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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (13-6, 3-3) vs. WEBER STATE WILDCATS (11-7, 4-2)
Saturday, January 20, 2018, 6:05 p.m. PT • Dee Events Center (11,500), Ogden, UT
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
A battle of the Big Sky Conference's top offenses will commence this Saturday in Ogden, UT when the Portland State Vikings face the Weber State Wildcats.
           
PSU comes off an 87-83 win at Idaho State on Thursday for its third win in the last four starts. Portland State improved its record to 13-6 overall, 3-3 in the Big Sky. The Vikings are averaging 89.9 points per game to lead the league and rank third in the nation.           
           
WSU comes off an 80-64 home win over Sacramento State and sits one game ahead of the Vikings in the Big Sky standings at 4-2, 11-7 overall. The Wildcats are second in the Big Sky at 79.1 points per game.
           
Both offenses are impressive and get their points from different methods. The Vikings put on full-court defensive pressure, attempting to increase pace, force turnovers and get transition baskets. The Wildcats can flat out shoot it, leading the Big Sky Conference in field goal percentage (.506), free throw percentage (.766) and ranking second in three-point percentage (.407). So, both methods of producing points have been highly effective.
           
Portland State will be completing a stretch of five of their first seven Big Sky games on the road. The Vikings are 2-2 in those road games so far and 7-3 in road games overall this season. Add in neutral site games and the Vikings are 8-5 away from home. That makes Saturday's game at Dee Events Center the 14th away game out of 20 so far this season.
           
A win at Weber State would be huge for the Vikings on three levels. It would guarantee a move up in the Big Sky standings from their current tie for sixth. It would set the stage for a home-heavy stretch run as the Viks have three in a row, five of seven and seven of 11 at home the rest of the way. It would also end a four-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
           
Weber State is no soft touch though, as their home record of 9-1 attests. The Wildcats have gained momentum in their season, having won seven of the last nine overall. In addition to their offensive prowess, the Wildcats rank second in the Big Sky in points allowed (67.8) and field goal percentage defense (.420). Sophomore guard Jerrick Harding is the only player in the Big Sky Conference averaging more points (21.9) than Viking SR G Deontae North (21.0).
           
Portland State continues a return to health that has troubled them in recent weeks. They missed SR F Brandon Hollins again on Thursday as a catalyst to their press. However, big games from North (24 pts, 9 reb) and SR C Ryan Edwards (19 pts, 10 reb, 3 blk) triggered a come-from-behind victory over the Bengals. PSU trailed by 16 with 18:30 remaining in the game, but chipped away and finally took a lead with just over three minutes left, hanging on to win.
           
Saturday's game with the Wildcats tips 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
The Vikings come home for three in a row beginning next week. PSU hosts Sacramento State on Jan. 27 followed by Idaho (Feb. 1) and Eastern Washington (Feb. 3). The Vikings will play five of the next seven and seven of the final 11 regular season games at home.
           
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. WEBER STATE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Weber State leads the all-time series, 37-13, and the Big Sky Conference series, 33-13, including 6-0 in Big Sky Tournament games... PSU is just 2-20 at Dee Events Center since joining the Big Sky Conference. The most recent win came in 2015.... WSU has won four in a row and 11 of the last 13 games in the series.
• LAST SEASON, Feb. 11 at Peter W. Stott Center, WSU 96, PSU 93 (ot): The only meeting of the season between the teams was an epic clash. Weber State led for the first 25 minutes of the contest before the Vikings took a second-half lead. The Vikings were up 78-70 with five minutes to go but the Wildcats battled back. Viking Traylin Farris made a free throw with 21 seconds left to tie the game at 83 and send it to overtime. WSU made 5-7 shots in the extra session to pull out the win. The Wildcats shot .529 for the game compared to .514 for the Vikings, and made 11 three-pointers to just one for PSU. Jeremy Senglin scored 32 points to lead WSU and Ryan Richardson scored 22. De'Sean Parsons had 32 points while Farris scored 17 for the Vikings.
• 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 Wildcats are coached by Randy Rahe in his 12th season. He is 239-134 all-time, including 18-5 against the Vikings.
 
WEBER STATE WILDCATS
• Weber State is an original member of the Big Sky Conference and the most successful. The Wildcats have won 22 regular season Big Sky titles and 10 Big Sky Tournament titles. They have made 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Wildcats were 20-14 last season, 12-6 and tied for third in the Big Sky. Three starters and seven letterwinners return from that team.
• Weber State was picked to place second in both the Big Sky Conference Coaches and Media preseason polls.
• This season, the Wildcats have built an 11-7 record, 4-2 in the Big Sky Conference. The have won seven of their last nine games. 
• WSU shoots .506 from the field and .766 at the free throw line to lead the Big Sky Conference. The Wildcats rank second in points (79.1), scoring defense (67.8), scoring margin (+11.3), three-point percentage (.407), field goal percentage defense (.420) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.319).
• Sophomore guard Jerrick Harding leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring at 21.9 points per game. He shoots .556 from the field, .425 from three-point range and .865 at the line.
• Senior guard Ryan Richardson averages 13.1 points and has made 52 three-point field goals.
• Junior center Zach Braxton averages 11.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and shoots .573 from the field.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 13-6 this season, 5-1 at home, 7-3 on the road, 1-2 at neutral sites.
• The Vikings have played 13 of their 19 games away from home (7-3 road, 1-2 neutral). 
• PSU has won three of its last four games.
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 178-191 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (11-12). 
• PSU is 117-59 in home games, 56-124 in road games and 5-9 in neutral-site games.
 
WHO IS HOT
• The Viking defense: PSU makes 11.8 steals per game and has a +8.5 turnover margin, both of which lead the nation... PSU forces 21.1 turnovers per game, which ranks second in the nation.
• SR C Ryan Edwards had his best game of the season at Idaho State, matching his season-high with 19 points (7-14 FG, 5-6 FT), setting a season-high with 10 rebounds and blocking three shots. He had 13 points, nine rebounds and all three blocks in the second half as the Vikings came from 16 points behind to win.
• SR G Deontae North has scored 20 or more points in nine of the last 10 games, with the other being an 18-point outing. Still he has averaged 23.4 points over the last 10 games, improving his scoring average to 21.0, which ranks second in the Big Sky.
• JR G Deante Strickland came off the bench to score 14 points (5-10 FG, 2-6 3-pt, 2-2 FT) at Idaho State, his highest total against a Division I opponent this season.
 
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 shot .495 from the field in the three wins.
• The Vikings have lost 40 player games to injury and illness this season.
• Portland State averages 23.1 fouls per game, ranking 11th in the Big Sky and 347th 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       13-6
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 11.8 steals per game to lead the nation.
• PSU leads the nation in turnover margin (+8.5).
• The Vikings force 21.1 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.
• Four Vikings rank in the top six 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: 401 (21.1 to lead the Big Sky and rank second in the nation) for 478 points (25.1 per game)
  • Fast break points: 254 (13.3 per game)
  • Offensive rebounds: 273 (14.3 to lead the Big Sky and rank fourth in the nation) for 278 second chance points (14.6 per game)
 
PUTTING THE BISCUIT IN THE BASKET: Portland State is averaging 89.9 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         89.9
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 illness all season. The Vikings have lost 40 player games by seven different players due to injury and illness this season. They are: Braxton Tucker (13), Brendan Rumel (11), Traylin Farris (8), Jamie Orme (3), Brandon Hollins (3), Ryan Edwards (1) and Deontae North (1).
 
BIG SKY LEADERS: The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 89.9
• Scoring Margin, +11.4
• Steals, 11.8
• Assists, 17.5
• Blocked Shots, 4.1
• Turnover Margin, +8.5
• Assist-to-Turnover Ratio, 1.4
• Offensive Rebounds, 14.4
• 3-pt FG Made, 10.0
• Assists, Holland Woods, 5.5
• Field Goal Percentage, Brandon Hollins, .591