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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (9-3) vs. CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (5-6)
Thursday, December 21, 2017, 8 p.m. • Haas Pavilion (11,858), Berkeley, CA
Television: Pac-12 Network
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
The pre-Christmas Wish List for Viking basketball fans has something new on it this season: 10 wins. Much like Santa on Sunday night, Viking fans will see if the Portland State basketball team can deliver.
           
The Vikings (9-3) play the Cal Bears in Berkeley Thursday in their final non-conference game with a chance to get to 10 wins, something PSU has never done before Christmas in its basketball history. Portland State's previous best pre-Christmas records are 9-4 (2006-07) and 9-3 (2008-09). In addition, PSU's best non-conference win total in its 22-season Big Sky Conference history is 10, as in 10-5 in 2008-09. Very simply, a win on Thursday would give PSU its best non-conference winning percentage ever (.769). Consider that possibility a stocking stuffer.
           
Getting that 10th win will be no easy task as the Vikings take on another Pac-12 opponent on the road. The Cal Bears are 5-6 going into a Tuesday game at Seattle University. They have the advantage of being a power-conference member of playing at home when they meet the Vikings. It will be just the second meeting between the two schools, and the first in 20 years. PSU will be playing its third Pac-12 opponent of the preseason. The Vikings have a win over Stanford (87-78) and a loss at Oregon (95-84).
           
Portland State comes off a 116-71 win over Division III Linfield College on Saturday. The Vikings were playing their only home game in a span of 40 days that includes seven road games. The Vikings have won three of the first four in that run, beating Loyola Marymount and Santa Clara on the road, then losing to Oregon last Wednesday in Eugene.
           
The Vikings are 4-0 in home games this season, 4-1 in road games and 1-2 in neutral site games. They have garnered attention locally and nationally. Portland State was ranked 24th in last week's collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. The Vikings are the highest-ranked Big Sky Conference team.
           
Thursday's game will be the sixth televised game of the season for Portland State. Tip-off is 8 p.m. at Haas Pavilion and the game will air on the Pac-12 Network.  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 at Cal is the fifth in that stretch and the fourth road game. PSU is 3-1 in the first four games. 
           
Looking ahead, the Vikings will begin Big Sky Conference play 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. CALIFORNIA
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Cal leads the all-time series 1-0. The only meeting between the schools came on Dec. 18, 1997, a 74-61 win by the Golden Bears.
• PORTLAND STATE vs. THE PAC-12 CONFERENCE: Portland State is just 6-52 all-time against current members of the Pac-12 Conference. The Vikings are 1-1 this season with an 87-78 win over Stanford in the PK80 Invitational, and a 95-84 loss at Oregon... PSU has wins over Oregon (2), Arizona State (2), USC (1) and Stanford (1) - all coming within the past 20 seasons.
• COMMON OPPONENTS: Portland State and Cal have one common opponent this season; UC Riverside. The Golden Bears lost their season opener to the Highlanders, 74-66. The Vikings beat UCR, 94-82, on Nov. 18.
• 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 Golden Bears are coached by Wyking Jones, who is also in his first season. Jones had been a Cal assistant coach the past two seasons.
 
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS
• Cal, a member of the Pac-12 Conference, is located in Berkeley. The Golden Bears were 21-13 last season under Cuonzo Martin. They went 10-8 in the Pac-12 and tied for fifth place.
• This season the Golden Bears are 5-6 overall, with a 4-3 home record. They play at Seattle University on Tuesday, prior to facing the Vikings.
• Cal averages 75.1 points per game and allows 79.6 per game. The Golden Bears have proven to have a strong inside game, out-rebounding opponents by nearly three per contest. They have also blocked 67 shots behind 6-11 senior forward Marcus Lee (27) and 7-1 senior center Kingsley Okoroh (26).
• The Bears are led by junior guard Don Coleman, who averages 21.1 points per game. Freshman guard Darius McNeill averages 13.1 points, 3.0 assists, and has made nearly half of the team's three-point field goals (26-53, .491).
• Lee averages 12.0 points and a team-leading 8.0 rebounds while shooting .565 from the field. Freshman forward Justice Sueing also scores in double-figures at 11.3 points per game and leads the team with 20 steals.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 9-3 this season, 4-0 at home, 4-1 on the road, 1-2 at neutral sites.
• PSU's 12-game mark of 9-3 matches its best in 22 seasons as a member of the Big Sky Conference (also 9-3 on 1998-99 and 2008-09). PSU has only been 10-3 once (2008-09).
• The Vikings have won six 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. 
 
WHO IS HOT
• The Viking defense: PSU makes 13.0 steals per game, which leads the nation. PSU has made 18 or more steals in five games this season... the +9.3 turnover margin ranks second in the nation.
• The Viking offense. Portland State averages 92.6 points per game, best in the Big Sky and fourth in the nation... the only time PSU has averaged more was 99.2 points during the 1970-71 season.
• 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, then 27 points and five steals against Linfield... he has averaged 26.7 points in his last three games and now ranks second in the Big Sky in scoring (20.3).
• 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... Canda followed that with a near triple-double against Linfield, scoring 17 points with 11 rebounds and nine assists.
• FR G Holland Woods scored a career-high of 26 points (10-12 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 3-3 FT), with seven assists and four rebounds at Santa Clara... he followed that with a career high with 10 assists at Oregon... Woods had 10 points, four assists and four steals against Linfield... he leads the Big Sky in assists (5.4).
• SR C Ryan Edwards put up season highs of 19 points (7-9 FG, 1-1 3-pt, 4-5 FT), eight rebounds in 22 minutes against Linfield.
 
WHO IS NOT
• The Vikings' training room. SR F Traylin Farris has now missed six games this season due to an ankle sprain. He is doubtful for this week's game at Cal. SO F Brendan Rumel, who played in eight games, is likely out for the season due to a hip injury. SR F Braxton Tucker has yet to play this season (knee). His return is unknown.
• PSU has been out-rebounded in seven of the last nine games (but still gone 6-3). 
• The Vikings' .378 team shooting percentage at Oregon was its second-lowest of the season... PSU bounced back with a .513 shooting effort against Linfield.
 
BEST RECORDS: Portland State has matched its best four-game (4-0), five-game (4-1), nine-game (7-2), 10-game (8-2), 11-game (8-3) and 12-game (9-3) records 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 12-game marks in the Big Sky.
 
Year               W-L     Next Game
2017-18         9-3      ?
2008-09         9-3      W, 10-3
1998-99         9-3      L, 9-4
2006-07         8-4      W, 9-4
 
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         9-3      .750    ?
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
 
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 13.0 steals per game to lead the nation.
• PSU ranks second in the nation in turnover margin (+9.3).
• Portland State has 18 or more steals in five games this season.
• Six Vikings rank in the top 15 in steals in the Big Sky Conference.
• The Vikings force 22.8 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: 273 for 323 points (26.9 per game)
  • Fast break points: 184 (15.3 per game)
  • Offensive rebounds: 173 for 174 second chance points (14.5 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 (7.0), steals (2.4), and three-point field goals (33). 
• Canda ranks sixth in scoring, second in steals and third 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 six times... he has four double-doubles.
• Has scored in double figures in 11 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 (20.3) while averaging 4.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
• Ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in scoring.
• North has scored 13 or more points in every game this season... he has five 20-point games and a 30-point game.
• North has led the team in scoring six 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 (30.6), averages 11.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and a team-leading 5.4 assists. 
• Woods leads the Big Sky in assists and ranks fourth in steals (2.2).
• Woods has seven 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 (26) and averages 1.8 steals per game (sixth in the Big Sky)... 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 7.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game... has four double-figure scoring games.
• Leads the team with 17 blocked shots and ranks second in the Big Sky Conference (1.5)... 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 six 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.
 
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 7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 20 minutes per game.
• Shoots .590 from the field to rank second in 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.
 
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 6.2 points and 3.3 assists in 18 minutes per game.
• Shoots .463 from three-point range to rank ninth in the Big Sky.
• Strickland has four double-figure scoring games... has led the team in assists three times.
• Ranks seventh in the Big Sky in assists.
• Led the team with eight rebounds and 11 assists against Portland Bible.
 
BIG SKY LEADERS: The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 92.6
• Scoring Margin, +15.2
• Steals, 13.0
• Assists, 18.9
• Turnover Margin, +9.3
• Assist-to-Turnover Ratio, 1.4
• Offensive Rebounds, 14.4
• 3-pt FG Made, 11.2
• Assists, Holland Woods, 5.4
 
OTHER TASTY TIDBITS
• TRIPLE THE FUN: Portland State is averaging 11.2 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 13 Vikings that have played have made a three-pointer. Only JR G Derek Brown (0-0), SR F Traylin Farris (0-0) and SO F Brendan Rumel (0-1) have yet to make a shot from behind the arc... PSU's 41 three-point attempts against Linfield were a school record (previous 39). The 18 three-pointers made came up just short of the record (21).
• IT'S A TEAM GAME: Portland State has had a total of 54 double-figure scorers through 12 games (4.5 per game)... nine players are averaging 6.0 points or more and three average in double figures... nine players are averaging 16 or more minutes... 10 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)... at 1-1 against the Pac-12, the Vikings have a chance for a winning record against that conference as well if they can beat Cal.
• ADD ONE TO THE LIST: JR G Derek Brown became eligible on Dec. 13 and is now on the active roster.
 
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 took its first loss, dropping to 4-1.
• Nov. 24, Butler 71, PSU 69: Portland State took it to the final shot, but couldn't pull off a come-from-behind win. The Vikings trailed the majority of the game, though never by double digits. Down by seven with 1:19 to play they pulled within two, but a late three-point attempt fell short. SR G Deontae North had a team-high 18 points and four assists. JR G Michael Mayhew had 17 points and SR G Bryce Canda added 14 points and six rebounds. PSU made 12 three-pointers, but the Bulldogs had the advantage in the paint, out-scoring PSU down low, 44-20.
• Nov. 26, PSU 87, Stanford 78: Portland State came from 12 points down to run away with a win in the 7th place game of the PK80 Invitational Motion Bracket. The Vikings forced Stanford into 28 turnovers, converting them into 40 points. A 31-8 second-half run proved decisive. SR G Deontae North led the Vikings with 22 points and seven rebounds.
• Nov. 28, North Named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week: In three games over Thanksgiving weekend at the PK80 Invitational, SR G Deontae North averaged 21.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals. North shot 18-43 from the field (.419), 7-16 from three-point range (.438) and 21-26 at the free throw line (.808). North had 24 points against Duke, then scored a team-high 22 points with seven rebounds and three steals in win over Stanford.
• Dec. 2, PSU 125, Portland Bible 50: Portland State established new school records for margin of victory (75), steals (27) and dunks (13) in a game. PSU also scored the most points since Feb. 3, 1978 (133). The Vikings shot .570 from the field, forced 38 turnovers and turned them into 52 points. SR G Bryce Canda led six Vikings in double figures with 20 points. JR G Deante Strickland (11) and FR G Holland Woods (10) combined for 21 assists.
• Dec. 6, PSU 94, Loyola Marymount 85: The pressure continued as the Vikings forced Loyola Marymount into 33 turnovers and made 20 steals. PSU led the entire game on the way to its third straight victory. SR G Bryce Canda tied his career high with 20 points and set a new career high with 13 rebounds. FR G Holland Woods also had a career-high 20 points, four assists and three steals. JR F Jamie Orme came off the bench for nine points, six rebounds, six steals and three blocked shots. At 7-2, PSU matched its best nine-game record in 22 seasons in the Big Sky.
• Dec. 9, PSU 87, Santa Clara 84: Portland State came from 17 points down with 14:51 to play to win the game on the road. The Vikings shot 20-24 from the field in the second half (.833), including making their last 16 shots in a row. They didn't take the lead until a three-pointer by Michael Mayhew with 56 seconds remaining. SR G Deontae North (30 pts) and FR G Holland Woods (26 pts) each posted career highs. North is 7-7 from the field in the second half and Woods is 6-6. It marked the fourth straight win for the Vikings and improved them to 4-0 on the road.
• Dec. 12, Woods Named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week: FR G Holland Woods had his two best games of the season as the Vikings picked up a pair of road victories. "Boo Boo" posted back-to-back career-scoring highs with 20 points in a 94-85 win at Loyola Marymount, then 26 points in an 87-84 win at Santa Clara on Saturday.For the week, he averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals. He shot 16-21 from the field (.761) and 11-12 at the line (.917).
• Dec. 13, Oregon 95, PSU 84: Oregon out-shot the Vikings .500 to .378 from the field and that proved to be the difference as Portland State got 10 more shots up than the Ducks. PSU last led 35-32 with five minutes to play in the first half, but went into a shooting slump. Trailing by 14 in the second half, the Vikings cut it to two points on three occasions, but couldn't get over the hump. SR G Bryce Canda scored a career-high 31 points and SR G Deontae North added 23 points. FR G Holland Woods handed out 10 assists. The loss ends a four-game Viking winning streak.
• Dec. 16, PSU 116, Linfield 71: Portland State rang up 69 second half points to pull away from Linfield and record another blowout win against a lower division school. SR G Deontae North scored 27 points while SR G Bryce Canda had a near-triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. PSU made 18 three-pointers and forced 27 Wildcat turnovers to pad their victory. PSU is now 4-0 at home and has won six straight at home overall.