complete notes and stats in pdf

Like last year, the Portland State Vikings men's basketball team reached the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Conference Tournament before being knocked out by the eventual champion - this time North Dakota. But the Vikings completed the 2016-17 season two games better than the previous year, with a 15-16 record.
     
Here is a look at the Vikings' 2016-17 campaign:
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
• Portland State was 15-16 on the season, two games better than the 13-18 mark of a year ago. Portland State went 10-3 in its final season at the Stott Center (new construction of the Viking Pavilion brings a new arena in 2018-19, PSU will play off campus in 2017-18)... the Vikings had a five-game winning streak at one point - the longest since 2009 - and won seven of eight games over one stretch.
• Portland State averaged 85.3 points per game, the most by a Viking team since 1976-77 (91.0).
• The Vikings set a new school record for steals in a season (307) and ranked second in the nation overall at 9.9 per game. SR G Calaen Robinson set the Portland State career record for steals (128). He led the Big Sky Conference in steals (2.35) and ranked 11th in the nation.
• PSU finished in the top 10 in the nation in scoring (85.3, 9th), steals (9.9, 2nd), turnovers forced (17.0, 7th) and turnover margin (4.9, 4th).
• The Vikings led the Big Sky Conference in scoring (85.3), assists (15.8), steals (9.9), turnovers forced (17.0) and turnover margin (4.9).
• SR F De'Sean Parsons was named third team All-Big Sky Conference after leading the Vikings in scoring (14.3) and rebounding (6.2), ranking second in blocked shots (22) and assists (83), and third in steals (41).
• SR G Zach Gengler, a four-year letterwinner, ends his career ranked third all-time in games played (114), third in steals (120) and fifth in free throw percentage (.831). He also tied a school record with eight steals in a win against Idaho State.
 
2016-17 STATISTICAL LEADERS
Scoring: Braxton Tucker 16.8*, De'Sean Parsons 14.3, Deontae North 13.7, Calaen Robinson 12.7, Traylin Farris 10.8
Rebounding: De'Sean Parsons 6.2, Braxton Tucker 5.8*, Traylin Farris 5.2, Bryce Canda 4.1
Assists: Calaen Robinson 4.1, De'Sean Parsons 2.7, Zach Gengler 2.4, Bryce Canda 2.1
Three-Point Field Goals: Calaen Robinson 66, Bryce Canda 57, Deontae North 44, Zach Gengler 29
Field Goal Percentage: Brendan Rumel .650, Traylin Farris .618, Brandon Hollins .603, Zach Gengler .500
Free Throw Percentage: Brendan Rumel .923, Khari Holloway .889, Zach Gengler .857
Three-Point Percentage: Zach Gengler .397, Bryce Canda .388, Khari Holloway .385, Calaen Robinson .344
Blocked Shots: Traylin Farris 28, De'Sean Parsons 22
Steals: Calaen Robinson 73, Zach Gengler 52, De'Sean Parsons 41, Deontae North 40, Bryce Canda 35
 
*played in only five games due to injury
 
A QUICK LOOK AT THE 2017-18 SEASON
Portland State is scheduled to return eight letterwinners in 2017-18, as well as two redshirts who have playing experience.
     
The Vikings will lose five seniors: 3rd team All-Conference forward De'Sean Parsons (14.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg), point guard Calaen Robinson (12.7 ppg, 4.1 apg), guard Zach Gengler (8.9 ppg, 2.4 apg), guard Khari Holloway (3.7 ppg) and forward Montie Leunen (1.5 ppg).
     
Starters Traylin Farris (C, 10.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 62% FG) and Bryce Canda (G, 10.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 57 3-pt FG) and sixth-man Deontae North (G, 13.7 ppts, 3.6 rpg) all return. In addition, Braxton Tucker (16.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg), who played only five games due to injury, will also return.
     
Prior to the spring signing period, PSU Coach Tyler Geving has already signed four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent.
     
Here is a look at the current roster for 2017-18:
 
No.  Name                  Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Yr.   Exp. Hometown (Schools)                                  
  0  Bryce Canda          G 6-4 200 SR 1V Portland, OR (Grant HS/Central Wyoming JC)
  2  Michael Mayhew    G 6-2 195 JR  1V Flower Mound, TX (Marcus HS/Hill College)
  3  Deontae North       G 6-4 190 SR 1V Corona, CA (Centennial HS/Long Beach St./South Plains JC)
  4  Brendan Rumel      F 6-10 235 SO 1V Tucson, AZ (Rincon HS)
  5  Tyrell Henderson   G 6-3 180 SO 1V Tempe, AZ (Corona del Sol HS)
10 Daniel Davydov      G 6-0 175 SO 1V/RS Bellevue, WA (Seattle Academy)
15 Braxton Tucker       F  6-6 220 SR 2V Tacoma, WA (Spanaway Lake HS/North Idaho JC)
22 Brandon Hollins      F  6-6 200 SR 1V St. Louis, MO (Jennings HS/Paris JC)
25 Namdi Okonkwo     C 7-0 210 SR 1V/RS Dallas, TX (Westwind Prep (AZ)/Western Wyoming JC)
30 Traylin Farris          C 6-8 225 SR 1V Pearland, TX (Manvel HS/Incarnate Word/Odessa JC)
2017-18 SIGNEES
      Elijah Gonzales     G  5-8 150 FR HS Clackamas, OR (Clackamas HS)
      Holland Woods      G  6-0 170 FR HS Phoenix, AZ (Apollo HS)
      Aaron Ray             G 6-2 210 JR JC  Middletown, NY (Garden City (KS) CC)
      Narcisse Kalamba G/F 6-6 190 JR  JC Montreal, Quebec (Hill (TX) JC)
 
PARSONS NAMED THIRD TEAM ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Portland State senior forward De'Sean Parsons was named third team All-Big Sky Conference in a vote by league coaches. Parsons was the Vikings' leading scorer and rebounder this season, averaging 14.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. He ranked second on the team in assists (2.6 per game) and blocked shots (22).
     
Parsons scored in double figures 22 times this season, had five 20-point games, including two 30-point games. His 35-point performance at Eastern Washington was a career-high.
     
Parsons ranked 13th in scoring, 11th in rebounding and 12th in steals in the Big Sky. He also had a team-high five double-doubles.
 
2016-17 BIG SKY CONFERENCE HONORS
Most Valuable Player: Jacob Wiley, Sr., Eastern Washington
Newcomer of the Year: Randy Onwuasor, Jr., Southern Utah
Freshman of the Year: Harald Frey, Fr., Montana State
Defensive Player of the Year: Jonah Radebaugh, Fr., Northern Colorado
Top Reserve: Cortez Seales, So., North Dakota
Coach of the Year: Brian Jones, North Dakota
 
First Team All-Big Sky Conference
Jacob Wiley, Sr., Eastern Washington*
Tyler Hall, So., Montana State*
Quinton Hooker, Sr., North Dakota*#
Jeremy Senglin, Sr., Weber State#
Victor Sanders, Jr., Idaho
 
Second Team All-Big Sky Conference
Bogdan Bliznyuk, Jr., Eastern Washington
Geno Crandall, So., North Dakota
Ahmaad Rorie, So., Montana
Randy Onwuasor, Jr., Southern Utah
Justin Strings, Jr., Sacramento State
 
Third Team All-Big Sky Conference
Jordan Davis, So., Northern Colorado
Harald Frey, Fr., Montana State
Jordyn Martin, Sr., Northern Arizona
De'Sean Parsons, Sr., Portland State
Michael Oguine, So., Montana
 
*Unanimous First Team selection • #Two-Time First Team selection
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State was 15-16 this season, 10-3 at home, 4-12 on the road, 1-1 at neutral sites.
• With 15 wins, PSU improved by two games over last year's record (13-18).
• 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.
• The Vikings' longest losing streak this season was four games.
Stott Stuff
• PSU has gone 168-65 in 233 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 199-80 at home over 21 seasons.
• Portland State is 75-36 at home in eight seasons under Tyler Geving.
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 112-39 at home, including 65-32 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 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.
And The Trivial
• Portland State is 27-29 all-time in overtime, including 0-5 this season.
• Coach Tyler Geving is 5-9 all-time in overtime, including 0-5 this season.
• PSU is 2-15 against nationally-ranked opponents since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97.
• Head Coach Tyler Geving is 1-2 all-time against ranked opponents.
• Portland State is 19-46 in games televised in the Portland area since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97. That includes a 9-7 home record and 10-39 road record.
 
TASTY TIDBITS: A sampling of some unusual notes this season:
• A NEW RECORD... WITH A POSSIBLE ASTERISK: In just two seasons, SR G Calaen Robinson set a new Portland State career record for steals with 128 (Anthony Lackey, 1998-2002, 121). It is a great achievement, especially considering Robinson ranks 11th in the nation with 2.35 steals per game this year (73 total). The school record for steals in a season is 94 by Terry Adolph in 1977-78. Adolph, who played alongside Freeman Williams from 1976-78, may well have made more than 128 steals, but prior to the '77-'78 season steals were not kept as an official statistic. So, speculation aside, Robinson is Portland State's all-time leader in steals. Teammate Zach Gengler stands in third with 120 steals.
• ANOTHER NEW RECORD... FOR CERTAIN: Portland State had 307 steals through 31 games this season (9.9), breaking the school record of 263 set last season in 31 games (8.48). The Vikings ranked second in the nation in steals behind West Virginia (10.9).
• A BAD TIME IN OVERTIME FOR THE VIKS: Portland State played four overtime games in a span of six starts (1/28-2/16), losing all four. For the season, the Vikings played five overtime games and a total of eight overtime periods. Both are new school records... PSU played four overtime games in two other seasons (1998-99 and 2013-14)... Portland State has played in four triple-overtime games in its history (including a 130-124 loss at Eastern Washington on Feb. 4 this season), and one quadruple overtime game (a 92-91 win at Northern Arizona on Jan. 4, 2009).
• 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 (2/4). The feat has been accomplished 77 times with Freeman Williams doing it 41 times. Players have scored exactly 35 points on nine occasions, including Parsons. It is the eighth time in Portland State's Big Sky era that a player has scored 35 or more points.
• 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 637  burn points this season (20.6 per game) to 405 for the opponents (13.1). That is a margin of +7.5 points per game.
• 100 WATCH: Portland State 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 (112).
• The Vikings scored 100 or more points five times.
• SR G Zach Gengler played in his 100th career game on Jan. 19 against Montana. Gengler finished third all-time in games played at PSU with 114... Gengler also has passed 100 career steals (120).
• SR G Calaen Robinson passed 100 career steals (128) and 100 career three-pointers (124).
• SR G Calaen Robinson passed 100 assists for the season (126).
 
TRENDING: Here is a look at some Viking trends:
• Portland State was 13-6 when scoring 80 or more points, 0-3 when scoring less than 70.
• The Vikings were 11-1 when leading at halftime, 2-13 when trailing, 2-2 when tied.
• PSU was 11-1 when shooting a higher percentage from the field than its opponents, 4-15 when being outshot.
 
IT TAKES A THIEF: For the second year in a row Portland State set a school record for steals. The Vikings totaled 307 this year after last year setting the mark of 263.
• The Vikings ranked second in the nation in steals (9.9) behind West Virginia (10.9).
• PSU had nine or more steals in 23 games this season.
• SR G Zach Gengler tied a school record with eight steals in a win over Idaho State (2/9).
• SR G Calaen Robinson leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks eighth in the nation in steals (2.40). He set a career- high with six against North Dakota (12/29).
• Robinson now holds the career record for steals at Portland State (128) and ranks second for a season (73). Gengler ranks third (120).
• Four Vikings ranked in the top 12 in steals in the Big Sky: Robinson, Gengler, JR G Deontae North and SR F De'Sean Parsons.
• PSU had a season-high 19 steals in a win over North Dakota (12/29).
 
HOT SHOTS: Portland State averaged 85.3 points per game - the most of any team in the Big Sky Conference. The Vikings scored 99 or more points in six games this season. The scoring can be attributed to good shooting, an up-tempo pace, an ability to force opponent turnovers, and a few overtimes don't hurt.
• The Vikings shot .530 or better in nine of their wins.
• Portland State shot .482 from the field overall and failed to score at least 70 points only three times all season.
• PSU forced 17.0 turnovers per game while making 9.9 steals per game.
• Last year, PSU averaged 77.7 points. The last time PSU averaged over 82 points was 1976-77 when the Vikings aver-aged 91.0 points per game.
 
DOUBLE-DIGIT DYNAMICS: Portland State had six players averaging in double figures this season: JR F Braxton Tucker (16.8), SR F De'Sean Parsons (14.3), JR G Deontae North (13.7), SR G Calaen Robinson (12.7), JR C Traylin Farris (10.8) and JR G Bryce Canda (10.2).
• PSU had at least five players score in double figures in 15 games this season.
• Portland State had 131 double-figure scoring games this season, an average of 4.2 players per game.
 
BIG SKY CONFERENCE LEADERS: Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 85.3 points per game
• Assists, 15.8 per game
• Steals, 9.9 per game
• Turnover margin, +4.9
• Assist-to-turnover ratio, 1.3 (491/376)
• SR G Calaen Robinson leads in steals, 2.35
 
VIKINGS IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS (top 30):
• Portland State ranked 2nd in steals per game, 9.9
• Portland State ranked 4th in turnover margin, +4.9
• Portland State ranked 7th in turnovers forced, 17.0
• Portland State ranked 9th in scoring, 85.3 per game
• Portland State ranked 22nd in field goal percentage, .482
• SR G Calaen Robinson ranked 11th in steals, 2.35 per game
 
NORTH-ERN EXPOSURE: Despite starting only seven games all season, JR G Deontae North ranked second on the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game for the season, 14.8 in Big Sky Conference games. 
• North scored in double figures in 21 games and has six 20-point games.
• He ranked 16th in the Big Sky Conference in scoring and 11th in steals (1.3).
 
MR. ROBINSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD: SR G Calaen Robinson upped his play this season. He averaged 12.7 points and led the team in assists (4.1) and steals (2.35).
• Robinson led the Big Sky with 2.35 steals per game and ranked 11th in the nation.
• He ranked 19th in scoring, 11th in three-pointers made (2.1) and fifth in assists in the Big Sky Conference.
• Scored in double figures in 21 games with five 20-point games.
 
THE DE'SEAN PARSONS PROJECT: SR F De'Sean Parsons moved into the starting lineup this season after finishing 2015-16 strong... for the season Parsons averaged a team-leading 14.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He also blocked 22 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 22 games with five 20-point games and two 30-point games. He also has five double-doubles.
• He ranked 13th in scoring, 11th in rebounding and 12th in steals in the Big Sky (1.3).
 
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 10.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 23 minutes per game.
• Shot .618 from the field to rank third in the Big Sky Conference. Also ranked 28th in scoring and eighth in blocked shots (28).
• His field goal percentage ranekd fourth-best for a season in Portland State history.
• Shot 50% or better from the field in a string of 17 straight games earlier this season and 26 overall.
 
CANDA CAN-DO: Newcomer JR G Bryce Canda was very productive as a combo guard this season. Canda is averaged 10.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game... he shot .388 from three-point range and .792 at the line.
• Scored in double figures in 18 games.
 
GENGLER'S GAMES: SR G Zach Gengler was the most experienced player on the Viking team, playing in 114 career games (third all-time at PSU)... he also ranks third all-time in steals (120).
• Gengler averaged career-highs of 8.9 points and 2.4 assists per game. He shot .500 from the field, .397 from three-point range and .857 at the line.
• Ranked 14th in field goal percentage and seventh in steals (1.7) in the Big Sky.
• Scored in double figures 14 times this season.
• In his 114 career games, Gengler had only 96 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.
• SR G Zach Gengler tied a 39-year old school record, making eight steals and scoring 14 points to lead the Vikings to a 74-69 win over Idaho State (2/9). PSU trailed by 10 with under seven minutes to play but went on a 19-3 run to take control of the game.
• Despite a 96-93 overtime loss to Weber State (2/11), SR F De'Sean Parsons posted another 30-point game with 32 points (12-21 FG, 8-11 FT), seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. SR G Calaen Robinson set a career-high with 12 assists and matched a career-high with eight rebounds.
• Portland State played a school-record fifth overtime game in a 92-90 loss at Montana State (2/16). It was the fourth overtime game in the last six games played.
• The Vikings had six players in double figures as they ended a three-game losing streak and defeated Southern Utah, 93-86 (2/23). A strong bench effort played a big role as JR G Bryce Canda (11), SR G Khari Holloway (career-high 15), and JR F Brandon Hollins (12) combined for 38 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. They combined to shoot 13-20 from the field and 6-9 from three-point range. SR F De'Sean Parsons had 16 points, nine rebounds, four blocked shots and three assists in the game.
• Portland State won its second game in a row and closed down the Stott Center in style with an 84-72 win over Northern Arizona (2/25). It was the last game ever for PSU in the Stott gym as the new Viking Pavilion goes online in 2018. The Vikings scored 34 points off 23 NAU turnovers, and made 15 steals. PSU led by as many as 26 in the game.
• SR G Zach Gengler scored a career-high 19 points (6-9 FG, 1-3 3-pt, 6-6 FT) and SR F Montie Leunen had a career-high 12 points in an 87-84 loss at Northern Colorado (3/2).
• A 16-3 run late in the second half allowed Portland State to pull away for an 80-67 Big Sky Tournament first-round win over Northern Arizona (3/7). PSU shot .544 from the field and forced 19 NAU turnovers. Deontae North came off the bench to score 20 of his 25 points in the second half, including nine straight in the decisive run.
 
2016-17 SEASON NOTES
• VIKINGS CLOSE DOWN STOTT CENTER: The Portland State men's basketball program played its final game in the Stott Center gym on Feb. 25, beating Northern Arizona, 84-72. The Viking program was 168-65 in home games at the Stott Center since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97 (also 31-15 at Memorial Coliseum and the Moda Center).
      A home court for PSU Athletics since the fall of 1966, the Stott Center is undergoing an extensive restructure and remodel. The new Viking Pavilion, which will open in 2018, will feature a new 3,000+ seat arena on the east side of the building. Current construction has been going on for almost a year. PSU will play home games in 2017-18 off-campus at a site to be determined. The first full season in the Viking Pavilion will be in 2018-19.
        With construction underway on the new Viking Pavilion, the Stott's main gym will go under contruction and be developed into a practice gym with adjacent office space. The weight room is the first portion of the new Viking Pavilion to be completed. In addition to the Pavilion arena and the practice gym, work will also be underway on the student-athlete academic center, training room, and locker room facility.
      Stott Center abounds in basketball history as the home court of Freeman Williams, PSU basketball legend of the 1970's.  Williams became the second all-time scorer in the history of men's college basketball (behind only Pete Maravich) with 3,249 points.
      The Stott Center was also the site of three NCAA Division II Regional Championships in women's basketball (PSU hosted and won regional titles in 1992 and 1995) and wrestling.
      PSU hosted (and won) the 1984, 1985 and 1992 NCAA II volleyball championships at the Stott Center.
      More recently, Portland State men's basketball won two Big Sky Conference regular season titles while going undefeated on the Stott Center home court. The Vikings were 7-0 at home in conference games during 2004-05, and 8-0 at home in conference games in 2007-08. PSU was was 7-1 in conference home games in 2008-09 when they placed second in the Big Sky, then won the Conference Tournament and, again, advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
      The Viking women won a Big Sky regular season title in 2010-11 and hosted the Big Sky Tournament at the Stott Center.
      The Stott Center has also hosted the Big Sky Conference Volleyball Championship four times.
      The Stott Center hosted a nationally-televised ESPNU game, in which PSU defeated Boise State, and several Big Sky Conference televised Games of the Week.
• TUCKER HAS KNEE PROCEDURE: JR F Braxton Tucker, who played in only the first five games of the season, underwent an arthroscopy on his left knee on Jan. 5. Tucker missed the 2015-16 season with a knee injury. He came back to play in the first five games this season, averaging 16.8 points and 5.8 rebounds, leading the team in scoring in the first four games.
• GEVING GETS 100TH WIN: Portland State Head Coach Tyler Geving earned his 100th career victory at Portland State in an 87-74 win over Texas Rio Grande Valley (12/3). The only other 100-win coach is Sharkey Nelson (162-156 in 12 seasons, 1953-65). Marion Pericin (1965-72) actually won 100 games as Viking Head Coach, however 15 of those wins are not recognized by the NCAA as they came against Canadian universities. Here is a list of Portland State's winningest coaches throughout its 56-year history of men's basketball:
 
1. Sharkey Nelson, 162-156, 1953-65
2. Tyler Geving, 112-133, 2009-17
3. Ken Edwards, 93-64, 1972-78 (96-64 overall, 3-0 in games against Canadian universities not recognized by NCAA)
4. Marion Pericin, 85-82, 1965-72 (100-86, 15-4 in games against Canadian universities not recognized by NCAA)
5. Arba Ager, 85-52, 1948-53
6. Ken Bone, 77-49, 2005-09
 
• WCC AFFILIATES?: Portland State had a good run against West Coast Conference teams during the non-conference schedule, especially when you consider all four games were on the road. The Vikings lost to their first WCC opponent, Loyola Marymount (78-62), but went on to pick up wins at Pepperdine (91-85), San Francisco (82-78) and Portland (77-75). That made the Vikings 3-1 against the WCC this season. PSU had been 0-6 against West Coast Conference teams the past four seasons.
 
VIKING BASKETBALL SIGNS FOUR TO NLIs
Portland State Head Coach Tyler Geving announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2017-18 academic year during the November signing period. It is the largest early signing class for Geving in his eight seasons as a head coach at PSU.
     
The Vikings have added local high school star Elijah Gonzales from Clackamas, another prep star out of Phoenix, AZ, Holland Woods, and two junior college transfers, Aaron Ray and Narcisse Kalamba.
     
Ray and Kalamba are coached by brothers at their respective colleges. Brady Trenkle coaches Ray at Garden City (KS) CC, and Swede Trenkle coaches Kalamba at Hill (TX) JC.
     
"Our staff did a great job of identifying talent across the country and we are enthusiastic about the four players we signed," said Geving. "We feel like we signed two outstanding high school guards who will have a big impact on our program for the next four years. Our two junior college players are very talented and we feel fortunate to sign them both early. We feel both will have a big impact on our program next year. I know all four recruits are excited about playing in the new Viking Pavilion as well. This new arena project on campus helped in the recruitment of all four players."
     
Here is the early signing class for Portland State basketball for 2017-18:
 
Elijah Gonzalez, G, 5-8, 150, FR, HS, Clackamas, OR (Clackamas HS)
Named Oregonian first team All-State as a junior at Clackamas High School… named second team All-State by USA Today… named Player of the Year and first team All-Mt. Hood Conference… his team advanced to the quarterfinals of the Oregon 6A state tournament before being knocked out by South Salem… scored 40 points in a playoff win over Franklin High School.
 
Holland Woods, G, 6-0, 170, FR, HS, Phoenix AZ (Apollo HS)
Averaged 22.1 points, 7.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game as a junior… his sophomore season averaged 14.3 points, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals.
 
Aaron Ray, G, 6-2, 210, JR, JC, Middletown, NY (Garden City (KS) CC)
Averaged 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds as a freshman at Garden City CC… shot .490 from the field, .447 from three-point range and .766 at the line… brother of Allan Ray, who played at Villanova and in the NBA.
 
Narcisse Kalamba, G/F, 6-6, 190, Montreal, Quebec (Hill (TX) JC)
Averaged 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game as a freshman at Clarendon Junior College… shot .442 from the field, .330 from three-point range and .538 at the line.