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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-0) vs. UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS (1-1)
Saturday, November 18, 2017, 4 p.m. • SRC Arena (2,750), Riverside, CA
Live Audio: www.gohighlanders.com (click on live coverage box)
Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/ucr/mbball/media/
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
You can't do any better than 2-0 after two games. So the Vikings will try to extend that to 3-0 after three when they take on UC Riverside this Saturday afternoon in southern California.
           
Portland State can look back with satisfaction over its first week of the season, but things get infinitely more difficult in the coming week. The Vikings' game with UC Riverside begins a stretch of five games in nine days. Monday night PSU will host Utah State at Memorial Coliseum. Then, the Vikings play in the PK80 Tournament Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The opener in that big event? Top-ranked Duke on Thanksgiving Day.
           
Right now though, the Vikings are focused on the Highlanders who have come out of the blocks at 1-1. UCR had an impressive win at Cal last weekend, but lost at Loyola Marymount on Wednesday night. 
           
Portland State will attempt to maintain its frenetic pace of the first two games. The Vikings' game of full-court trapping pressure has paid off. They have forced 47 turnovers for a total of 59 points in two games. PSU made a school-record 22 steals of Willamette on Tuesday night in a 111-60 victory. Seven Vikings scored in double figures and currently six average double figures.
           
Saturday's game at UC Riverside tips at 4 p.m. There is now live stream, but live audio and live stats are available at www.gohighlanders.com. 
 
COMING UP
The Vikings will host Utah State at Memorial Coliseum next Monday, then take part in the PK80 Tournament at the Rose Quarter, Nov. 23-26. PSU battles top-ranked Duke on Thanksgiving Day at the Coliseum. The Vikings then face either Butler or Texas on Friday at noon or 2:30 p.m. at Moda Center. Sunday's opponent, location and game time will be determined following Friday's game.  
           
The Utah State game marks the first time that Portland State has used Memorial Coliseum as a home court since Mar. 5, 2005 - a Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinal game against Weber State. 
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. UC RIVERSIDE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series with UC Riverside, 3-2, but are 0-2 in games played at Riverside. The most recent meeting was Dec. 6, 2014, an 88-62 Highlander win. 
• PORTLAND STATE vs. THE BIG WEST: UC Riverside is the only Big West opponents the Vikings will play this season. PSU is 26-35 all-time against current members of the Big West... last season PSU also played just one Big West opponent, a 106-100 double-overtime loss at Cal State Fullerton.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery is in his first season on the Park Blocks... Highlanders Head Coach Dennis Cutts is in his fifth season at UC Riverside. He has a 46-79 career record. Cutts is 1-0 all-time against Portland State.
 
UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS
• UC Riverside is a member of the Big West Conference.
• The Highlanders were 7-21 last season, 5-11 and eighth in the Big West. 
• UCR has four returning starters and nine returning letterwinners.
• The Highlanders opened the season with a big road win at California, 74-66. They lost on Wednesday at Loyola Marymount, 76-64.
• The leading scorer through two games is sophomore guard Dikymba Martin at 16.0 per game. He is also averaging 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Senior forward Alex Larsson is averaging 14.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Senior forward Brandon Rosser is averaging 14.0 points and 5.5 rebounds.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 2-0 this season, 1-0 at home, 1-0 on the road.
• The Vikings were 15-16 in 2016-17, 10-3 at home, 4-12 on the road, 1-1 at neutral sites. Portland State won five straight early in the season (Dec. 13-29), the longest winning streak in eight seasons. The Vikings' longest losing streak of 2016-17 was four games.
Home Court(s)
• With the addition of Lewis and Clark's Pamplin Sports Center as a home court in 2017-18, Portland State has now had four home courts in its 22-season existence in the Big Sky Conference and at Division I. Here is the breakdown: 
  - Peter W. Stott Center - 233 games, 168-65
  - Rose Garden (Moda Center) - 28 games, 19-9
  - Memorial Coliseum - 18 games, 12-6
  - Lewis and Clark - 1 game, 1-0
  - 22 seasons - 280 games, 200-80 at home overall 
• Portland State has lost only eight non-conference home games in the last 10 seasons (46-8). PSU is 25-8 against Division I schools, and 21-0 against lower division schools over that span.
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 113-39 at home, including 65-32 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
 
WHO IS HOT
• The Vikings. Portland State is averaging 95.5 points per game, with six players averaging double figures.
• Portland State starters. The Vikings' five starters made 31-48 shots from the field on Tuesday night, a .645 mark.
• The Viking defense. Portland State made a school-record 22 steals against Willamette and have 29 in two games.
• SR Gs Bryce Canda and Deontae North are each averaging 16.5 points to lead the Vikings. They also both shoot .500 from the field. 
• SR F Traylin Farris had a solid all-around game at Portland with 11 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. It was his third career double-double and a career high for helpers.
• SR F Brandon Hollins grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds to go with 12 points against Willamette.
 
WHO IS NOT
• Portland State has made only 20-41 free throws at Portland (.488).
• SR F Traylin Farris (ankle) and JR F Jamie Orme (groin) each sat out the game against Willamette. They are both expected to return against UC Riverside.
 
HUSTLE CHART: Portland State Head Coach Barret Peery has emphasized that his team's full-court pressure style of play will be about forcing turnovers, creating fast breaks and getting to the offensive glass. So far, mission accomplished. Here is a look at PSU's hustle chart through two games:
  • Offensive rebounds: 39 for 39 second chance points (19.5 per game)
  • Turnovers forced: 47 for 59 points (23.5 per game)
  • Fast break points: 42 (21.0 per game)
 
LEADERS OF THE PACK: Portland State's seniors have stepped up with strong play right out of the blocks. SR Gs Bryce Canda and Deontae North are leading the team with 16.5 scoring averages. SR F Traylin Farris had a double-double in his first game (11 points, 12 rebounds, career-high four assists). SR F Brandon Hollins is averaging 8.5 points and 9.0 rebounds. He grabbed a career-high 14 caroms against Willamette.
• Canda is also averaging 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game.
• North has pitched in 4.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
 
NEWCOMER NOTES: Portland State has had four new players play significant minutes, including two new starters, in 2017-18.
• JR G Deante Strickland has started at point guard and is averaging 10.0 points and 4.0 assists per game.
• FR G Holland Woods is averaging 27 minutes, 10.5 points and 4.0 assists off the bench.
• SR C Ryan Edwards has started both games and is averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots.
• JR F Jamie Orme played eight minutes at Portland, then sat out against Willamette (groin).
 
VIKINGS VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED PROGRAMS: Portland State will almost certainly play nationally-ranked opponents during the 2017-18 season. That is not always the case for the Vikings, tucked away in the northwest and members of the Big Sky Conference. PSU's Nov. 23 opponent, current number-one Duke, will be ranked. Other opponents at the PK80 Tournament have a possibility of being ranked as would be 2017 Final Four participant Oregon.
• Portland State has never played a number-one ranked program but has twice played number two (Duke, 89-39 loss on Dec. 30, 1997; and UCLA, 69-48 loss on Nov. 9, 2007). 
• PSU has not played a nationally-ranked foe since a Nov. 25, 2012 game at #20 Oklahoma State (81-58 loss). 
• PSU's last win over a ranked opponent was an 86-82 victory at #25 Portland on Dec. 2, 2009. 
• The biggest win was a 77-70 victory at #7 Gonzaga on Dec. 23, 2008. 
• Since reinstating basketball for the 1996-97 season, Portland State has played 17 ranked opponents, going 2-15. 
 
VIKINGS ON TELEVISION: Portland State is scheduled to have eight games televised in the Portland area this season, including three on the ESPN Networks as part of the PK80 Tournament over Thanksgiving weekend. It will be the most televised games since 11 were televised during the 2008-09 season. Included on this season's TV schedule are: Nov. 11 at Portland (NBCSNW), Nov. 23 vs. Duke (ESPN), Nov 24 and 26 (ESPN Networks, opponents TBA), Dec. 13 at Oregon (Pac-12), Dec. 21 at Cal (Pac-12), Jan. 6 at Idaho (Eleven Sports) and Feb. 24 at Northern Arizona (Fox College Sports Plus).
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
• Nov. 11: Portland State scored the final 12 points of the game to pull out a come-form-behind 80-75 win over Portland. The Vikings trailed 75-68 with 2:33 to go but forced two turnovers and four missed shots by the Pilots down the stretch. SR G Bryce Canda hit the big shot, a three-pointer with 34.3 seconds left, to give the Vikings a 78-75 lead. Canda led all scorers with 18 points. SR F Traylin Farris added 11 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high four assists.
• Nov. 14: The Vikings set a school record with 22 steals in a 111-60 win over Willamette. The Vikings forced 30 turnovers in all, turning them into 40 points. Seven players scored in double figures, led by SR G Deontae North's 19 points and seven assists. SR F Brandon Hollins had 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. SR G Bryce Canda added 15 points, nine rebounds and six steals.
 
2017-18 SEASON NOTES
 
HENDERSON SLATED TO REDSHIRT
            SO G Tyrell Henderson will redshirt the 2017-18 season. He played in a 11 games as a true freshman in 2016-17. 
 
VIKINGS SIGN SIX TO NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT
            Portland State Basketball Coach Barret Peery has signed six student-athletes to national letters of intent for the 2018-19 season.
            The early signing period provided the opportunity to add three guards and three big men to the Viking roster. They include local standouts Kyle Greeley (6-4, G, West Salem HS) and Filip Fullerton (6-9, F, Southridge HS). Another high school signee is Trey Wood (6-9, F, Anthem (AZ) HS) along with junior college transfers TJ Killings (5-11, G, Panola (TX) JC), Shamar Bailey (6-7, F, Hill (TX) College) and Juwan Williams (6-4, G, Panola (TX) CC).
            "I think we did a good job of filling our needs," Peery said. "We have a really good senior class with a lot of size in it, so size was definitely a priority for us looking to next season. But we were also able to get kids that fit us, our system, our culture and who we want to be."
            Portland State has six seniors on its current roster, four of whom are forwards or centers. 
 
PORTLAND STATE NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNEES
High School
Trey Wood, F, 6-9, 185, Anthem, AZ (Anthem HS)
Kyle Greeley, G, 6-4, 180, Salem, OR (West Salem HS)
Filip Fullerton, F, 6-9, 210, Hillsboro, OR (Southridge HS)
 
Junior College
TJ Killings, G, 5-11, 185, Bridgeport, CT (Harding HS/Panola (TX) JC)
Shamar Bailey, F, 6-7, 200, Toronto, Canada (Hill (TX) College)
Juwan Williams, G, 6-4, 200, Houston, TX (Fort Bend Travis HS/Weber State/Panola (TX) CC)
 
VIKING ONE-LINERS (and sometimes two)
• Head Coach Barret Peery retained two assistant coaches when he was hired last April. Peery has known Jase Coburn among the coaching ranks for a decade. Chris Skinkis was one of Peery's assistants at Indian Hills (IA) Community College (2011-14). Added later in the spring was assistant coach Kahil Fennell and director of basketball operations Ron Fudala.
• Portland State is in its 22nd season as a member of the Big Sky Conference and Division I. PSU played basketball from 1946-1981 before discontinuing the program. Basketball was reinstated for the 1996-97 season. Portland State won Big Sky Conference regular season titles in 2004-05 and 2007-08. The Vikings won Big Sky Conference Tournament titles in 2007-08 and 2008-09, advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
• Construction of the new The Viking Pavilion began in April 2016. The Pavilion will consist of an upgraded Stott Center facility, including a new arena for Viking basketball, a new practice gym, as well as athletic training enhancements, classrooms, academic upgrades and overall facility enhancements. The Viking Pavilion will more than double the capacity of PSU's home court (to be situated on the east side of the building) to approximately 3,000 seats. The arena will be completed in March 2018 with basketball beginning in November 2018. The Vikings will play home games at Lewis and Clark College in 2017-18. 
• PSU has three players that competed for other Division I schools: Deontae North (Long Beach State), Traylin Farris (Incarnate Word) and Ryan Edwards (Gonzaga).
• SR C Ryan Edwards, a 7-1 transfer from Gonzaga, becomes the tallest Viking basketball player ever.
• Former Viking Ime Udoka played seven seasons in the NBA. He started 75 games for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2006-07. Udoka is now an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, and won an NBA title with the team in 2013-14.
• Julius Thomas (2006-10), who holds Portland State records for games played (121), field goal percentage in a season and career (.671/.663), and career wins (78), was a two-time Pro Bowler for the NFL's Denver Broncos. Thomas played on two Big Sky Conference Championship/NCAA Tournament teams (2007-08, 2008-09) at PSU. He went on to play one season of football at PSU (2010). Thomas competed in Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014. Thomas signed a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015 making him the highest paid tight end in the NFL. He is now with the Miami Dolphins.
• Portland State's biggest star was Freeman Williams (1974-78), who still ranks as the second all-time leading scorer in college basketball history behind Pete Maravich. Williams, a Division I All-American in 1978, scored 3,249 points in his career.