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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (13-7, 3-4) vs. SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS (5-15, 2-5)
Saturday, January 27, 2018, 1 p.m. • Lewis and Clark College (1,300), Portland, OR
Live Video and Audio: www.WatchBigSky.com, www.Pluto.tv • Play-by-Play: Tom Hewitt
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
Now is the time for the Vikings to make their move. A look at the upcoming schedule would indicate that there is no time like the present. Portland State (13-7, 3-4) will host Sacramento State (5-15, 2-5) this Saturday night in the first of three straight games at home. In fact PSU will play five of the next seven and seven of the final 11 at home. 
           
It is a chance for the Vikings to make up for what has been a brutal road stretch over the past seven weeks. Portland State opened conference play with five of their first seven games on the road, and dating back to Dec. 6 have played nine of the last 12 away from home.
           
At 3-4 in the Big Sky Conference, the Vikings sit in eighth place among 12 teams. However, they are just one game out of a four-team tie for fourth place (4-3). The first four teams in the Big Sky standings at the end of the season will get a first-round bye in the Big Sky Tournament.
           
But first a little rest, as Portland State plays just one game this week with its travel partner, a full seven days since its previous contest. The Vikings have a little getting even to do as well, having lost the Big Sky opener at Sacramento State on Dec. 30, 80-75. In order to do that, they will have to stop Hornet forward Justin Strings, who single-handedly led Sacramento State to victory. Strings made 16-18 field goals for 34 points in the first meeting, while the Hornets shot an opponent season-high .604 from the field against the Vikings.
           
Portland State is 5-1 at home this season, with 14 games away from home (7-4 road, 1-2 neutral site). The Hornets are still looking for their first road win (0-9 road, 0-4 neutral site). They have lost two in a row and five of their last six since last facing the Vikings.
           
The teams are a contrast in style as well. The Vikings lead the Big Sky in scoring at 89.3 points per game, while the Hornets rank last in scoring at 66.8 points per game. PSU tries to create pace with a full-court trapping defense and transition game, while Sacramento State prefers a half-court approach where it can take advantage of Strings and their other inside talent, Joshua Patton.
           
The Vikings will be led by SR G Deontae North who ranks second in the Big Sky in scoring (21.1 ppg) and FR G Holland Woods who leads the Big Sky in assists (5.5 apg). Big man SR C Ryan Edwards comes off a pair of double-doubles last week, averaging 15.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots in the two games.
           
Portland State is almost at full strength health-wise as SR F Traylin Farris and JR F Jamie Orme have returned from illness. It is hoped that SR F Brandon Hollins makes his return after missing the last four games. Hollins still ranks as the Big Sky leader in field goal percentage (.591).
           
Saturday's game with the Hornets tips off at 1 p.m. at Lewis and Clark College's Pamplin Sports Center. A live video stream will be available at www.WatchBigSky.com and www.pluto.tv. Live stats are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
COMING UP
Next week the Vikings host Idaho (Feb. 1) and Eastern Washington (Feb. 3) to wrap up a three-game homestand. 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. SACRAMENTO STATE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series, 29-17, and the Big Sky Conference series, 28-16... the Vikings lead 18-3 in Big Sky games played in Portland... the Hornets have won the last two meetings in the series, both in Sacramento.
• LAST MEETING, Dec. 30 in Sacramento, SAC 80, PSU 75: The Vikings led by as many as 16 points in the first half but couldn't close the deal in the Big Sky Conference opener. Justin Strings made 16-18 field goals for 34 points as the Hornets shot an opponent season-high .604 from the field. Sacramento State had a Viking opponent season-low 11 turnovers as PSU's full-court press wasn't effective. The Vikings also shot only .417/.250/.529 for the game. PSU was led by SR G Deontae North's 20 points and nine rebounds. SR G Bryce Canda had his fifth double-double (11 pts, 10 reb).
• 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 Hornets are coached by Brian Katz in his 10th season. He has a 109-180 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.
• This season, Sacramento State is 5-15 overall, 2-5 in the Big Sky. The Hornets rank last in the league in scoring at 66.8 points per game. They allow 72.8 points per game.
• Senior forward Justin Strings leads the Hornets in scoring (17.9 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg). He ranks eighth in scoring and second in rebounding in the Big Sky Conference.
• Junior guard Jordan Tolbert averages 10.4 points per game and ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in three-point percentage (.480).
• Sophomore forward Joshua Patton leads the Big Sky Conference in blocked shots (2.0 pg) while averaging 9.8 points and 4.7 rebounds. He also shoots .574 from the field, second in the Big Sky.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 13-7 this season, 5-1 at home, 7-4 on the road, 1-2 at neutral sites.
• The Vikings have played 14 of their 20 games away from home (7-4 road, 1-2 neutral). 
• PSU has lost two of its last three games.
Home Court(s)
• With the addition of Lewis and Clark's Pamplin Sports Center as a home court in 2017-18, Portland State has now had four home courts in its 22-season existence in the Big Sky Conference and at Division I. Here is the breakdown: 
  - Peter W. Stott Center - 233 games, 168-65
  - Rose Garden (Moda Center) - 28 games, 19-9
  - Memorial Coliseum - 19 games, 13-6
  - Lewis and Clark - 5 games, 4-1
  - 22 seasons - 285 games, 204-81 at home overall 
• Portland State has lost only eight non-conference home games in the last 11 seasons (49-8). PSU is 26-8 against Division I schools, and 23-0 against lower division schools over that span.
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 117-140 at home, including 66-33 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 178-192 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (11-12). 
• PSU is 117-59 in home games, 56-125 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 +8.1 turnover margin, both of which lead the nation... PSU forces 20.7 turnovers per game, which ranks second in the nation.
• SR C Ryan Edwards had his best week of the season, averaging 15.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots against Idaho State and Weber State. He matched his season-high with 19 points (7-14 FG, 5-6 FT) and set a season-high with 10 rebounds while blocking three shots at Idaho State. Edwards posted his second double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks at Weber State.
• SR G Deontae North has scored 20 or more points in 10 of the last 11 games, with the other being an 18-point outing. He has averaged 23.2 points over the last 11 games, improving his scoring average to 21.1, which ranks second in the Big Sky.
 
WHO IS NOT
• In Portland State's four Big Sky losses, it has been easy to point at shooting as the downfall. PSU has shot .398 from the field and .209 from three-point range in four Big Sky losses. PSU has shot .495 from the field in three Big Sky wins.
• Portland State averages 23.2 fouls per game, ranking 350th in the nation (among 351).
• The Vikings have lost 41 player games to injury and illness this season.

THE COMEBACK: Last week's come-from-behind victory at Idaho State marked the sixth time this season that Portland State has erased a second-half deficit (three by double digits) and pulled out a win. Four of those have been on the road, two at Memorial Coliseum. Here is a list of the comebacks: 
• Beat Portland, 80-75, on Nov. 11 (R) - trailed by seven with 2:33 remaining.
• Beat Utah State, 83-79, at Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 20 - trailed by three with 7:16 remaining.
• Beat Stanford, 87-78, at Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 26 - trailed by 11 with 18:10 remaining (trailed by 14 in first half).
• Beat Santa Clara, 87-84, on Dec. 9 (R) - trailed by 17 with 14:51 remaining/trailed by 10 with 7:08 remaining.
• Beat Idaho, 73-72, on Jan. 6 (R) - trailed by five with 2:59 left.
• Beat Idaho State, 87-83, on Jan. 18 (R) - trailed by 16 with 18:30 remaining. 

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      13-7
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 11.5 steals per game to lead the nation (230 total).
• PSU leads the nation in turnover margin (+8.1).
• The Vikings force 20.7 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: 414 (20.7 to lead the Big Sky and rank second in the nation) for 493 points (24.7 per game)
• Fast break points: 258 (12.9 per game)
• Offensive rebounds: 289 (14.5 to lead the Big Sky and rank fourth in the nation) for 294 second chance points (14.7 per game)
 
PUTTING THE BISCUIT IN THE BASKET: Portland State is averaging 89.3 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         89.3
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 41 player games by seven different players due to injury and illness this season. They are: Braxton Tucker (13), Brendan Rumel (11), Traylin Farris (8), Brandon Hollins (4), Jamie Orme (3), 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 (21.1) while averaging 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
• Ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in scoring, fifth in steals (1.8) and ninth in three-pointers made (2.2)... he ranks 24th in the nation in scoring.
• North has scored 13 or more points in every game this season... he has 12 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 13 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 15.0 points and leads the team in rebounding (7.0), steals (2.0), and three-point field goals (46). 
• Canda ranks 12th in scoring, second in steals and sixth in rebounding and seventh 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 (31.1), averages 10.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and a team-leading 5.5 assists and .413 three-point percentage. 
• Woods leads the Big Sky in assists and ranks fourth in steals (1.9).
• Woods has 12 double-figure scoring games and two 20-point games.
• Has led the team in assists 14 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. 
 
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 8.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and ranks second in the Big Sky with 1.9 blocks per game.
• Has upped his game in league play, averaging 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds while shooting .508 from the field and .789 at the line. 
• Has nine double-figure scoring games and two double-doubles... has led team in rebounding twice.
• His seven blocked shots in only 14 minutes at Cal tied a school record.
• Had season-highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds with three blocked shots in a win at Idaho State.
 
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, but has missed the last four due to illness.
• Shoots .591 from the field to lead 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. 
 
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 (8.5) while coming off the bench. 
• Mayhew ranks second on the Vikings in three-point field goals and eighth in the Big Sky (43)... averages 1.6 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 6.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game.
• Had a double-double in the season-opening win at Portland: 11 points, 12 rebounds, four assists.
• Shoots .554 from the field.
• Has made five starts
 
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 9.7 three-point field goals made per game. 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 86 double-figure scorers through 20 games (4.3 per game)... Eight players are averaging 5.7 points or more and three average in double figures... nine players are averaging 15 or more minutes... 10 players have made starts... there have been nine different starting lineups... 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.
 
BIG SKY LEADERS: The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 89.3
• Steals, 11.5
• Assists, 17.3
• Blocked Shots, 4.1
• Turnover Margin, +8.1
• Assist-to-Turnover Ratio, 1.4
• Offensive Rebounds, 14.5
• 3-pt FG Made, 9.7
• Assists, Holland Woods, 5.5
• Field Goal Percentage, Brandon Hollins, .591