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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (12-6, 2-3) vs. IDAHO STATE BENGALS (8-8, 3-2)
Thursday, January 18, 2018, 6:05 p.m. PT • Holt Arena (8,000), Pocatello, ID
Live Video and Audio: www.WatchBigSky.com, www.Pluto.tv 
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete Notes and Stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
The Portland State Vikings hope for good luck and good health as they go back on the road this week to face Idaho State and Weber State.
           
The Vikings (12-6, 2-3) split two home games last weekend against the Big Sky Conference's top two teams, Montana (6-0) and Montana State (4-2). Coach Barret Peery resorted to playing four-guard and occasional five-guard lineups in the two games. PSU was able to overcome the absence of four big men against the Bobcats on Thursday in a 93-74 win, but probably needed more of the three that were missing in a 92-89 loss to Montana on Saturday. 
           
This week, Portland State has a chance to be as healthy as it has been all season. SR Fs Traylin Farris and Brandon Hollins and JR F Jamie Orme are all expected to return to action after battling illness last week. SO F Brandon Rumel will not return this season due to a hip injury. 
           
At 2-3 in the Big Sky Conference, the Vikings need wins. However a look at the bunched up standings reveals that PSU is just one game out of third place (3-2) and a game-and-a-half out of second (4-2).
           
A full complement of players for PSU will be necessary on the always challenging Big Sky road. The resurgent Idaho State Bengals (8-8, 3-2) can attest. Having won eight of their previous nine games, ISU lost a pair of road games last week at North Dakota and Northern Colorado. 
           
The Bengals have a 6-1 home record at Holt Arena. The Vikings bring a 6-3 road mark, 1-2 in Big Sky road games. Idaho State has won the last four times the teams have played in Pocatello, and five of the last seven meetings overall.
           
It will be an interesting matchup on a couple of levels. The Vikings (90.1 ppg) and the Bengals (71.8 ppg) play at dramatically different paces, setting the stage for who can control tempo. 
           
There will also be a matchup of mentor and mentee when ISU Head Coach Bill Evans and PSU Head Coach Barret Peery square off. Peery played his collegiate ball for Evans at Southern Utah (1993-95) and worked as an assistant for him twice (1995-96, 1998-2002).
           
Saturday's game at Weber State (10-7, 3-2) will be another important contest. With the Vikings playing two teams just a game ahead, wins are guaranteed to elevate them in the standings.
           
Both games tip off at 6:05 p.m. PT. A live video stream will also be available at www.WatchBigSky.com and www.pluto.tv. Live stats are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
COMING UP
Portland State plays at Weber State on Saturday. The Vikings then come home for three in a row, hosting Sacramento State (Jan. 27), Idaho (Feb. 1) and Eastern Washington (Feb. 3).
           
All Viking home games take place at Lewis and Clark College this season as construction on the new Viking Pavilion is being completed. Thursday games tip at 8 p.m. with Saturday games at 1 p.m.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. IDAHO STATE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series with Idaho State, 30-20... the Vikings hold a 26-16 edge in Big Sky Conference games, including 2-0 in Big Sky Tournament games... Idaho State leads the series, 11-9, in Pocatello, winning the last four games played there... PSU won the only meeting between the schools last season.
• LAST SEASON, Feb. 9 at Peter W. Stott Center, PSU 74, ISU 69: Portland State rallied from 10 points down with seven minutes to play. A 19-3 run gave the Vikings control of the game. Deontae North and Zach Gengler each scored 14 points in the win with Gengler tying a PSU record by making eight steals. Geno Luzcando had 18 points, seven rebounds and seven steals for Idaho State.
• 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 Bengals are coached by Bill Evans in his sixth year. He is 53-114 at Idaho State, including 5-3 against the Vikings. In 21 seasons of collegiate coaching, Evans is 255-313.
• THE APPLE HASN'T FALLEN FAR FROM THE TREE: Portland State Head Coach Barret Peery belongs to the Bill Evans coaching tree. Peery was an assistant coach for Evans at Southern Utah from 1998-2002. The 2000-01 team won the Mid-Continent Conference title, reaching the NCAA Tournament, and compiled a 25-6 record. Peery was also a graduate assistant for Evans in 1995-96, and played for Evans from 1993-95.
 
IDAHO STATE BENGALS
• Idaho State is an original member of the Big Sky Conference. The Bengals have won two regular season Big Sky titles and two Big Sky Tournament titles. Idaho State has made a total of 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Bengals were 5-26 last season, 3-15 and tied for 11th in the Big Sky.
• Idaho State was picked to place 10th in the Big Sky Conference Coaches poll and 11th in the Media Poll this year. The Bengals appear poised to exceed those expections at 8-8 overall and 3-2 in the Big Sky standings.
• Sophomore forward Jared Stutzman leads four Bengal players that score in double figures with a 13.8 average. He has shot .562 from the field and .464 from three-point range. 
• Sophomore guard Balint Mocsan averages 11.9 points, sophomore guard Brandon Boyd averages 11.5 points and junior center Novak Topalovic averages 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds.
• Senior guard Geno Luzcando averages 9.8 points and team-leading marks of 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals. He is tops in the Big Sky with 40 steals overall.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 12-6 this season, 5-1 at home, 6-3 on the road, 1-2 at neutral sites.
• The Vikings have played 12 of their 18 games away from home (6-3 road, 1-2 neutral). 
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 177-191 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (11-12). 
• PSU is 117-59 in home games, 55-124 in road games and 5-9 in neutral-site games.
 
WHO IS HOT
• The Viking defense: PSU makes 11.9 steals per game and has a +8.9 turnover margin, both of which lead the nation... PSU forces 21.3 turnovers per game, which ranks second in the nation.
• SR G Deontae North saw his streak of 20+ point games end at eight when he scored 18 against Montana. Still he has averaged 23.4 points over the last nine games, improving his scoring average to 20.8, which ranks second in the Big Sky.
• SR G Bryce Canda went for 17 points and 12 rebounds against Montana, his sixth double-double of the season.
• JR G Michael Mayhew scored a career-high 18 points against Montana State, making 6-9 three-point field goals.
• SR F Brandon Hollins had 13 points and 11 rebounds at Eastern Washington for his second double-double of the season. Though he missed the last two games with illness, he made 32-49 shots over the previous seven games (.653) and now ranks second in the Big Sky with a .591 field goal percentage.
• JR G Derek Brown scored a season-high 12 points in 15 minutes off the bench, providing a spark against Montana.
 
WHO IS NOT
• In Portland State's three Big Sky losses, it has been easy to point at shooting as the downfall. PSU was .405 from the field and .206 from three-point range.
• PSU has been out-rebounded in 11 times in 18 games. 
• The Vikings have lost 38 player games to injury and illness this season.
• Portland State averages 22.9 fouls per game, ranking 11th in the Big Sky and 346th in the nation (among 351).
 
FIRST-YEAR COACHING RECORDS: New Portland State Head Coach Barret Peery has gotten off to a great start in his first year on the Park Blocks. 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
1947-48         Joe Holland        14-5
2017-18         Barret Peery     12-6
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 11.9 steals per game to lead the nation.
• PSU leads the nation in turnover margin (+8.9).
• The Vikings force 21.3 turnovers per game to rank second in the nation.
• Portland State has 18 or more steals in five games this season... opponents have 20 or more turnovers 10 times.
• Five Vikings rank in the top 12 in steals in the Big Sky Conference.
 
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: 384 for 460 points (25.6 per game)
  • Fast break points: 247 (13.7 per game)
  • Offensive rebounds: 261 (14.5 to lead the Big Sky) for 256 second chance points (14.2 per game)
 
PUTTING THE BISCUIT IN THE BASKET: Portland State is averaging 90.1 points per game this season. That is the most by a Viking team since 1976-77 (91.0) when Freeman Williams trod the (former) Stott Center hardwood. Here is a look at PSU's top scoring averages in 22 seasons as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
 
Year               PPG
2017-18         90.1
2016-17         85.3
1998-99         79.1
2006-07         78.2
 
INJURY AND ILLNESS: Besides the opponent, the Portland State basketball team has been battling injury, and now illness, all season. The Vikings have lost 38 player games by seven different players due to injury and illness this season. They are: Braxton Tucker (13), Brendan Rumel (10), Traylin Farris (8), Jamie Orme (3), Brandon Hollins (2), Ryan Edwards (1) and Deontae North (1).
 
POINTING NORTH: SR G Deontae North is having a brilliant season for the Vikings. North leads the team in scoring (20.8) while averaging 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
• Ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in scoring, fourth in steals (1.8) and eighth in three-pointers made (2.3).
• North has scored 13 or more points in every game this season... he has 10 20-point games and two 30-point games.
• He had a stretch of 20+ points in eight straight games.
• North has led the team in scoring 11 times and assists three times.
• 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.
• Had another 30-point night (11-16 FG, 6-8 3-pt, 2-5 FT) in a win at Idaho.
 
CANDA CAN-DO: A second-year starter for the Vikings, SR G Bryce Canda does it all for the Vikings. He averages 15.9 points and leads the team in rebounding (7.1), steals (2.1), and three-point field goals (43). 
• Canda ranks 10th in scoring, second in steals and fourth in rebounding and sixth in three-point field goals made in the Big Sky Conference.
• Canda has led the team in scoring seven times and rebounding nine times... he has six double-doubles.
• Has scored in double figures in 15 games, with five 20-point games and one 30-point game.
• 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.
• 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. 
 
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 the first nine games, he moved into the starting lineup. He ranks second in minutes played (31.2), averages 10.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and a team-leading 5.8 assists. 
• Woods leads the Big Sky in assists and ranks fourth in steals (1.9).
• Woods has 10 double-figure scoring games and two 20-point games.
• Has led the team in assists 13 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).
• Hit a put-back game-winner from the middle of the key with 0.6 seconds left to beat Idaho 73-72. 
 
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 8.3 points and 5.9 rebounds in 22 minutes per game.
• Shoots .591 from the field to ranks second in the Big Sky Conference and ranks 10th in rebounding.
• Has seven double-figure scoring games and two double-doubles... has led the team in rebounding six 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. 
 
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 7.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game and ranks second in the Big Sky with 1.7 blocks per game.
• Has seven double-figure scoring games.
• His seven blocked shots in only 14 minutes at Cal tied a school record.
 
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 (9.1) while coming off the bench. 
• Mayhew ranks second on the Vikings in three-point field goals (42) and averages 1.7 steals per game (sixth in the Big Sky)... he made a career-high five steals in the win over Stanford.
• Posted a career-high 18 points (6-9 3-pt FG) in a win over Montana State.  
• Scored in double figures seven times.
 
FARRIS WHEEL: SR F Traylin Farris has been bothered by an ankle sprain and illness, missing eight games this season. However, he continues to be productive when he plays, averaging 6.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.
• Had a double-double in the season-opening win at Portland: 11 points, 12 rebounds, four assists.
• Shoots .587 from the field.
 
BIG SKY LEADERS: The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 90.1
• Scoring Margin, +11.8
• Steals, 11.9
• Assists, 18.1
• Blocked Shots, 4.1
• Turnover Margin, +8.9
• Assist-to-Turnover Ratio, 1.5
• Offensive Rebounds, 14.5
• 3-pt FG Made, 10.2
• Assists, Holland Woods, 5.8
 
OTHER TASTY TIDBITS
• GAME-WINNERS: When FR G Holland Woods hit a game-winning shot with 0.6 points left against Idaho (73-72) it marked the first time a PSU player has made a clincher in the final five seconds of a game since Feb. 27, 2016. On that date, Calaen Robinson made a three-pointer with two seconds left to win at Northern Colorado, 89-86. 
• TRIPLE THE FUN: Portland State is averaging 10.2 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 have made a three-pointer this season... 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).
• BEST RECORDS: Earlier this season, Portland State 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), 13-game (10-3) and 14-game (10-4) records in 22 seasons as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
• IT'S A TEAM GAME: Portland State has had a total of 78 double-figure scorers through 18 games (4.3 per game)... 10 players are averaging 5.1 points or more and three average in double figures... nine players are averaging 15 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 made them 7-1 against teams from other Division I basketball conferences in the west.
• 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 81 Portland State games that Tucker was 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.