complete notes and stats in pdf

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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (8-5, 1-1) vs.
SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS (3-10, 0-2)
Saturday, January 7, 2017, 7:05 p.m. • Peter W. Stott Center (1,500), Portland, OR

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Live Streaming Video and Audio: www.GoViks.com/Live
Pregame Show: 6:45 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
 
THE OPENING TIP
Portland State will wrap up a four-game home stand this Saturday with something to prove. The Vikings want to show they are more like the team that routed North Dakota (99-62) in their Big Sky Conference opener last Thursday, than the one that fell flat on Saturday in a loss to Northern Colorado (73-59).
     
A bounce-back performance would be nice - and needed - when the Vikings meet the Sacramento State Hornets on Saturday night. After that, PSU will play five of its next seven games on the road. The loss to UNC ended a five-game winning streak for the Vikings, but they are still in good shape at 8-5 on the season and 1-1 in the young Big Sky schedule.
     
The Hornets will come to the Stott Center with a 3-10 record, 0-2 in the Big Sky. Sac State has lost three in a row  and is 0-5 on the road this season (plus 0-3 in neutral site games). PSU is 5-1 at home this year.
     
Despite a poor offensive showing in its most recent outing, Portland State still ranks as the top scoring team in the Big Sky Conference (88.2), as well as the top shooting team (.502) and leader in steals (10.6). The Hornets will have to go some to match that offensive output. They average only 67.1 points and rank last in three-point shooting and three-point percentage.
     
Portland State swept the season series with Sacramento State in 2015-16. The Vikings never trailed in either game, leading for over 76 total minutes out of 80.
     
Saturday's game starts at 7:05 p.m. The game is available via live video and audio stream at www.GoViks.com/Live. Live statistics can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
 
COMING UP
Beginning next week, Portland State goes on the road for five of its next seven games. It starts with a trip to Northern Arizona (Jan. 12) and Southern Utah (Jan. 14). The Vikings come home for Montana (Jan. 19) and Montana (Jan. 21), then go out again to face Sacramento State, Idaho and Eastern Washington.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. SACRAMENTO STATE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: After sweeping the Hornets last season, Portland State leads the all-time series with Sacramento State, 28-15, and the Big Sky series, 27-14... the Vikings are 17-3 in Big Sky home games with the Hornets.
• LAST SEASON, Jan. 2, 2016 in Portland: PSU 76, SAC 68: Portland State had a poor shooting game, but won it with defense. The Vikings held the Hornets to .400 shooting, blocked seven shots and forced 16 turnovers for 23 points. Bryce White scored 19 to lead the Vikings. Calaen Robinson had 17. Justin Strings went for a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds for Sacramento State. Jan. 23, 2016 in Sacramento: PSU 81, SAC 63: Portland State led the entire game, most of the way by double figures. PSU shot a season-high .642 from the field. Cameron Forte came off the bench for 26 points and 12 rebounds. The Hornets get a team-high 17 points from Strings.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (105-122/8th season) is 9-6 all-time against Sacramento State... Hornets Head Coach Brian Katz (94-157/9th year) is 6-11 all-time against Portland State.
 
SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS
• Sacramento State joined the Big Sky Conference the same year as Portland State; 1996-97.
• The Hornets have never won a Big Sky title.
• Sac State was 14-17 last season, 6-10 in the Big Sky Conference, placing 10th.
• This season, the Hornets have started 3-10, 0-2 in the Big Sky. They are 0-5 in road games and 0-3 at neutral sites.
• Sacramento State has had its struggles offensively, shooting .428 from the field and .636 at the line. The Hornets rank last in the Big Sky in three-point shooting (.265) and three-pointers made (5.0).
• Forward Justin Strings leads Sacramento State in scoring at 14.8 points per game, and averages 6.8 rebounds. Forward Nick Hornsby averages 9.9 points and a team-best 7.9 rebounds.
• Guard Marcus Graves averages 11.2 points and 5.1 assists.
• Center Eric Stuteville averages 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds. He shoots a Big Sky-leading .679 from the field and ranks second in blocked shots with 22.
 
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 8-5 this season, 5-1 at home, 3-4 on the road.
• The Vikings have won seven of their last nine games.
• PSU has won two in a row on the road.
• Portland State won five straight earlier this season (Dec. 13-29). It was the longest winning streak since winning six in a row late in the 2008-09 season.
Stott Stuff
• PSU has gone 163-63 in 226 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 194-78 at home over 21 seasons.
• Portland State is 70-34 at home in eight seasons under Tyler Geving.
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 107-37 at home, including 61-30 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
• Portland State has lost only eight non-conference home games in the last 10 seasons (45-8). PSU is 25-8 against Division I schools, and 20-0 against lower division schools over that span.
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 168-177 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (10-11).
• PSU is 111-56 in home games, 53-114 in road games and 4-8 in neutral-site games.
 
WHO IS HOT?
• The Vikings are shooting .502 from the field and averaging 88.8 points per game - both of which are best in the Big Sky Conference.
• PSU ranks first in the Big Sky in assists (18.3), steals (10.6), scoring margin (+9.8), turnover margin (+5.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6).
• SR G Calaen Robinson made a career-high six steals against North Dakota, and followed that with four steals against Northern Colorado.
• De'Sean Parsons has made 23 of his last 38 field goals (.605).
• JR C Traylin Farris has shot 50% or better in each of his last six games. He shoots a team-high .613 from the field.
 
WHO IS NOT?
• Portland State's free throw shooting: the Vikings were an abysmal 4-21 (.190) against Northern Colorado, after going just 8-16 against North Dakota. PSU shoots only .627 for the season - second-worst in the Big Sky Conference.
• The Vikings are giving up 78.4 points per game and opponents are shooting .474 from the field.
• PSU has been outrebounded by 7.4 per game in its five losses.
• JR F Braxton Tucker missed the last eight games with knee soreness.
 
STREAKING: Portland State had a five-game winning streak (Dec. 16-29). It was the longest winning streak of Head Coach Tyler Geving's career. His teams had seven four-game winning streaks prior to that. The previous longest winning streak overall was a six-gamer Feb. 19-Mar. 11, 2009. PSU's longest winning streak since joining the Big Sky Conference 21 seasons ago is nine (Jan. 13-Feb. 20, 2008). The school record is 12 (1954-55).
 
HOT SHOTS: Despite their lowest scoring output of the season against Northern Colorado, Portland State is still averaging 88.8 points per game - the most of any team in the Big Sky Conference. The Vikings have 99 or more points in five games this season. The scoring can be attributed to good shooting, an up-tempo pace, and an ability to force opponent turnovers.
• The Vikings shot .530 or better in six of their wins. They shot .435 and .484 in wins at San Francisco and Portland.
• Portland State shoots .502 from the field overall and has failed to score at least 70 points only twice this season.
• PSU is forcing 16.5 turnovers per game while making 10.6 steals per game.
• PSU posted the most points in 38 years with a 118-59 win over Walla Walla (12/22), posting a school-record 21 three-point field goals. 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.
• The Vikings shot .655 from the field in a 113-81 win over George Fox (11/17) and .571 in a win over UTRGV (12/3), including 13-22 from three-point range.
• 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.
 
BURN POINTS: Portland State had an amazing 51 points off turnovers (or burn points) against North Dakota (12/29). That continued a season-long trend of burning opponents for their mistakes. The Vikings have scored 287 burn points this season (22.1 per game) to 166 for the opponents (12.7). Ironically, that +9.6 margin of difference is pretty close to PSU's scoring margin for the season (+9.8).
 
DOUBLE-DIGIT DYNAMICS: Portland State currently has five players averaging in double figures this season: JR F Braxton Tucker (16.8), SR G Calaen Robinson (15.1), SR F De'Sean Parsons (12.7), JR G Bryce Canda (11.2) and JR G Deontae North (10.8).
• JR C Traylin Farris (9.8) is nearly at 10 points as well.
• PSU has had at least five players score in double figures in nine of 13 games this season.
• Portland State has had 63 double-figure scoring games this season, an average of 4.8 players per game.
 
BIG SKY CONFERENCE LEADERS: Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 88.8 points per game
• Field Goal Percentage, .502
• Assists, 18.4 per game
• Steals, 10.6 per game
• Scoring margin, +9.8
• Turnover margin, +5.0
• Assist-to-turnover ratio, 1.6 (238/150)
• SR G Zach Gengler leads in assist-to-turnover ratio, 3.0 (39/13)
 
VIKINGS IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS (top 30):
• Portland State ranks 5th in steals per game, 10.6
• Portland State ranks 9th in assist-to-turnover ratio, 1.59
• Portland State ranks 10th in scoring, 88.2 per game
• Portland State ranks 11th in assists per game, 18.3
• Portland State ranks 12th in field goal percentage, .502
• Portland State ranks 14th in turnover margin, +5.0
• SR G Calaen Robinson ranks 10th in steals, 2.69 per game
• SR G Zach Gengler ranks 28th in assist-to-turnover ratio, 3.0 (39/13)
 
MR. ROBINSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD: SR G Calaen Robinson has upped his play this season. He ranks second on the team in scoring at 15.1 points and first in assists (3.9) and steals (2.7).
• Robinson ranks second in the Big Sky with 2.7 steals per game and ranks 10th in the nation.
• He ranks 11th in scoring, eighth in three-pointers made (2.6) and seventh in assists in the Big Sky Conference.
• Scored in double figures in 11 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).
• Named Big Sky Player of the Week by College Sports Madness on Dec. 19.
• Had 18 points (7-12 FG, 4-8 3-pt), seven assists and a career-high six steals in a win over North Dakota (12/29).
 
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 12.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists and has a team-leading 12 blocked shots. Those numbers are up from 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists last year.
• Parsons has scored in double figures in nine games with one 20-point game.
• He ranks 15th in scoring, ninth in field goal percentage 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).
• Posted 14 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots in the win at San Francisco (12/16).
• Scored 15 points (6-9 FG, 2-2 3-pt, 1-4 FT) with five rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in the win at Portland (12/20).
• Posted 16 points (7-11 FG, 2-3 3-pt) and seven rebounds in the win over North Dakota (12/29).
• Had 16 points (7-15 FG, 2-5 3-pt), seven rebounds, four steals and three assists against Northern Colorado (12/31).
 
THE FARRIS WHEEL: JR C Traylin Farris has moved into the starting lineup due to JR F Braxton Tucker being unable to play. He averages 9.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in 20 minutes per game.
• Shooting .613 from the field to rank fourth 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).
 
NORTH-ERN EXPOSURE: JR G Deontae North is picking up the pace as the season progresses. After a slow start, North has averaged over 16 points and five rebounds in the last eight games.
• He is the leading scorer off the bench with 11.2 points and 4.4 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).
• Scored 18 points (7-9 FG, 4-6 3-pt) in 14 minutes of a win over Walla Walla (12/22).
 
CANDA CAN-DO: Newcomer JR G Bryce Canda has stepped into the starting lineup as a combo guard and been very productive. Canda is averaging 10.8 points, a team-high 5.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
• He ranks 27th in the Big Sky in scoring, 19th in rebounding and eighth in steals (1.5).
• Has scored in double figures in nine games.
• 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).
• Scored 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-7 3-pt) with a season-high 11 rebounds in the win at Portland (12/20).
• Made a season-high 19 points (7-8 FG, 5-6 3-pt) in 15 minutes in a win over Walla Walla (12/22).
 
GENGLER'S GAMES: SR G Zach Gengler is the most experienced player on the Viking team, having played in 96 career games. He is on pace to finish in the top five in career games played at PSU.
• Gengler is averaging career-highs of 8.8 points and 3.0 assists per game. He is shooting .543 from the field, .500 from three-point range and .867 at the line.
• Ranks eighth in field goal percentage, fourth in three-point percentage in the Big Sky Conference.
• Scored in double figures eight times this season.
• In his 96 career games, Gengler has only 74 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).
• Posted 14 points (6-11 FG, 2-4 3-pt), five assists and four steals in the win over North Dakota (12/29).
 
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 through the first five games of this season, Tucker has not played due to knee soreness.
• 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.
 
BEST OFF THE BENCH: Here are the Vikings top performances from players coming off the bench this season:
• SR G Khari Holloway scored 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).
• JR G Deontae North had 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in the win at Portland (12/20).
• SR G Khari Holloway had career-highs of 14 points (5-9 FG, 2-4 3-pt, 2-4 FT) and six assists in the win over Walla Walla (12/22).
• JR G Deontae North scored 18 points (7-9 FG, 4-6 3-pt) in 14 minutes against Walla Walla (12/22).
• JR G Deontae North had 14 points (5-10 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 1-3 FT), five rebounds and three assists in the win over North Dakota (12/29).
 
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). 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.
• SR G Calaen Robinson was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 19 by College Sports Madness.
• The Vikings stretched their winning streak to three with a 77-75 win at Portland (12/20), ending a five-game losing streak to the Pilots. Six Vikings scored in double figures. SR G Calaen Robinson hit a go-ahead three-point field goal with 19 seconds left (75-72) on an assist from SR G Zach Gengler. Gengler then made a steal and hit two free throws in the closing seconds to ice the game.
• Portland State set a school-record, hitting 21-39 three-pointers in a 118-59 win over Walla Walla (12/22). The Vikings shot 45-77 (.584) for the game. They reached 100 points with over 10 minutes remaining in the game and scored the most points in 38 years. JR G Bryce Canda led the Vikings with 19 points (7-8 FG, 5-6 3-pt) in 15 minutes.
• PSU extended its winning streak to five games - the longest in eight years - with a 99-62 victory over North Dakota (12/29). The Vikings shot .565 from the field, had 19 steals, and scored 51 points off 26 UND turnovers. Seven players scored in double figures, led by SR G Calaen Robinson with 18 points (7-12 FG, 4-8 3-pt), seven assists and a career-high six steals.