complete notes and stats in pdf

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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (13-17, 8-10) vs. WEBER STATE WILDCATS (23-8, 13-5)
Big Sky Conference Tournament Quarterfinal Round Game
Thursday, 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.bigsky.statbroadcast.com

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THE OPENING TIP
Winning in the post-season is thrilling, but the Portland State Vikings' excitement was quickly tempered with the knowledge that they now face Big Sky Conference regular season champion Weber State.
     
Portland State took a Big Sky Conference Tournament opening-round 74-67 win over Northern Colorado on Tuesday. The Vikings' reward is a date with the Wildcats, who finished 23-8 overall, 15-3 in the Big Sky this season.
     
Still, the Vikings are playing their best basketball of the season, having won four straight games going into Thursday's matchup. Now 13-17 on the season, PSU plans to give Weber State and Big Sky Player of the Year Joel Bolomboy all they can handle on Thursday. Tip-off for the game is 12:05 p.m. at Reno Events Center.  Live video, audio and stats are available at www.GoViks.com. The winner advances to a Big Sky Tournament semifinal on Friday evening against either Idaho State or North Dakota.
     
In the win over Northern Colorado, Portland State got what has become the norm from GR F Cameron Forte. The second team All-Big Sky selection led the Vikings with 26 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. He got big-time support from JR F De'Sean Parsons off the bench. Parsons had a career-high 21 points with six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
     
Weber State will be playing its first game of the Big Sky Tournament, having received a first-round bye  for its first-place finish in league. The Wildcats have won seven of their last eight games. They are 6-6 on the road, 4-1 in neutral site contests.
     
The Wildcats swept the season series from the Vikings, winning 73-58 in Portland and 87-78 in Ogden.  
 
PORTLAND STATE AND THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Portland State is 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 10-10 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 4-4 all-time in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
 
THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
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.
 
RENO, NV | Reno Events Center | Mar. 8-12, 2016
 
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 • First Round | Session 1
Game 1 - #8 Portland State 74 vs. #9 Northern Colorado 67
Game 2 - #5 North Dakota 85 vs. #12 Southern Utah 80
 
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 • First Round | Session 2
Game 3 - #10 Sacramento State 79, #7 Montana State 75
Game 4 - #6 Eastern Washington 74, #11 Northern Arizona 52
 
Thursday, March 10, 2016 • Quarterfinal Round | Session 1
Game 5 - #1 Weber State (23-8, 15-3) vs. #8 Portland State (13-17, 8-10) - 12:05 p.m.
Game 6 - #4 Idaho State (16-14, 11-7) vs. #5 North Dakota (16-14, 10-8) - 2:35 p.m.
 
Thursday, March 10, 2016 • Quarterfinal Round | Session 2
Game 7 - #2 Montana (19-10, 14-4) vs. #10 Sacramento State (14-16, 6-12)  - 5:35 p.m.
Game 8 - #3 Idaho (20-11, 12-6) vs. #6 Eastern Washington (17-14, 10-8) - 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. WEBER STATE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Weber State leads the all-time series, 35-13, and the Big Sky Conference series, 31-13. The Wildcats have won nine of the last 11 meetings. Weber State is 5-0 in Big Sky Tournament games against Portland State.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (97-116, 7th season) is 4-12 all-time against Weber State. Wildcats Head Coach Randy Rahe (205-112, 10th season) is 17-5 all-time against Portland State.
• PREVIOUS MEETINGS: JAN 14 IN PORTLAND, WSU 73, PSU 58: The Wildcats broke open a close game in the second half, building a 20-point lead and cruising to the win. WSU out-rebounded the Vikings, 46-30. Joel Bolomboy had 22 points and 13 rebounds for WSU. Jeremy Senglin added 21 points. Cameron Forte had 18 points and seven rebounds for the Vikings. FEB. 13 IN OGDEN, WSU 87, PSU 78: Weber State shot .679 in the first half to jump out to a big lead and were up 14 at halftime. The Vikings closed within two on two occasions late in the game. Senglin scored 24 points for the Wildcats. Bolomboy had 19 points and 11 rebounds. Forte had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Vikings.
 
WEBER STATE WILDCATS
• Weber State is an original member of the Big Sky Conference. the Wildcats have won 22 Big Sky regular season titles including this season. They have won nine Big Sky Tournaments and made 15 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Wildcats are 23-8 on the season. They were 15-3 in the Big Sky Conference winning the regular season title.
• Weber State leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring margin (+10.5), field goal percentage defense (.410) and ranks second in rebounding margin (+4.7).
• Forward Joel Bolomboy leads the Big Sky Conference with 12.8 rebounds per game and and averages 17.9 points. He also shoots .589 from the field and has blocked 35 shots. Bolomboy was the Big Sky Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
• Guard Jeremy Senglin earned first team All-Big Sky Conference while averaging 17.8 points and shooting a Big Sky-best .441 from three-point range. Senglin made 93 three-point field goals.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 13-17 this season, 8-6 at home, 4-11 on the road, 1-0 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 four in a row and five of its last six games.
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 167-175 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (10-10).
• PSU is 110-55 in home games, 53-114 in road games and 4-7 in neutral site games.
• PSU is 80-77 in Big Sky games since the start of the 2007-08 season, 87-80 including tournament games.
 
WHO IS HOT?
• Portland State has won four games in a row and five of its last six. This is PSU's first four-game winning streak since the first four games of the 2014-15 season.
• GR F Cameron Forte posted the first triple-double in Portland State history with 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists against Northern Arizona (3/3). Forte followed that with a 25-point (11-17 FG, 3-4), five-rebound effort in the win over Southern Utah (3/5), then 26 points (11-17 FG, 4-7 FT) and 12 rebounds against Northern Colorado - his 15th 20-point game of the season. He has 12 double-doubles on the season.
• JR F De'Sean Parsons scored a career-high 21 points (5-8 FG, 11-14 FT) with six rebounds, four assists and three steals in the win over Northern Colorado.
• JR G Zach Gengler has scored in double figures in his last seven games, averaging 12.0 points and shooting better than 50% from the field.
 
WHO IS NOT?
• Portland State is shooting .323 from three-point range and .665 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 (5.5).
• JR G Calaen Robinson and GR G Donivine Stewart combined to play 67 minutes without scoring against Northern Colorado.
 
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 (1.4).
• 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 12-4 when leading at halftime, 1-0 when tied, but 0-13 when trailing at halftime.
• The Vikings are 12-5 when out-shooting opponents, 1-12 when being out-shot.
• PSU is 6-4 when out-rebounding an opponent, 7-13 when being out-rebounded or rebounding is even.
• The Vikings are 2-8 in games decided by six points or less.
• PSU is 9-1 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 is playing its best basketball of the season. The Vikings have 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 Viking 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)... coincidently, Head Coach Tyler Geving changed the starting lineup six games ago, going with Donivine Stewart, Khari Holloway, Zach Gengler, Isaiah Pineiro and Cameron Forte. The Vikings have gone 5-1 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). 
 
40-MINUTE MAN
Donivine Stewart has played a full 40 minutes in four of the Vikings' last six games. He played 36 in each of the other two games, for an average of 38.7 minutes per game.
 
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 10 games in a row.
• Forte leads the Vikings in scoring (19.0), rebounding (9.4) and field goal percentage (.577).
• He ranks fourth in scoring, second in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage in the Big Sky.
• Forte has 26 double-figure games, 14 20-point games and three 30-point games.
• Has 12 double-doubles on the season, one triple-double, 10 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).
• Named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on Mar. 7 following a pair of Viking wins. He had a triple-double performance over Northern Arizona, then 25 points and five rebounds in a win over Southern Utah. For the week, he averaged 22.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, had two blocked shots and two steals.
 
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 .517 from the field, averages 12.3 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 (2.8).
• Stewart has a 106/38 assist-to-turnover ratio (2.8) that leads the Big Sky Conference.
• Averages 5.9 points and 3.7 assists while shooting .469 from the field and .360 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 (10.1), first in steals (52) 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 7.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 22 minutes per game.
• Gengler is shooting .867 at the line for the season (39-45) and earlier this season had a string of 18 made in a row. He shoots .832 for his career.
• Has 11 double-figure scoring games including the last seven 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 6.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. But in the last 10 games, Parsons is averaging 10.5 points per game while shooting 40-67 from the field (.597).
• Has seven 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).
 
A DIFFERENT LOOK: Head Coach Tyler Geving has started 11 different lineups this season.  The current lineup of Donivine Stewart, Khari Holloway, Zach Gengler, Isaiah Pineiro and Cameron Forte has gone 5-1.
• 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.
 
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).
• The Vikings won their fourth game in a row with a 74-67 victory over Northern Colorado in the first round of the Big Sky Conference Tournament (3/8). GR F Cameron Forte had 26 points (11-16 FG, 4-7 FT), 12 rebounds and four assists, while JR F De'Sean Parsons scored a career-high 21 points (5-8 FG, 11-14 FT) with six rebounds, four assists and three steals.