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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (4-1) vs. BUTLER BULLDOGS (3-2)
PK80 Invitational Presented by State Farm
Friday, November 24, 2017, Noon • Moda Center (19,373), Portland, OR
Television: ESPNU • Play-by-play: Dan Shulman • Analyst: Jay Bilas
Live Stats: www.statbroadcast.com/events/tournament.php?tid=689
Complete notes and stats in PDF

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THE OPENING TIP
Portland State will have to regroup quickly as it prepares for a second-round game in the Motion Bracket of the PK80 Invitational on Friday. The Vikings (4-1) will take on the Butler Bulldogs (3-2) of the Big East Conference in a first-ever meeting between the programs. In fact, Portland State has never before played a member of the Big East.
           
The Vikings battled top-ranked Duke well on Thursday, leading at halftime and five minutes into the second half, before losing 99-81. That leaves PSU at 4-1 on the season with another matchup against a powerful program.
           
Deontae North scored a season-high 24 points for the Vikings against Duke. Bryce Canda added 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. But the Blue Devils out-shot, out-rebounded and got to the free throw line far more often than the Vikings as they took the lead for good with under 14 minutes to play.
           
PSU's Friday game will be in the Moda Center, tipping off at noon. It will be televised on ESPNU.
           
Portland State is taking part in the 16-team PK80 Invitational over the course of Thanksgiving weekend. The Vikings final game will be a Sunday contest against one of four teams - Florida, Stanford, Gonzaga or Ohio State - at either the Coliseum or Moda Center at a time to be determined. 
           
Besides Duke, other nationally-ranked programs taking part in PK80's two tournament brackets include fourth-ranked Michigan State, seventh-ranked Florida, ninth-ranked North Carolina and 17th-ranked Gonzaga. Five members of last year's NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and three of the Final Four participants are included in the brackets. 
           
Portland State's game with Butler will be the fourth in a stretch of five games in nine days for the Vikings. So far, PSU won a road contest at UC Riverside (94-82) on Saturday, beat Utah State at the Coliseum on Monday (83-79), then lost to Duke (99-81) at the Coliseum on Thursday.
           
The Vikings game at Moda Center will be a neutral site game, but Portland State has used Moda Center as an occasional home court over the past 22 seasons. The last time was Mar. 12, 2008 when the Vikings hosted and won the Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship game. PSU is 19-9 all-time in Moda Center.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. BUTLER
• FIRST-YEAR COACHES: Portland State and Butler each feature first-year head coaches... Vikings Coach Barret Peery is in his first season on the Park Blocks and is 4-1... Bulldogs Head Coach LaVall Jordan is in his first year at Butler and is 3-2. His career record in two seasons is 14-26 (including one season at Milwaukee).
• A member of the Big East Conference, Butler was 25-9 last season, 12-6 and second in the Big East Conference.
• Butler is led by senior forward Kelan Martin (14.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and sophomore guard Kamar Baldwin (14.0 ppg). Freshman guard Aaron Thompson averages 4.0 assists per game.
 
POTENTIAL PK80 OPPONENTS FOR SUNDAY (prior to Thursday night games)
#7 Florida (3-0)
Conference: Southeastern • 2016-17 Record: 27-9 • Conference Record/Finish: 14-4/2nd • All-Time Series: 0-0
 
Stanford (3-2)
Conference: Pac-12 • 2016-17 Record: 14-17 • Conference Record/Finish: 6-12/9th • All-Time Series: Stanford leads 2-0
 
#17 Gonzaga (3-0)
Conference: West Coast • 2016-17 Record: 37-2 •Conference Record/Finish: 17-1/1st • All-Time Series: Gonzaga leads 19-7
 
Ohio State (4-0)
Conference: Big Ten • 2016-17 Record: 17-15 • Conference Record/Finish: 7-11/t10th • All-Time Series: Ohio State leads 1-0
 
VIKINGS vs. NATIONALLY-RANKED PROGRAMS
Portland State played 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 had never played a number-one ranked program but had twice played number two (Duke, 89-39 loss on Dec. 30, 1997; and UCLA, 69-48 loss on Nov. 9, 2007). 
• PSU had 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 18 ranked opponents, going 2-16. 
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 4-1 this season, 2-0 at home, 2-0 on the road, 0-1 at neutral sites.
• 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 - 19 games, 13-6
  - Lewis and Clark - 1 game, 1-0
  - 22 seasons - 281 games, 201-80 at home overall 
• Portland State has lost only eight non-conference home games in the last 11 seasons (47-8). PSU is 26-8 against Division I schools, and 21-0 against lower division schools over that span.
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 114-39 at home, including 65-32 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
 
WHO IS HOT
• The Vikings. Portland State is averaging 89.8 points per game.
• The Viking defense. Portland State has forced 102 turnovers in five games, converting them into 111 points. The Vikings made a school-record 22 steals against Willamette... entering the tournament Portland State was third in the nation in steals (11.0 per game).
• SR G Bryce Canda posted a career-high 20 points to go with 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals at UC Riverside. He followed that with 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists against Utah State. Canda leads the team in scoring (17.5), rebounding (8.0) and steals (3.3). He was also named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday... Canda followed that with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists against Duke.
• 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. He followed that game with another career-high in his first-ever start: 17 points, three assists and two steals in a win over Utah State.
• SR G Deontae North scored a season-high 24 points in 20 minutes against Duke. He made 8-13 shots, 4-5 three-pointers and 4-4 free throws.
 
WHO IS NOT
• Portland State is 69-116 at the free throw line this season (.595).
• The Vikings have been out-reboundedin their last two games.
• PSU has committed 135 fouls in five games (27.0). Opponents have shot 150 free throws to 116 for PSU.
 
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 four games:
  • Offensive rebounds: 87 for 87 second chance points (17.4 per game)
  • Turnovers forced: 102 for 111 points (22.2 per game)
  • Fast break points: 72 (14.4 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 averages 16.8 points while leading in rebounding (8.4) and steals (14)... 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 (3.3 per game) and was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week (11/21).
• SR G Deontae North is averaging 18.0 points, 3.50 rebounds and 3.8 assists... he had a season-high 24 points against Duke.
• SR F Traylin Farris had a double-double in his first game (11 points, 12 rebounds, career-high four assists)... he averages 7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and shoots .611 from the field.
• SR F Brandon Hollins is averaging 7.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 21 minutes per game off the bench... he grabbed a career-high 14 caroms against Willamette... Hollins is shooting .607 from the field (17-28) and has made both of his three-point attempts.
 
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 8.0 points while making 10-22 three-point field goals (.455)... Strickland had a season-high seven assists against Utah State.
• SR C Ryan Edwards starts in the middle, is averaging 9.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and has made six blocked shots.
• FR G Holland Woods is averaging 29 minutes, 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists off the bench... Woods leads the Big Sky in assists.
• JR F Jamie Orme has played a total of 51 minutes in three games (missing one with injury), getting 12 points, 17 rebounds and three blocked shots.
 
IT'S A TEAM GAME: Portland State has had a total of 24 double-figure scorers through three games (4.8 per game)... eight players are averaging 7.5 points or more... nine players are averaging 12.8 or more minutes.
 
BIG SKY LEADERS: The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 89.8
• Assists, 18.2
• Steals, 11.0
• Turnover Margin, +5.8
• Offensive Rebounds, 17.4
• 3-pt FG Made, 10.8
• Assist-to-Turnover Ratio, 1.2
 
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.
• Nov. 20, PSU 83, Utah State 79: Portland State started strong, building an 18-point first half lead. But Utah State roared back to lead briefly in the second half. The Vikings forced nine Aggie turnovers in the last eight minutes of the game. SR G Bryce Canda and JR G Michael Mayhew, making his first career start, each scored 17 points as five players were in double figures. The win improved PSU to 4-0, 2-0 at home.
• Nov. 21, Canda Named Big Sky Conference Player Of The Week: In three wins over seven days, Canda averaged 17.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.3 assists per game. He shot 21-41 from the field (.512) as the Vikings beat Willamette (111-60), UC Riverside (94-82) and Utah State (83-79). 
• Nov. 23, Duke 99, PSU 81: Portland State gave top-ranked Duke a great challenge in the opening game of the PK80 Invitational. The Vikings led 49-45 at halftime and as late as 14 minutes remaining in the game. But the Blue Devils out-shot, out-rebounded and used a huge disparity in free throws (42 attempts to 12 for PSU) to engineer the win. SR G Deontae North had a game-high 24 points for the Vikings. PSU takes its first loss, dropping to 4-1.