complete notes and stats in pdf

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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (11-10, 4-6) vs.
IDAHO STATE BENGALS (6-17, 3-17)
Thursday, February 9, 2017, 7:05 p.m. • Peter W. Stott Center (1,500), Portland, OR
 
Live Streaming Video and Audio: www.GoViks.com/Live • Pregame Show: 6:45 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com

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THE OPENING TIP
Portland State begins the home stretch of the Big Sky Conference regular season with two games at home this week. It will be a welcome relief for the Vikings who have not played a home game since Jan. 21, and had five of the last seven games on the road.
     
The Vikings return to the Stott Center to face Idaho State for the first time this season. The game comes Thursday evening at 7:05 p.m. PSU carries with it a burdensome four-game losing streak, with two of losses coming in overtime. Eight games remain on the schedule, four at home and four on the road. Now 11-10 on the season and 4-6 in Big Sky play, Portland State seeks a late-season run that will get it at least back in the top five in the standings and a first-round bye in the Big Sky Tournament (Mar. 7-11). The Vikings are currently tied for seventh.
     
Portland State got remarkable play from a pair of Vikings last week. JR G Deontae North set career-scoring highs in back-to-back games with 29 points at Idaho, followed by 30 at Eastern Washington. SR F De'Sean Parsons pulled off the same feat with 23 points at Idaho and 35 at Eastern Washington. North made 10-16 three-pointers in the two games (.625), while Parsons hit 22-33 shots overall (.667), averaging 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals as well. Still, the Vikings took two losses (89-72 at Idaho, 130-124 in three overtimes at Eastern Washington).
     
Idaho State comes to town with a modest 6-17 record, 3-7 in the Big Sky. However, the Bengals swept a pair of games last week, averaging 92.5 points. ISU is now 10th in the 12-team Big Sky standings, but only one game behind the Vikings.
     
PSU must face one of the league's top point guards in Ethan Telfair. He averages 17.5 points, 5.0 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Last season, Telfair averaged 30.0 points and 8.0 assists in two Bengal wins over the Vikings.
     
Portland State has an 8-2 home record this season. Idaho State is 1-12 on the road. This will be the only meeting of the regular season between the teams in the Big Sky's unbalanced schedule.
     
The game will be live streamed at www.GoViks.com/Live. Live stats are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
COMING UP
Portland State hosts first-place Weber State (14-7/9-1) on Saturday night at the Stott Center in a game sponsored by Papa John's. It will be the only meeting in the conference schedule with the Wildcats. Next week includes a trip to Montana State (11-13/6-5) and Montana (11-13/6-5).
     
PSU's final home weekend is Feb. 23-25 when the Vikings play Southern Utah (4-20/2-9) and Northern Arizona (6-18/3-8). The regular season concludes with a trip to Northern Colorado (8-14/4-7, Mar. 2) and North Dakota (13-8/8-3, Mar. 4).
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. IDAHO STATE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Idaho State has had the advantage in recent seasons, winning the last three meetings with the Vikings, and five of the last six. However, Portland State holds the all-time advantage, 29-20, and the Big Sky series lead, 25-16... PSU is 15-5 against Idaho State in Portland.
• LAST SEASON: Ethan Telfair was the difference in both games as Idaho State swept the season series. Jan. 16, 2016 in Portland, ISU 73, PSU 70: Portland State struggled through a poor shooting night, making only 25-70 shots (.357). The Bengals hit 30-58 (.517). Ethan Telfair scored 25 points and handed off 11 assists for the Bengals who led almost the entire game. Five Vikings scored in double figures with 15 points each from Isaiah Pineiro and Armani Collins. Feb. 11, 2016 in Pocatello, ISU 88, PSU 71: Idaho State took charge early again leading almost the entire game. The Bengals outshot the Vikings, .561 to .397. Telfair went for 35 points and five assists to lead ISU.  Cameron Forte was the only Viking to get going with 26 points and 13 rebounds.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Tyler Geving (108-127/8th season) is 6-7 all-time against Idaho State... Bengals Head Coach Bill Evans (46-97/5th year) is 5-2 all-time against Portland State.
 
IDAHO STATE BENGALS
• Idaho State University, an original member of the Big Sky Conference, is located in Pocatello.
• The Bengals have won two Big Sky Conference regular season titles, two tournaments titles and made 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament in their history. ISU's last Big Sky tournament title came in 1987.
• The Bengals were 16-15 last season, 11-7 and fourth in the Big Sky Conference.
• This season, Idaho State is 6-17, 3-7 in the Big Sky. The Bengals rank last in the league in rebounding margin (-7.1)
• Senior guard Ethan Telfair leads the team in scoring (17.5), assists (5.0) and steals (2.3). He ranks second in the Big Sky in steals and third in assists.
• Freshman guard Brandon Boyd averages 12.0 points and has made a team-high 42 three-point field goals (.433).
• Junior guard Geno Luzcando averages 10.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals.
• 7-foot sophomore center Novak Topalovic averages a team-best 6.1 rebounds, has 28 blocked shots and shoots .603 from the field. He also averages 9.7 points.
 
COMING SOON: AN ALL NEW VIKING PAVILION
The Peter W. Stott Center will remain the home court for the Vikings in 2016-17 while major construction is underway on the eastern portion of the building. That development will become the new Viking Pavilion, a venue that will seat 3000+ for basketball. A completion date is scheduled for winter 2018. PSU will find an alternate home court for 2017-18 until the new Pavilion is opened.
    
So, enjoy the current Stott Center while you can - only four games remain. With construction underway on the new Viking Pavilion, the Stott's main gym is in its final season of use. In fact, the gym, the academic center, the training room, and the new weight room are almost all that is left of the current facility.
     
This season, the Stott Center will be using makeshift ticketing, concessions and restroom facilities. At the end of this season, the gym will be taken off-line and transformed with the remainder of the building into the new Viking Pavilion.
     
Meanwhile, Pardon Our Dust.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 11-10 this season, 7-2 at home, 4-8 on the road.
• The Vikings have lost a season-long four in a row and five of their last six.
• Portland State won five straight earlier this season (Dec. 13-29). It was the longest winning streak since winning six in a row late in the 2008-09 season.
Stott Stuff
• PSU has gone 165-64 in 229 games at the Stott Center since the 1996-97 season. Including home games at Memorial Coliseum (12-6) and the Rose Garden (19-9), the Vikings are 196-79 at home over 21 seasons.
• Portland State is 72-35 at home in eight seasons under Tyler Geving.
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 109-38 at home, including 62-31 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
• Portland State has lost only eight non-conference home games in the last 10 seasons (45-8). PSU is 25-8 against Division I schools, and 20-0 against lower division schools over that span.
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 171-182 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (10-11).
• PSU is 113-57 in home games, 54-118 in road games and 4-8 in neutral-site games.
 
WHO IS HOT?
• DOUBLE FIGURES/DOUBLE CAREER HIGH: JR G Deontae North has scored in double figures in 16 of the last 17 games. His only non-double-digit game was nine points. North scored a career-high 29 points (8-17 FG, 5-10 3-pt, 8-10 FT) in his first start of the season at Idaho. He followed that with another career-high of 30 points at Eastern Washington (10-20 FG, 5-6 3-pt, 5-10 FT). North leads the team in season scoring (14.2) - not counting injured Braxton Tucker - and Big Sky scoring (17.6).
• DOUBLE CAREER HIGH TIMES TWO: SR F De'Sean Parsons pulled off the same feat as Deontae North by posting back-to-back career-scoring highs. He scored a career-high 23 points (8-16 FG, 7-11 FT) at Idaho, grabbing a game-high nine rebounds as well. Then, Parsons went for 35 points (14-17 FG, 7-13 FT) at Eastern Washington.
• SHOOTING STAR: JR C Traylin Farris has shot 50% or better in each of his last 14 games. He shoots .612 from the field overall and ranks fourth in the Big Sky.
• JR C Traylin Farris has only 15 turnovers in 21 games and 457 minutes of play for the season.
• SR G Calaen Robinson has made at least one three-pointer in every game this season.
 
WHO IS NOT?
• The Vikings have a season-long four-game losing streak. They are now 0-3 in overtime games.
• PSU is shooting .586 from the free throw line in Big Sky Conference games. That has dropped the team's season percentage to .628. The Vikings rank last in free throw percentage and three-point shooting (.317) in Big Sky games.
• PSU has been outrebounded by 9.7 per game in its 10 losses.
• JR F Braxton Tucker has played in only five games due to knee issues. He had arthroscopy on his left knee on Jan. 5.
 
ABOUT ALL THOSE OVERTIMES AND POINTS: Despite all the questions, the answers are "no" to PSU's 130-124 triple overtime loss at Eastern Washington. Portland State HAS scored more points in a game (141) and Portland State HAS given up more points (141) - and both were regulation contests. And Portland State HAS played in a longer game. What Portland State has NEVER done is played a game with more TOTAL points. The 254 points scored were the most combined points in PSU history. Portland State had played in two games previously that totaled 243 points (a win and a loss)... Portland State has played in four triple-overtime games in its history, and one quadruple overtime game (a 92-91 win at Northern Arizona on Jan. 4, 2009).
 
MAGIC NUMBER 35: SR F De'Sean Parsons become the 18th different Viking player in history to score at least 35 points in a game with his performance at Eastern Washington. The feat has been accomplished 77 times with Freeman Williams doing it 41 times. Players have scored exactly 35 points on nine occasions. It is the eighth time in Portland State's Big Sky era that a player has scored 35 or more points.
 
TRENDING: With the season two-thirds complete, here is a look at some Viking trends.
• Portland State is 10-2 when scoring 80 or more points, 0-3 when scoring less than 70.
• The Vikings are 8-1 when leading at halftime, 1-7 when trailing, 2-2 when tied.
• PSU is 9-1 when shooting a higher percentage from the field than its opponents, 2-9 when being outshot.
 
BURN POINTS: Portland State had an amazing 51 points off turnovers (or burn points) against North Dakota (12/29). That continued a season-long trend of burning opponents for their mistakes. The Vikings have scored 433 burn points this season (20.6 per game) to 251 for the opponents (11.9). That is a margin of +8.7 points per game.
 
IT TAKES A THIEF: Portland State set a school record for steals last season with 263 in 31 games (8.48). With 213 steals already this year (10.2), the Vikings are on pace to break that mark again.
• The Vikings currently rank fourth in the nation in steals.
• PSU has had nine or more steals in 16 games this season.
• Three Vikings rank in the top eight in steals in the Big Sky: SR G Calaen Robinson, SR F De'Sean Parsons and SR G Zach Gengler.
• SR G Calaen Robinson leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks eighth in the nation in steals (2.67) and set a career- high with six against North Dakota (12/29).
• PSU had a season-high 19 steals in a win over North Dakota (12/29).
 
100 WATCH: Portland State has had a number of meetings with the number 100 this season. Here are the highlights:
• Coach Tyler Geving won his 100th career game on Dec. 3 against UTRGV. Geving has the second most career wins by a coach in PSU history (108).
• The Vikings have scored 100 or more points five times.
• SR G Zach Gengler played in his 100th career game on Jan. 19 against Montana. Gengler is on pace to finish his career among the top five in games played all-time at PSU. He has now played in 104 games.
• SR G Calaen Robinson passed 100 career steals (111).
 
BIG SKY CONFERENCE LEADERS: Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 86.7 points per game
• Assists, 16.5 per game
• Steals, 10.1 per game
• Turnover margin, +5.1
• Assist-to-turnover ratio, 1.4 (346/240)
• SR G Calaen Robinson leads in steals, 2.67
 
VIKINGS IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS (top 30):
• Portland State ranks 4th in steals per game, 10.1
• Portland State ranks 5th in turnover margin, +5.1
• Portland State ranks 10th in scoring, 86.7 per game
• Portland State ranks 15th in assist-to-turnover ratio, 1.44
• Portland State ranks 16th in turnovers forced, 16.6
• Portland State ranks 28th in field goal percentage, .485
• SR G Calaen Robinson ranks 8th in steals, 2.67 per game
 
NORTH-ERN EXPOSURE: JR G Deontae North has moved into the starting lineup and it paid off averaged 29.5 points in last week's two games. North has become the Vikings' top scoring threat. He averages 14.2 points per game for the season, 17.6 in Big Sky Conference games. 
• North has scored in double figures in 16 of the last 17 games and has four 20-point games.
• He ranks 13th in the Big Sky Conference in scoring.
• Posted a new career-high of 30 points (10-20 FG, 5-6 3-pt, 5-10 FT), six rebounds and three assists at Eastern Washington (2/4).
 
MR. ROBINSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD: SR G Calaen Robinson has upped his play this season. He averages 13.7 points and leads the team in assists (4.1) and steals (2.6).
• Robinson leads the Big Sky with 2.6 steals per game and ranks eighth in the nation.
• He ranks 16th in scoring, ninth in three-pointers made (2.3) and fifth in assists in the Big Sky Conference.
• Scored in double figures in 16 games with five 20-point games.
 
THE DE'SEAN PARSONS PROJECT: SR F De'Sean Parsons has moved into the starting lineup this season after finishing 2015-16 strong... he is averaging 13.9 points, a team-leading 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He has also blocked 15 shots. Those numbers are up from 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists last year.
• Parsons has scored in double figures in 15 games with three 20-point games. He also has four double-doubles.
• He ranks 15th in scoring, 10th in field goal percentage (.509), 10th in rebounding and seventh in steals in the Big Sky (1.4).
• Set a new career-high with 35 points (14-17 FG, 7-13 FT), six rebounds and three steals at Eastern Washington (2/4).
 
THE FARRIS WHEEL: JR C Traylin Farris moved into the starting lineup when JR F Braxton Tucker was unable to play due to injury. Farris averages 10.9 points and 5.7 rebounds in 23 minutes per game.
• Shooting .612 from the field to rank fourth in the Big Sky Conference. Also ranks 15th in rebounding and eighth in blocked shots (17).
• Has shot 50% or better from the field in 14 straight games.
 
CANDA CAN-DO: Newcomer JR G Bryce Canda has stepped into the starting lineup as a combo guard and been very productive. Canda is averaging 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
• Has scored in double figures in 12 games.
 
GENGLER'S GAMES: SR G Zach Gengler is the most experienced player on the Viking team, having played in 104 career games. He is on pace to finish in the top five in career games played at PSU.
• Gengler is averaging career-highs of 9.1 points and 2.6 assists per game. He is shooting .511 from the field, .451 from three-point range and .867 at the line.
• Ranks ninth in field goal percentage, seventh in three-point percentage and eighth in steals (1.4) in the Big Sky.
• Scored in double figures 11 times this season.
• In his 104 career games, Gengler has only 81 turnovers.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
• Despite the 106-100 double-overtime loss to Cal State Fullerton (11/13), the Vikings got career-high scoring performances from JR F Braxton Tucker (22 pts) and SR G Khari Holloway (13 pts).
• The Vikings won their first game of the season, a 113-81 decision over George Fox (11/17). The Vikings shot .655 from the field. JR F Braxton Tucker posted a career-high 24 points (8-10 FG, 8-11 FT) with 10 rebounds. SR G Calaen Robinson also had a career-high with 23 points (8-14 FG, 3-8 3-pt, 4-7 FT).
• JR F Brandon Hollins tied a PSU record by making 7-7 field goals in a game, scoring 18 points in the win over George Fox (11/17).
• Portland State forced 20 turnovers with 15 steals and shot .530 from the field in a 91-85 win at Pepperdine (11/27). SR G Calaen Robinson led the way with 22 points (8-14 FG, 4-8 3-pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, five assists and five steals. For the second time this season, six Vikings scored in double figures.
• The Vikings won their second game in a row in an 87-74 decision over UTRGV (12/3). PSU shot .571 from the field and .591 from three-point range (13-22). It was Head Coach Tyler Geving's 100th career win at Portland State. Five players were in double figures led by 20 points each from SR F De'Sean Parsons and SR G Calaen Robinson. Parsons added six rebounds, six assists, five steals and a blocked shot.
• SR F De'Sean Parsons was named College Sports Madness Big Sky Conference Player of the Week following the win over UTRGV (12/3). Parsons scored 20 points (8-14 FG, 1-1 3-pt 3-5 FT) with six rebounds, six assists, five steals and a block in the 87-74 win.
• JR G Deontae North posted 25 points (9-13 FG, 2-4 3-pt, 5-7 FT) with seven rebounds and four steals in 27 minutes at CSU Bakersfield (12/10).
• Portland State scored 100 points for the third time this season with a 110-79 victory over New Hope Christian (12/13). The Vikings shot .570 from the field and were led by the 26 points and 11 rebounds from JR C Traylin Farris, who established a new PSU record for field goal percentage in a game (12-13, .923) with at least 10 shot attempts.
• The Vikings picked up an 82-78 road win at San Francisco (12/16) to improve to 5-4 on the season. Although they shot only .435 from the field, a season-best 22-26 (.846) from the free throw line made the difference. SR G Calaen Robinson tied his career high with 23 points (7-11 FG, 5-7 3-pt, 4-4 FT). JR C Traylin Farris scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half as the Vikings came back from a 13-point deficit with 16:45 to play.
• SR G Calaen Robinson was named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on Dec. 19 by College Sports Madness.
• The Vikings stretched their winning streak to three with a 77-75 win at Portland (12/20), ending a five-game losing streak to the Pilots. Six Vikings scored in double figures. SR G Calaen Robinson hit a go-ahead three-point field goal with 19 seconds left (75-72) on an assist from SR G Zach Gengler. Gengler then made a steal and hit two free throws in the closing seconds to ice the game.
• Portland State set a school-record, hitting 21-39 three-pointers in a 118-59 win over Walla Walla (12/22). The Vikings shot 45-77 (.584) for the game. They reached 100 points with over 10 minutes remaining in the game and scored the most points in 38 years. JR G Bryce Canda led the Vikings with 19 points (7-8 FG, 5-6 3-pt) in 15 minutes.
• PSU extended its winning streak to five games - the longest in eight years - with a 99-62 victory over North Dakota (12/29). The Vikings shot .565 from the field, had 19 steals, and scored 51 points off 26 UND turnovers. Seven players scored in double figures, led by SR G Calaen Robinson with 18 points (7-12 FG, 4-8 3-pt), seven assists and a career-high six steals.
• JR C Traylin Farris scored 15 of his game-high 19 points in the second half as the Vikings pulled away for an 83-76 win over Sacramento State (1/7). Farris also grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds. Five Vikings scored in double figures as PSU shot .528 from the field. It was the sixth win in seven games.
• Portland State won its third straight road game with an 88-77 decision at Southern Utah (1/14). It was the seventh win in eight games and ninth in 11 games. Five Vikings scored in double figures, led by 16 from JR G Bryce Canda and SR G Zach Gengler. SR F De'Sean Parsons had a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
• The Vikings ended a four-game losing streak to Montana with an 88-79 win (1/19). SR F De'Sean Parsons had his third straight double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. SR Gs Zach Gengler and Calaen Robinson each scored 15 points. The Vikings shot .545 overall and 10-20 from three-point range. It was their eighth win in 10 games.
• SR G Calaen Robinson tied his career-high with 23 points (7-10 FG, 4-7 3-pt, 5-6 FT) and set a new career-high with eight rebounds at Sacramento State (1/28).
• Despite losing at Idaho (2/2), a pair of Vikings had career-scoring highs. JR G Deontae North had 29 points (8-17 FG, 5-10 3-pt, 8-10 FT) while SR F De'Sean Parsons went for 23 (8-16 FG, 7-11 FT).
• For the second game in a row, JR G Deontae North and SR G De'Sean Parsons set career-scoring highs. Parsons scored 35 points (14-17 FG, 7-13 FT) with six rebounds and three steals, while North had 30 points (10-20 FG, 5-6 3-pt, 5-10 FT), six rebounds and three assists in a loss at Eastern Washington (2/4). The 130-124 triple-overtime defeat marked the most total points scored in a game (254) in Portland State history. The previous mark was 243, set twice.