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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (10-3) vs. SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS (3-10)
Saturday, December 30, 2017, 7:05 p.m. • Hornet's Nest (1,012), Sacramento, CA
Live Video and Audio: www.WatchBigSky.com, www.Pluto.tv (channel 232)
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
An unprecedented non-conference performance by the Portland State Basketball team has set up great expectations for the upcoming Big Sky Conference schedule. Can the Vikings maintain their momentum and become one of the top Big Sky teams of 2017-18?
           
The answers begin to be revealed this week as Portland State (10-3 overall) opens its league schedule at Sacramento State (3-10 overall) on Saturday. It will be the first of three straight on the road and five of the first seven Big Sky games away from home for PSU. That wouldn't seem too daunting to the Vikings, who compiled a 5-1 road record in non-conference games against some talented competition. But wins on the road in the Big Sky Conference, with its challenging travel schedule, are always hard to come by.
           
The Vikings come off their best non-conference performance ever at 10-3 (.769). PSU has never had a better record entering league play in 22 seasons as a member of the Big Sky Conference. Included were three wins over West Coast Conference teams (all on the road), and two over Pac-12 teams (also away from home). Going into the game with the Hornets, the Vikings have won two straight and six of their last seven. Remarkably, the Vikings' five road wins already match last year's road win total (5-13).
           
PSU has averaged 111.0 points in its last two wins. The Vikings currently rank third in the nation in scoring (93.6), first in steals (12.9), first in turnovers forced (23.0), second in turnover margin (+9.8), seventh in assists (19.5) and 11th in three-point field goals made (11.2).  The Vikings have garnered attention locally and nationally. Portland State was ranked 25th in last week's collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. The Vikings are the highest-ranked Big Sky Conference team.
           
PSU's 10-3 record has only been matched once previously in school history (2008-09), and a Viking team has never been 11-3. First-year Head Coach Barret Peery's squad will try to change that at the Hornet's Nest on Saturday.
           
Sacramento State's record is the inverse of Portland State's, but the Hornets are 3-1 at home. And, they beat the Vikings last year in the Nest, 80-77, in overtime. It will also be a contrast of styles as the Vikings' frenetic full-court game (93.6 ppg, first in the Big Sky) doesn't jibe with the Hornets' half-court attack (64.6 ppg, last in the Big Sky).
           
Saturday's game tips off at 7:05 p.m. at the Hornet's Nest in Sacramento.  A live video stream is available at www.WatchBigSky.com and www.pluto.tv. 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 Sacramento State is the sixth in that stretch and the fifth road game. PSU is 4-1 in the first five games. 
           
Looking ahead, the Vikings will play at Eastern Washington (Jan. 4) and Idaho (Jan. 6). Portland State's first Big Sky Conference home game is Jan. 11 (Montana State).
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. SACRAMENTO STATE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series, 29-16, and the Big Sky Conference series, 28-15... the Hornets lead 11-10 in Big Sky games played in the Hornet's Nest, including last year's 80-77 overtime win... PSU won the meeting in Portland, 83-76, as the teams split the season series... Portland State has won more games at Sacramento State (10) than any other road venue in 21 previous seasons in the Big Sky Conference.
• LAST SEASON, Jan. 7 at the Stott Center, PSU 83, SAC 76: In the first 31 minutes of the game neither team led by more than four points before the Vikings put on a 19-4 run to take control of the game. PSU shot .528 from the field and had five players in double figures. Traylin Farris led the way with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Bryce Canda and Deontae North each scored 15 points. Justin Strings had a game-high 25 for the Hornets. Jan. 28 at the Hornet's Nest, SAC 80, PSU 77 (ot): The Vikings led 67-58 with 2:52 to play but did not score the remainder of regulation. The Hornets made 5-7 field goals and 3-4 free throws in overtime as the Vikings were only 4-13/2-3. Calaen Robinson had 23 points and eight rebounds for the Vikings. Eric Stuteville scored 17 to lead the Hornets.
• COMMON OPPONENTS: Portland State and Sacramento State had one common opponent in non-conference play: Portland. The Vikings won 80-75 in the season-opener at the Chiles Center. The Hornets lost to Portland by the same score, 80-75.
• 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 Hornet are coached by Brian Katz in his 10th season. He has a 107-175 record overall. Katz is 7-12 all-time against the Vikings.
 
SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS
• Sacramento State entered the Big Sky Conference the same season as Portland State, 1996-97, and is in its 22nd year as a member. The Hornets have yet to win a Big Sky title.
• The Hornets were 13-18 last season, 9-9 and 7th in the Big Sky Conference. Three starters and eight letterwinners return from that team, including second-team All-Big Sky Conference forward Justin Strings.
• Sacramento State scores 64.6 points per game and allows 71.8 points.
• Senior forward Justin Strings leads the Hornets in scoring (16.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.9 rpg). He ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in rebounds.
• Junior guard Jordan Tolbert averages 10.2 points per game and leads the Big Sky Conference in three-point percentage (.533).
• Sophomore forward Joshua Patton is tied with the Vikings' Ryan Edwards for the Big Sky Conference lead in blocked shots (2.0 pg) while averaging 9.9 points an 5.2 rebounds. 
 
VIKINGS TURN IN BEST NON-CONFERENCE PERFORMANCE… EVER
Upon his hiring to be the new head basketball coach at Portland State last April, Barret Peery made a simple and definitive statement about what he wanted his program to be.
           
"Our commitment is this: We want to give the best product we can possibly give. We want to have a great presence in the city of Portland. We want to give our fans a team that they can put their arms around, follow them, love them and care about them. We want to give a team that will be easy to cheer for," Peery said at the opening press conference.
           
Now two months into the 2017-18 season, with the non-conference schedule complete, Peery's team is living up to that commitment.
           
The latest example was a 106-81 drubbing of the California Golden Bears last week in Berkeley. The Vikings led wire-to-wire, and by 20+ points most of the way. The win was not stunning based on previous results, but the efficiency and effectiveness were. It was the latest in what has been a brilliant opening campaign for Peery and his Viking squad.
 
• Portland State went 10-3 in non-conference play, matching its best 13-game record ever, and establishing its best non-conference record ever since joining the Big Sky in 1996-97. The previous best winning percentage prior to Big Sky Conference play was .700 (7-3, 1998-99 and 2008-09). This season, the Vikings are 4-0 at home, 5-1 on the road, and went 1-2 in the PK80 Invitational. Five road wins already matches last year's road win total (5-13).
• PSU has winning records against four other conferences: 3-0 vs. the West Coast, 2-1 vs. the Pac-12, 1-0 vs. the Mountain West and 1-0 against the Big West. 
• The Vikings rank third in the nation in scoring (93.6), first in steals (12.9), second in turnover margin (+9.8), seventh in assists (19.5) and 11th in three-point field goals made (11.2). PSU leads the nation in turnovers forced (23.0).
• Portland State's full-court trapping defense has forced eight opponents to commit 21 or more turnovers. The Vikings average 27.9 points per game off opponent turnovers. 
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky in scoring (93.6), scoring margin (+15.9), blocked shots (4.5), assists (19.5), steals (12.9), turnover margin (+9.8), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5), offensive rebounds (14.4) and three-point field goals (11.2). 
• SR F Brandon Hollins leads the Big Sky Conference in field goal percentage (.627), FR G Holland Woods leads in assists (6.0) and SR C Ryan Edwards leads in blocked shots (2.0). Edwards tied the Portland State record for blocks in a game against Cal (7), while Woods had 13 assists, the third-most in school history. 
• Three different players earned Big Sky Conference Player of the Week in the first five weeks of play this season: SR G Bryce Canda, SR G Deontae North and FR G Holland Woods. North (20.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.1 apg) and Canda (18.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.4 spg) have led the team throughout non-conference play. 
• Even the losses have raised some eyebrows. The Vikings led top-ranked Duke (12-1) for more than 20 minutes of the game and as late as 14:51 to go in the second half before losing 99-81. The Vikings lost to Butler (10-3) of the Big East Conference, 71-69, missing a three-pointer to win at the buzzer. The Viking were within two points at Oregon (10-3) in the late-going before falling 95-84.
 
PORTLAND STATE IN THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE 
• Portland State is in its 22nd season of Big Sky Conference play. PSU won the 2004-05 and 2007-08 Big Sky Conference regular season titles. The Vikings have had eight winning records in conference play and earned 14 Big Sky Tournament berths in 18 seasons eligible, winning the 2008 and 2009 Big Sky Conference Tournament titles. 
• Portland State was picked to place eighth in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, ninth in the Big Sky Media Poll (polls listed on page 9 of this release).
• The 18-game Big Sky Conference schedule is unbalanced due to the 12-team membership. Due to the unbalanced schedule Portland State will not host Southern Utah or Northern Arizona, and will not travel to Northern Colorado and North Dakota.
• This marks the third year in Big Sky history in which all 12 teams will qualify for the post-season tournament. It also marks the third time that the tournament will be hosted at a neutral site; Reno, NV. The tournament takes place on Mar. 6-10 with the top four teams earning first-round byes into the quarterfinals. The tournament will move to Boise, ID in 2018-19.
• The Vikings are 11-12 all-time in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 10-3 this season, 4-0 at home, 5-1 on the road, 1-2 at neutral sites.
• PSU's 13-game mark of 10-3 matches its best in 22 seasons as a member of the Big Sky Conference (also 10-3 in 2008-09). PSU has never been 11-3.
• Portland State has won two in a row and six of the last seven games.
• The Vikings have won six straight at home dating to last season. 
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 175-188 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (11-12). 
• PSU is 116-58 in home games, 54-122 in road games and 5-9 in neutral-site games.
 
WHO IS HOT
• The Viking defense: PSU makes 12.9 steals per game, which leads the nation. PSU has made 18 or more steals in five games this season... the +9.8 turnover margin ranks second in the nation. Opponents have had 21 or more turnovers eight times.
• The Viking offense... in the last two games, the Vikings have scored 116 and 106 points... Portland State averages 93.6 points per game, best in the Big Sky and third 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. He has scored 20 or more in the last four games, averaging 25.0 points per game... he now ranks second in the Big Sky in scoring (20.3).
• SR G Bryce Canda scored a career-high 31 points at Oregon... Canda followed that with a near triple-double against Linfield, scoring 17 points with 11 rebounds and nine assists... then had 23 points at Cal... he has averaged 23.7 points over the last three games.
• FR G Holland Woods handed out a career-high 13 assists at Cal. It was the third-most assists in Portland State school history and his first career double-double (12 pts, 13 ast)... 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 and had 10 assists at Oregon... Woods had 10 points, four assists and four steals against Linfield... he has averaged 9.0 assists in the last three games and leads the Big Sky in assists (6.0) for the season.
• 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... he followed that by tieing a Portland State record with seven blocked shots at Cal in just 14 minutes.
• SR F Brandon Hollins made 6-6 field goals for 12 points in the win at Cal... he has made 19-23 shots over the last five games (.826) and now leads the Big Sky with a .627 field goal percentage.
 
WHO IS NOT
• The Vikings' training room. SR F Traylin Farris has now missed seven games this season due to an ankle sprain. He is expected to return against Sacramento State. SO F Brendan Rumel, who played in eight games, is likely out for the season due to a hip injury. 
• PSU has been out-rebounded in eight of the last 10 games (but still gone 7-3). 
• The Vikings' committed 28 fouls allowing Cal to shoot 41 free throws... PSU averages 23.3 fouls per game, among the most in the nation.
 
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), 12-game (9-3) and 13-game (10-3) 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 13-game marks in the Big Sky.
 
Year               W-L     Next Game
2017-18         10-3    ?
2008-09         10-3    L, 10-4
1998-99         9-4      W, 10-4
2006-07         9-4      L, 9-5
 
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 (non-conference records do not count Big Sky Tournament or NCAA Tournament games).
 
Year              W-L     Pct.     Finish
2017-18         10-3    .769    ?
2008-09         10-4    .714    23-10
1998-99         7-3      .700    17-11
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
 
FIRST-YEAR COACHING RECORDS: New Portland State Head Coach Barret Peery has gotten off to a great start on the Park Blocks, compiling a 10-3 record in the preseason. Below is a look at the best coaching records for first-year head coaches in Portland State history, ranked by winning percentage. The next-best first-year coaching record at the Division I level is Joel Sobotka in 1998-99 (17-11).
 
Year               Coach            W-L
2017-18         Barret Peery   10-3
1947-48         Joe Holland    14-5
1998-99         Joel Sobotka . 17-11
1948-49         Arba Ager        14-12
1946-47         John Jenkins    11-10
1972-73         Ken Edwards  12-12
2005-06         Ken Bone        12-16
2009-10         Tyler Geving    13-19
1996-97         Ritchie McKay   9-17
1953-54         Sharkey Nelson  8-17
1965-66         Marion Pericin     6-19
1978-79         Glen Kinney        6-21
2002-03         Heath Schroyer   5-22
 
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 12.9 steals per game to lead the nation.
• PSU ranks second in the nation in turnover margin (+9.8).
• Portland State has 18 or more steals in five games this season.
• Six Vikings rank in the top 14 in steals in the Big Sky Conference.
• The Vikings force 23.0 turnovers per game to lead the nation.
 
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: 299 for 363 points (27.9 per game)
  • Fast break points: 210 (16.1 per game)
  • Offensive rebounds: 187 for 188 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 18.1 points and leads the team in rebounding (6.8), steals (2.5), and three-point field goals (36). 
• Canda ranks fourth 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 in the win at Loyola Marymount.
• Scored 23 points with five rebounds, four assists and three steals in the win at Cal.
• Canda has led the team in scoring seven times and rebounding six times... he has four double-doubles.
• Has scored in double figures in 12 games, with five 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 4.3 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 six 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 (30.9), averages 11.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and a team-leading 6.0 assists. 
• Woods leads the Big Sky in assists and ranks fourth in steals (2.1).
• Woods has eight double-figure scoring games and two 20-point games.
• Has led the team in assists nine times with a season-high 13 at Cal... has three double-figure assist games.
• 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 (9.9) while coming off the bench. 
• Mayhew ranks second on the Vikings in three-point field goals (31) 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 six 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 7.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and a Big Sky Conference-leading 2.0 blocks per game.
• Has four double-figure scoring games.
• His seven blocked shots in only 14 minutes at Cal tied a school record.
 
FARRIS WHEEL: SR F Traylin Farris has been bothered by an ankle sprain, missing seven 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 7.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 20 minutes per game.
• Shoots .627 from the field to lead the Big Sky Conference. 
• Has five double-figure scoring games and one double-double... has led the team in rebounding four times.
• Scored a season-high 14 points (4-5 FG, 6-6 FT) at Loyola Marymount.
• Made 6-6 field goals for 12 points in the win at Cal. 
 
BRAXTON IS BACK!: It seems like such a little thing; SR F Braxton Tucker's line at California. He had one point and one rebound in 11 minutes of play. Nothing special. Except it was. It marked the first time in 39 games and just the sixth time in the last 81 Portland State games that Tucker has been healthy enough to play. He had a solid sophomore season in 2014-15, but went down with a knee injury late in the year. Tucker missed all of 2015-16, then played only the first five games of 2016-17 (averaging 16.8 points and 5.4 rebounds) before sitting down with a bad knee again. After missing the first 12 games of this season, Tucker was cleared to play. And play he did.
 
BIG SKY LEADERS: The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 93.6
• Scoring Margin, +15.9
• Steals, 12.9
• Assists, 19.5
• Blocked Shots, 4.5
• Turnover Margin, +9.8
• Assist-to-Turnover Ratio, 1.5
• Offensive Rebounds, 14.4
• 3-pt FG Made, 11.2
• Assists, Holland Woods, 6.0
• Brandon Hollins, Field Goal Percentage, .627
• Ryan Edwards, Blocked Shots, 2.0
  
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 14 Vikings that have played have made a three-pointer. Only JR G Derek Brown (0-0), SR F Braxton Tucker (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 60 double-figure scorers through 13 games (4.6 per game)... nine players are averaging 5.7 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)... PSU was 2-1 against the Pac-12 (W - Stanford, W - Cal, L - Oregon)... the Vikings are also 1-0 against the Big West and 1-0 against the Mountain West... that makes them 7-1 against teams from other Division I basketball conferences in the west.
• QUICK STATS: JR G Deante Strickland ranks sixth in the Big Sky Conference in three-point percentage (.463)... JR F Jamie Orme has 25 points and 12 rebounds in the past two games, playing a total of 40 minutes... Portland State has scored 81 or more points in 12 of 13 games this season.