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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (8-3) vs. LINFIELD WILDCATS (7-2)
Saturday, December 16, 2017, 1 p.m. • Lewis and Clark College (2,300), Portland, OR
Live Video and Audio: www.WatchBigSky.com, www.Pluto.tv (channel 232) • Play-by-Play: Teri Mariani
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
Portland State will make a brief stop at its home away from home for a Saturday game against Linfield College. The Vikings will be playing their only home game - albeit at Lewis and Clark College - in the span of 40 days when they meet the Wildcats in a non-conference game that tips off at 1 p.m.
           
PSU comes off a Wednesday night loss at Oregon, 95-84, but maintains an 8-3 record so far - matching the best 11-game record the program has had while a member of the Big Sky Conference (also 8-3 on 1998-99 and 2008-09). The Vikings are 3-0 in home games this season (two played at LC and one at Memorial Coliseum), 4-1 in road games and 1-2 in neutral site games.
           
Linfield, an NCAA III member, has a 7-2 record this season, but will be counting Saturday's game as an exhibition on its schedule.
           
The Vikings put in a game effort against the Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena. They lead 35-32 late in the first half before a cold shooting stretch got the Ducks to an 11-point halftime lead. PSU rallied back from a 14-point second half deficit to get within two on three occasions, but couldn't quite get over the hump. Oregon pulled away in the final two minutes. Though down a couple of players due to injuries, PSU's trapping defense forced Oregon into a season-high 18 turnovers which it converted to 29 points. SR G Bryce Canda scored 26 of his career-high 31 points in that second-half charge. SR G Deontae North added 23 points. 
           
Despite that loss and the end of a four-game winning streak, the Vikings have garnered attention locally and nationally. Portland State was ranked 24th in this week's collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. The Vikings are the highest-ranked Big Sky Conference team.
           
Linfield will be the final non-conference home opponent for PSU. The Vikings have a string of five straight home wins and have won 31 straight games against lower division opponents.
           
A live stream is available of Saturday's game at www.WatchBigSky.com and www.Pluto.tv (channel 232). Live stats are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
COMING UP
The Vikings are in the midst of playing seven of eight games on the road, leading into the first two weeks of Big Sky Conference play. The game with Linfield is the fourth in that stretch and the only home game.  PSU is 2-1 in the first three games. Looking ahead the Vikings have a final non-conference game on Dec. 21 game at California. Big Sky Conference play begins at Sacramento State (Dec. 30), followed by games at Eastern Washington (Jan. 4) and Idaho (Jan. 6).
           
Portland State does not play a Big Sky Conference home game until Jan. 11 (Montana State).
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. LINFIELD
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series 13-11. The Vikings have a 4-0 advantage since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97. All four games were played at Portland State... the last meeting between the schools was Nov. 21, 2011 - a 101-64 Viking win.
• PORTLAND STATE vs. LOWER DIVISION PROGRAMS: Portland State has won 31 straight games against lower division schools dating back to 2002. The Vikings are 43-1 against lower division schools in 22 seasons as a member of the Big Sky Conference and Division I (1996-2017).
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery is in his first season on the Park Blocks. His only other head coaching experience is at the junior college level where he was 178-30 in six seasons (2005-08, College of Southern Idaho;  2011-14, Indian Hills (IA) CC)... the Wildcats are coached by Shanan Rosenberg, who is in his fifth season at Linfield. He has a 42-66 record.
 
LINFIELD WILDCATS
• Linfield is an NCAA III member of the Northwest Conference, located in McMinnville, OR. 
• The Wildcats are 7-2 this season.
• Linfield averages 73.8 points per game and gives up 70.3. The Wildcats shoot .471 from the field, .361 from three-point range and .696 at the free throw line.
• Jordan Clark is the team leader at 12.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. He shoots .589 from the field and .862 at the line.
• Riley Bruil averages 12.0 points, Liam O'Reilly is at 10.7 points, and Dempsey Roggenbuck averages 9.9 points per game. Bruil shoots .561 from the field, has made 24-44 threes (.545) and shoots .833 at the line.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 8-3 this season, 3-0 at home, 4-1 on the road, 1-2 at neutral sites.
• PSU's 11-game mark of 8-3 matches its best in 22 seasons as a member of the Big Sky Conference (also 8-3 on 1998-99 and 2008-09). PSU also went 9-3 after 12 games each of those seasons.
• The Vikings have won five straight at home dating to last season. 
• The Vikings were 15-16 in 2016-17, 10-3 at home, 4-12 on the road, 1-1 at neutral sites. 
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 - 2 games, 2-0
  - 22 seasons - 282 games, 202-80 at home overall 
• Portland State has lost only eight non-conference home games in the last 11 seasons (48-8). PSU is 26-8 against Division I schools, and 22-0 against lower division schools over that span.
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 115-39 at home, including 65-32 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
 
WHO IS HOT
• The Viking defense: PSU makes 12.3 steals per game, which ranks second in the nation. PSU made 20 steals in the win at Loyola Marymount and has 18 or more in four games this season... the +9.1 turnover margin also ranks second in the nation.
• The Viking offense. Portland State averages 90.5 points per game, best in the Big Sky and ninth in the nation... the last time PSU averaged more was 91.0 points during the 1976-77 season.
• SR G Bryce Canda scored a career-high 31 points on Wednesday at Oregon. He scored 26 of those points in the second half, making 5-7 three-point field goals. His previous career high was 20, set three times this season.
• FR G Holland Woods played his two best games of the season last week on the road. At Loyola Marymount, he scored a season-high 20 points, with four assists, three steals and three rebounds. Woods made 6-9 field goals and 8-9 free throws. He followed that with another career-high of 26 points (10-12 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 3-3 FT), seven assists and four rebounds at Santa Clara. For the week, he averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals as was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. He shot 16-21 from the field (.761) and 11-12 at the line (.917)... Woods leads the Big Sky Conference in assists (5.5)... on Wednesday, Woods matched his career high with 10 assists at Oregon.
• SR G Deontae North matched his career high with 30 points at Santa Clara. North scored 25 in the second half, making 7-7 field goals and 11-16 free throws after halftime as the Vikings came from 17 points down to win... North followed that with a 23-point game at Oregon.
• SR F Brandon Hollins has started the last three games in place of SR F Traylin Farris. Hollins has produced with 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He has made 13-17 field goals (.765) and 9-10 at the free throw line (.900)... Hollins leads the Big Sky Conference in field goal shooting (.610).
 
WHO IS NOT
• The Vikings' training room. SR F Traylin Farris missed his fifth game of the season at Oregon due to an ankle sprain. SO F Brendan Rumel has missed the last two games (hip), and is out indefinitely. SR F Braxton Tucker has yet to play this season (knee). None are expected to play this week.
• PSU has been out-rebounded in seven of the last eight games (but still gone 5-3). 
• The Vikings' .378 team shooting percentage at Oregon was its second-lowest of the season.
 
BEST RECORDS: Portland State has matched its best 11-game start in 22 seasons as a member of the Big Sky Conference and Division I. PSU did not have a program from 1981-1996. Prior to that, the Vikings played as a Division I independent during the 1970s. A look at PSU's best 10-game marks in the Big Sky.
 
Season          W-L     Next Game
2017-18         8-3      ?
2008-09         8-3      W, 9-3
1998-99         8-3      W, 9-3
2006-07         7-4      W, 8-4
 
GRAND LARCENY: Portland State has broken the school record in steals in each of the last two seasons (2015-16 - 263/8.5 pg; 2016-17 - 307/9.9 pg). This year, the Vikings appear on pace to do it again. 
• The Vikings average 12.3 steals per game, ranking second in the nation.
• PSU leads the nation in turnover margin (+9.1).
• Portland State has 18 or more steals in four games this season.
• Five Vikings rank in the top 15 in steals in the Big Sky Conference.
• The Vikings force 22.4 turnovers per game.
 
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 and the points they produce:
  • Turnovers forced: 246 for 290 points (26.4 per game)
  • Fast break points: 148 (13.4 per game)
  • Offensive rebounds: 156 for 156 second chance points (14.2 per game)
 
CANDA CAN-DO: A second-year starter for the Vikings, SR G Bryce Canda does it all for the Vikings. He averages 17.7 points and leads the team in rebounding (6.6), steals (2.6), and three-point field goals (29). 
• Canda ranks sixth in scoring, second in steals and sixth in rebounding in the Big Sky Conference.
• Canda scored a career-high 31 points at Oregon, including 26 in the second half.
• He grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds at Loyola Marymount.
• Canda has led the team in scoring six times and rebounding five times... he has three double-doubles.
• Has scored in double figures in 10 games, with four 20-point games and one 30-point game.
• He was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on Nov. 21 after averaging 17.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.3 assists in three Viking wins. 
 
POINTING NORTH: SR G Deontae North is having a brilliant season for the Vikings. North leads the team in scoring (19.7) while averaging 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
• Ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in scoring.
• North has scored 13 or more points in every game this season... he has four 20-point games and a 30-point game.
• North has led the team in scoring five times and assists twice.
• He had 24 points (8-13 FG, 4-5 3-pt, 4-4 FT) and four assists against top-ranked Duke in just 20 minutes of play. 
• Tied his career high with 30 points (9-14 FG, 1-4 3-pt, 11-16) in a win at Santa Clara, including 25 in the second half on 7-7 FGs and 11-16 FTs.
• Scored 23 points with six rebounds and two assists at Oregon.
 
DUTCH BRO: FR G Holland "Boo Boo" Woods has had a big impact in his first season as a Viking. After coming off the bench for nine games, he has moved into the starting lineup. He ranks second in minutes played (30.9), averages 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and a team-leading 5.5 assists. 
• Woods leads the Big Sky in assists and ranks fourth in steals (2.0).
• Woods has six double-figure scoring games and two 20-point games.
• Has led the team in assists eight times with a season-high 10 against Portland Bible and Oregon.
• Posted back-to-back career-high scoring games against Loyola Marymount (20 pts, 6-9 FG, 8-9 FT), then Santa Clara (26 pts, 10-12 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 3-3 FT).
• Named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 12 following LMU, Santa Clara wins after averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals. Shot 16-21 from the field (.761) and 11-12 at the line (.917).
 
BE LIKE MIKE: JR G Michael Mayhew has been a pleasant surprise for the Vikings this season. After scoring only 34 points all of last season, he now ranks as the Vikings fourth-leading scorer (9.5) while coming off the bench. 
• Mayhew ranks second on the Vikings in three-point field goals (23) and averages 1.7 steals per game... he made a career-high five steals in the win over Stanford.
• He has twice set a career-high with 17 points in a game.  
• Scored in double figures five times.
 
THE AIR UP THERE: SR C Ryan Edwards has stepped in for his only season at Portland State to become a starter in the middle. He now holds the distinction as being the tallest Viking in history (7-1).  
• Edwards averages 6.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game... has three double-figure scoring games.
• Leads the team with 17 blocked shots and ranks second in the Big Sky Conference (1.7)... had a season-high four blocked shots in the win over Stanford.
 
FARRIS WHEEL: SR F Traylin Farris has been bothered by an ankle sprain, missing five games. However, he continues to be productive when he plays, averaging 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game.
• Had a double-double in the season-opening win at Portland: 11 points, 12 rebounds, four assists.
• Shoots .594 from the field to rank third in the Big Sky Conference.
 
INSPECTOR GADGET: SR F Brandon Hollins is a versatile piece of the Viking puzzle as a defender, part-time starter and full-time energy guy. Hollins averages 7.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 21 minutes per game.
• Shoots .610 from the field to lead the Big Sky Conference. 
• Has four double-figure scoring games and one double-double... has led the team in rebounding three times.
• Scored a season-high 14 points (4-5 FG, 6-6 FT) at Loyola Marymount.
• Averaging 12.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and shooting 13-17 from the field and 9-10 at the line in the last three games.
 
LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD: Portland native JR G Deante Strickland has joined the Vikings this season and become a key three-point shooting threat. He averages 5.8 points and 3.3 assists in 18 minutes per game.
• Shoots .457 from three-point range to rank seventh in the Big Sky.
• Strickland has three double-figure scoring games... has led the team in assists three times.
• Ranks eighth in the Big Sky in assists.
• Led the team with eight rebounds and 11 assists against Portland Bible.
 
OTHER TASTY TIDBITS
• TRIPLE THE FUN: Portland State is averaging 10.5 three-point field goals made per game. The Vikings have never averaged as many as 10 in a season. The school record is 9.6 per game set in 2008-09... 10 of the 12 Vikings that have played have made a three-pointer. Only SR F Traylin Farris (0-0) and SO F Brendan Rumel (0-1) have yet to make a shot from behind the arc.
• IT'S A TEAM GAME: Portland State has had a total of 48 double-figure scorers through 11 games (4.4 per game)... seven players are averaging 7.0 points or more and four average in double figures... nine players are averaging 15 or more minutes... nine different players have made starts... only SR G Bryce Canda has started every game.
• WEST COAST DOMINANCE: Portland State went 3-0 against its three West Coast Conference opponents this season (Portland, Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara). The Vikings were 3-1 against the WCC last year (W - Pepperdine, San Francisco, Portland, L - Loyola Marymount).
• ADD ONE TO THE LIST: JR G Derek Brown became eligible on Dec. 13 and is now on the active roster.
• PORTLAND STATE'S BEST NON-CONFERENCE RECORDS - BIG SKY ERA: Season-to-season, the quality, competition and number of games in the non-conference schedule varies, but here is a look at PSU's best non-conference records since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97.
 
Year             W-L     Pct.     Finish
2017-18        8-3      .727    ?
1998-99        7-3      .700    17-11
2008-09        10-5    .667    23-10
1999-00        8-4      .667    15-14
2006-07        9-5      .643    19-13
2010-11        9-5      .643    14-16
2016-17        7-4      .636    15-16
2004-05        8-5      .615    19-9
 
BIG SKY LEADERS: The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 90.5
• Scoring Margin, +12.5
• Steals, 12.3
• Assists, 17.6
• Turnover Margin, +9.1
• Assist-to-Turnover Ratio, 1.3
• Offensive Rebounds, 14.2
• 3-pt FG Made, 10.5
• Field Goal Percentage, Brandon Hollins, .610
• Assists, Holland Woods, 5.5