-72 loss to Portland (12/2).
• SR C Collin Spickerman scored a career-high 15 points in the Vikings' 74-64 loss at SIUE (12/12).
• JR G Calaen Robinson had a career-high 21 points (7-11 3-pt FG) in the Vikings' 77-71 loss to CSUN (12/17).
• SO F Isaiah Pineiro had his second 20-point game of the season, posting 21 points (9-14 FG, 3-3 FT) with five rebounds and three assists as the Vikings beat Cal State Fullerton, 89-82 (12/29). GR G Donivine Stewart added a season-high 17 points (6-8 FG, 3-4 3-pt FG, 2-6 FT) with five assists and two steals in the game. Five Vikings scored in double figures as PSU washing away a five-game losing streak.
• Portland State opened Big Sky Conference play with a 76-68 win over Sacramento State (1/2). The Vikings held the Hornets to 40% shooting and forced 16 turnovers. JR G Bryce White's 19 points led four Vikings in double figures as PSU won its second game in a row. The Vikings also ended four-game losing streak to the Hornets.
• The Vikings won for the third time in four games with a 77-70 victory at Montana State (1/9). It was PSU's first win in Bozeman in six years. GR F Cameron Forte scored 26 points (12-18 FG, 2-4 FT) and grabbed 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. JR G Bryce White matched his career-high with 20 points and four rebounds.
• Portland State had its best shooting night of the season, hitting 34-53 shots (.642) in an 81-63 win at Sacramento State (1/23). PSU also had a season-high 26 assists. GR F Cameron Forte posted his fifth double-double of the season with 26 points (12-15 FG) and 12 rebounds. JR G Zach Gengler handed out a career-high eight assists.
• GR F Cameron Forte scored 37 points (13-24 FG, 11-20 FT) and grabbed 13 rebounds at Eastern Washington (1/28). His 37 points were the most by a Viking in four seasons and the most by any player in the Big Sky in 2015-16.
• GR F Cameron Forte recorded the first 20-rebound game by a Viking in its Big Sky Conference history (20 seasons). He had 20 boards to go with 20 points (7-9 FG, 6-9 FT) in the Vikings loss at Idaho (1/30).
• SO F Isaiah Pineiro and JR F De'Sean Parsons came off the bench to combined for 35 points, 16 rebounds, five steals and three assists in an 83-68 win over Montana State (2/4). Pineiro scored 22 points (7-12 FG, 8-9 FT), while Parsons had 13 points (5-6 FG, 1-1 3-pt, 2-3 FG) and season-highs of 13 rebounds and four steals. SR C Collin Spickerman added 13 points (6-9 FG, 1-2 FT) and a season-high six blocked shots. The Vikings shot .604 for the game.
• Despite the loss, Portland State shot over 60% for the second game in a row against Montana (2/6). PSU was 29-47 from the field (.617).
• GR F Cameron Forte posted his fifth straight 20-10 road game at Idaho State (2/11), with 26 points (11-15 FG, 4-6 FT) and 13 rebounds. He has averaged 27.0 points and 13.8 rebounds over that span.
• GR F Cameron Forte led the Vikings in every statistical category, scoring 23 points (8-11 FG, 1-1 3-pt FG, 6-6 FT) with 16 rebounds, five assists, four steals, two blocked shots and four turnovers in a loss to Idaho (2/18).
• Portland State put up its most points in eight years and shot a season-best .647 from the field in a 107-91 win over Eastern Washington (2/20). GR F Cameron Forte scored a game-high 32 points (14-20 FG, 4-7 FT) with nine rebounds for his third 30-point game of the season. Five Vikings scored in double figures as GR G Donivine Stewart had his best game of the year with 13 points (6-8 FG, 1-1 FT), eight assists, six rebounds, four steals and no turnovers.
• JR G Calaen Robinson hit a game-winning three-point field goal with two seconds remaining as the Vikings beat Northern Colorado, 89-86 (2/27). Robinson scored 14 points off the bench and was one of five Vikings in double figures. PSU shot .571 as a team in the win. GR F Cameron Forte scored 17 points with five assists.
• SO F Isaiah Pineiro posted a career-high 31 points (12-19 FG, 1-3 3-pt, 6-9 FT) wiht 12 rebounds in the Vikings' 89-81 win over Northern Arizona (3/3). It was PSU's second win in a row and third in four games.
• GR F Cameron Forte became the first Viking in history to record a triple-double when he had 20 points (7-14 FG, 6-7 FT), 15 rebounds and 10 assists in PSU's win over Northern Arizona (3/3).
• Portland State wrapped up the regular season with an 88-86 win over Southern Utah (3/5) for a season-best three game winning streak. The Vikings shot 31-57 (.544) in the win. GR F Cameron Forte scored 25 points (11-17 FG, 3-4 FT) while Isaiah Pineiro added 19 (5-8 FG, 9-10 FT).