---

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (3-0) vs. UTAH STATE AGGIES (2-2)
Monday, November 20, 2017, 7 p.m. • Memorial Coliseum (12,000), Portland, OR
Live Streaming Video and Audio: Pluto TV Channel 232 (www.pluto.tv), www.WatchBigSky.com •    Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

---

THE OPENING TIP
Portland State (3-0) will take its perfect record up against Utah State (2-2) of the Mountain West Conference as it begins a week filled with high-level basketball. The Vikings will play four games in seven days with at least one against a nationally-ranked program. 
           
It all starts on Monday night when PSU hosts Utah State in the first meeting between the schools in nearly 37 years. The game will be played at Memorial Coliseum in downtown Portland.
           
The Utah State game marks the first time that Portland State has used Memorial Coliseum as its home court since Mar. 5, 2005 - a Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinal game against Weber State. PSU is 19-9 when using the Coliseum as its home court in 21 previous seasons at Division I and as a member of The Big Sky Conference. Memorial Coliseum was also an occasional home court for Portland State basketball during the 1970s.
           
The Vikings picked up their second road win of the season on Saturday with a 94-82 victory at UC Riverside. It was another high-paced frenetic contest that is quickly becoming PSU's style. There were 47 turnovers and 56 fouls in all as the Vikings set the tone with their full-court pressure. Although it was a grind the whole way, the Vikings never allowed the Highlanders to get closer than seven points in the second half. SR G Bryce Canda led five Vikings in double figures scoring 20 points. 
           
After two weekends of play, the Vikings are the only remaining undefeated team in the Big Sky Conference.
           
Utah State comes to Portland with a 2-2 record. The Aggie have wins over Montana State and Mississippi Valley State, and losses to Weber State and 17th-ranked Gonzaga.
           
The Vikings' game with UC Riverside began a stretch of five games in nine days. After Utah State, the Vikings play in the PK80 Tournament Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The opener in that big event? Top-ranked Duke on Thanksgiving Day.
           
Monday's game tips off at 7 p.m. A live video and audio stream is available at WatchBigSky.com or Pluto.tv (channel 232). Live statistics are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
COMING UP
The Vikings take part in the PK80 Tournament at the Rose Quarter beginning this Thursday. 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.  Among possible opponents are Ohio State, Stanford, Florida or Gonzaga.
           
Portland State's next home game is Dec. 2 against Portland Bible at Lewis and Clark College.
 
HOME AWAY FROM HOME IN 2017-18
Portland State has a temporary home for 2017-18 - Lewis and Clark College's Pamplin Sports Center - as the Vikings await completion of their new $51-million Viking Pavilion for the 2018-19 season. The Vikings will have 13 home games in 2017-18 (which includes one at Memorial Coliseum). With the opener at Portland's Chiles Center, and three games in the PK80 Tournament at the Rose Quarter over Thanksgiving weekend, Portland State will play 17 of 30 regular season games in the city of Portland.
           
Portland State has four home games, six road games and three neutral site games during the non-conference schedule. However, eight of the 13 non-conference games will be played within the city of Portland. 
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. UTAH STATE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Utah State leads the all-time series with the Vikings, 3-1. However, the teams have not met since Jan. 10, 1981 - a 93-85 PSU victory. The other three games, played between 1976-79, were all Utah State wins. PSU is 1-1 at home against Utah State with both previous games played on the PSU campus. 
• PORTLAND STATE vs. THE MOUNTAIN WEST: Utah State is the only Mountain West Conference opponent for the Vikings this season. PSU is 21-53 all-time against current members of the Mountain West.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery is in his first season on the Park Blocks... Aggies Head Coach Tim Duryea is in his third season at Utah State. He has a 32-34 career record and has never faced Portland State.
 
UTAH STATE AGGIES
• Utah State is located in Logan, UT and is a member of the Mountain West Conference. 
• The Aggies were 14-17 last season, 7-11 and tied for eighth in the Mountain West Conference. 
• USU is 2-2 on the season with wins over Montana State and Mississippi Valley State. The Aggies have lost to Weber State and 17th-ranked Gonzaga.
• The Aggies shoot a solid .400 from three-point range, making 9.5 per game. 
• JR G DeAngelo Isby has made 10-18 three-pointers (.556) and leads the team in scoring at 14.8 points per game. He is also 15-15 at the free throw line.
• SO G Koby McEwen is averaging 13.3 points and SO G Sam Merrill averages 10.8 points and 4.5 assists per game. Merrill had 19 points and six assists against 17th-ranked Gonzaga.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 3-0 this season, 1-0 at home, 2-0 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 95.0 points per game, with five players averaging double figures.
• The Viking defense. Portland State has forced 70 turnovers in three games, converting them into 79 points. The Vikings made a school-record 22 steals against Willamette.
• Portland State's bench. The Vikings had 33 points, 28 rebounds, eight assists and six steals from its bench players against UC Riverside.
• SR G Bryce Canda posted a career-high 20 points to go with 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals at UC Riverside. Canda leads the team with a 17.7 average and also has 12 steals in three games. 
• JR G Michael Mayhew scored a career-high 13 points, all in the first half, at UC Riverside as the Vikings built a 47-36 lead.
 
WHO IS NOT
• Portland State is 36-70 at the free throw line this season (.514).
• The Vikings commited a season-high 24 turnovers at 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 three games:
  • Offensive rebounds: 62 for 55 second chance points (18.3 per game)
  • Turnovers forced: 70 for 79 points (26.3 per game)
  • Fast break points: 47 (15.7 per game)
 
LEADERS OF THE PACK: Portland State's seniors have stepped up with strong play right out of the blocks. 
• SR G Bryce Canda leads the Vikings in scoring (17.7) and steals (12) while averaging 7.7 rebounds. He had a career-high 20 points at UC Riverside... Canda made a career-high six steals against Willamette... Canda leads the Big Sky in steals (4.0 per game).
• SR G Deontae North is averaging 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. 
• 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 8.0 points and 8.7 rebounds in 20 minutes per game off the bench. He grabbed a career-high 14 caroms against Willamette.
 
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, averaging 10.7 points while making 8-12 three-point field goals (.667)... Strickland leads the Big Sky in three-point percentage.
• SR C Ryan Edwards starts in the middle, is averaging 12.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and has made four blocked shots.
• FR G Holland Woods is averaging 29 minutes, 10.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists off the bench... Woods leads the Big Sky in assists.
• JR F Jamie Orme has played a total of 28 minutes in two games (missing one with injury), getting four points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots.
 
IT'S A TEAM GAME: Portland State has had a total of 17 double-figure scorers through three games (5.7 per game)... five players are averaging in double figures and seven are averaging eight or more... nine players are averaging 14 or more minutes.
 
BIG SKY LEADERS: Portland State is the only undefeated team in the Big Sky Conference. They are lead the Big Sky in:
• Scoring, 95.0
• Scoring Margin, 22.7
• 3-pt FG Percentage, .413
• Assists, 18.0
• Steals, 13.3
• Turnover Margin, +6.33
• Offensive Rebounds, 20.3
• 3-pt FG Made, 11.3
 
VIKINGS VS. NATIONALLY-RANKED PROGRAMS: Portland State will play nationally-ranked Duke on Thursday - the first time PSU has ever played a number-one team. PSU seldom plays ranked teams tucked away in the northwest and members of the mid-major Big Sky Conference. PSU may play other ranked teams at PK80 (or later in the season).
• 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, PSU 80, Portland 75: Portland State scored the final 12 points of the game to pull out a come-form-behind 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, PSU 111, Willamette 60: The Vikings set a school record with 22 steals in a 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.
• Nov. 18, PSU 94, UC Riverside 82: Portland State improved to 3-0 with a road at UC Riverside. The Vikings led for nearly 34 minutes, and UCR never got closer than seven points in the second half. SR G Bryce Canda scored a career-high 20 points to lead five Vikings in double figures. JR G Michael Mayhew scored a career-high 13 points off the bench. The Vikings forced 23 Highlander turnovers for 20 points. PSU is now 2-0 on the road.