Portland State opens a long-awaited stretch of home basketball games when it hosts Sacramento State this Saturday in a 1 p.m. contest at Lewis and Clark College's Pamplin Sports Center.
The Vikings (13-7, 3-4) have played five of their first seven Big Sky Conference games on the road, and now get the next three at home. First up are the Hornets (5-15, 2-5) who nipped the Vikings in Sacramento, 80-75, on Dec. 30.
In today's Viking Basketball With Barret Peery video, the first-year head coach weighs in on his team's progress. He talks about handling the challenges of the road, some of his key players, and getting ready to face the Hornets.
Portland State is 5-1 at home this season while playing 14 games away from home (7-4 road, 1-2 neutral site). The Vikings lead the Big Sky in scoring and rank third in the nation at 89.3 points per game. That is the highest scoring average by a Viking team since 1976-77 (91.0) when Freeman Williams trod the (former) Stott Center hardwood.
PSU also ranks first in the nation in steals (11.8 pg) and turnover margin (+8.1), while ranking second in turnovers forced (20.7 pg).
WHO IS HOT
• 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 last week. 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.
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).
1947-48: Joe Holland, 14-5
2017-18: Barret Peery, 13-7 (so far)
1998-99: Joel Sobotka, 17-11
COMING UP
Next week the Vikings host Idaho (Feb. 1) and Eastern Washington (Feb. 3) to wrap up a three-game home stand. 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.
SEE THE VIDEO
Portland State (13-7, 3-4) vs. Sacramento State (5-15, 2-5)
Saturday, 1 p.m., Lewis and Clark College Pamplin Sports Center
Live video and audio: www.WatchBigSky.com, www.Pluto.tv
Live stats: www.ViksLive.com
