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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (11-5, 1-2) vs. MONTANA STATE BOBCATS (11-6, 4-0)
Thursday, January 11, 2018, 8 p.m. • Lewis and Clark College (2,300), 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
At long last, Portland State returns to its home away from home this week to host its first Big Sky Conference contests against the two teams tied for first place in the league, Montana State (Thursday) and Montana (Saturday).
           
Having played just one home basketball game in 40 days, the Vikings are ecstatic and relieved to be playing at home, even if it isn't their actual home. PSU is playing home games at Lewis and Clark College's Pamplin Sports Center this season as construction on the new Viking Pavilion is being completed.
           
Portland State has played only four "home" games among its first 16. But all that changes beginning Thursday. The game with Montana State starts a stretch of five out of seven and nine of the final 15 regular season games at Pamplin.
           
PSU goes into the game with the Bobcats at 11-5 on the season, 1-2 in the Big Sky Conference. The Vikings came off a thrilling last-second victory over pre-season favorite Idaho in Moscow, 73-72, last Saturday. SR G Deontae North had another superlative performance scoring 30 points on 11-15 shooting and 6-8 three-pointers. But it was FR G Holland "Boo Boo" Woods who made the game-winner, hitting a put-back shot in the middle of the lane with 0.6 seconds remaining, turning a 72-71 deficit into a 73-72 win.
           
The Vikings certainly had a bumpy start to Big Sky play, winning one of three on the road, after a 10-3 non-conference performance. PSU's shooting in those three games (.408/.253/.616) figures to improve to previous levels and will be needed this week against the two Big Sky entries from the Treasure State.
           
Montana State enters the week at 11-6, 4-0 in Big Sky games. MSU has beaten Southern Utah and Northern Arizona on the road, and Northern Colorado and North Dakota at home. Montana, 11-5 overall, has the same 4-0 resume as the Bobcats.
           
MSU's backcourt of Tyler Hall and Harald Frey will present a tremendous challenge for the Vikings. Hall (19.5 ppg, Big Sky-leading 63 3-pt FGs) was picked as the Big Sky's preseason Player of the Year. Frey (15.1 ppg, 40 3-pt FG) provides a fine complement at the point.
           
Portland State has gone 4-0 in home games this season (three at Lewis and Clark, one at Memorial Coliseum). The Bobcats are 3-5 in road games.
           
The Vikings have won six straight at home dating to last season, with those wins coming at three different home venues (Peter W. Stott Center (2), Lewis and Clark College (3), Memorial Coliseum (1)). 
           
Thursday's game tips off at 8 p.m. at Lewis and Clark. 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 host Montana on Saturday in a 1 p.m. start. All Viking home games are being played 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.
           
Portland State does the Idaho State (Jan. 18)/Weber State (Jan. 20) road swing next week. 
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. MONTANA STATE
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Montana State leads the all-time series with Portland State, 33-22. In Big Sky Conference games, the Bobcats hold a 26-19 advantage... MSU swept the season series last year... the Vikings lead the series, 14-9, in Portland... in Big Sky Tournament games, the Vikings have won all four meetings.
• LAST SEASON, Jan. 21 at Peter W. Stott Center, MSU 71, PSU 65: Both teams shot 37% from the field, but the Bobcats used a 53-37 rebounding advantage to make the difference. MSU went on an 18-5 run in the second half to take control. Tyler Hall had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats. Deontae North came off the bench to score 23 points for the Vikings. Feb. 16 at Worthington Arena, MSU 92, PSU 90 (OT): Trailing by 11 with 3:48 left in regulation the Vikings rallied to force overtime. De'Sean Parsons made a free throw with 0.1 seconds left to send the game to OT. MSU's Tyler Hall hit a short jump shot in the lane with 3.9 left in overtime to win it. Parsons scored 28 points with nine rebounds for the Vikings. Bryce Canda had 15 points and six rebounds. Hall had 24 points for the Bobcats. Harald Frey added 18 points, four assists and three steals.
• 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 Bobcats are coached by Brian Fish in his fourth season. He is 48-62 overall, including 2-3 against the Vikings.
 
MONTANA STATE BOBCATS
• Montana State is an original member of the Big Sky Conference. The Bobcats have won four regular season Big Sky titles and two Big Sky Tournament titles. MSU has made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Bobcats were 16-16 last season, 9-9 and sixth in the Big Sky. They return five starters and eight letterwinners from that team.
• MSU was picked fourth in the Big Sky preseason polls this year. The Bobcats have started league play 4-0 and are 11-6 overall.
• The Bobcats average 78.0 points and allow 75.5 per game. They out-rebound opponents by two per game and force nearly two more turnovers per game than they commit.
• JR G Tyler Hall is one of the top players in the league. He averages 19.5 points, has made 63 three-point field goals and shoots .878 from the free throw line. Hall leads the Big Sky in three-pointers made.
• Hall's running mate, SO G Harald Frey is averaging 15.1 points, a team-leading 3.6 assists and has made 40 three-pointers. He also shoots .847 at the line.
• JR F Keljin Blevins averages 10.1 points and leads the team with 5.8 rebounds per game.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 11-5 this season, 4-0 at home, 6-3 on the road, 1-2 at neutral sites.
• The Vikings have won six straight at home dating to last season, with those wins coming at three different home venues (Peter W. Stott Center (2), Lewis and Clark College (3), Memorial Coliseum (1)). 
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 - 3 games, 3-0
  - 22 seasons - 283 games, 203-80 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 116-39 at home, including 65-32 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 176-190 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (11-12). 
• PSU is 116-58 in home games, 55-124 in road games and 5-9 in neutral-site games.
 
WHO IS HOT
• The Viking defense: PSU makes 12.1 steals per game and has a +9.4 turnover margin, both of which lead the nation... PSU forces 21.5 turnovers per game, which ranks second in the nation.
• For the third time in his career, SR G Deontae North scored 30 points. It came in the win at Idaho as he hit 11-15 from the field and a career-high 6-8 three-pointers. North has scored 20 or more in the last seven games, averaging 24.4 points per game... he now ranks second in the Big Sky in scoring (20.9).
• FR G Holland Woods hit the game-winning shot against Idaho on Saturday, converting a put-back from the middle of the key off a JR G Deante Strickland three-point miss. The basket came with 0.6 seconds remaining and turned a 72-71 deficit into a 73-72 win.
• SR F Brandon Hollins had 13 points and 11 rebounds at Eastern Washington for his second double-double of the season... he has made 32-49 shots over the last seven games (.653) and now ranks second in the Big Sky with a .591 field goal percentage.
 
WHO IS NOT
• The Vikings have shot .408 from the field, .253 from three-point range and .616 at the free throw line in their three Big Sky Conference games. The result has been three of their four lowest-scoring games (75 74, 73) and two losses.
• PSU has been out-rebounded in 10 of the last 13 games. 
• Portland State averages 22.4 fouls per game, most in the Big Sky and ranking 339th in the nation (among 351).
 
FIRST-YEAR COACHING RECORDS: New Portland State Head Coach Barret Peery has gotten off to a great start on the Park Blocks, compiling an 11-5 record. 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      11-5
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 12.1 steals per game to lead the nation.
• PSU leads the nation in turnover margin (+9.4).
• The Vikings force 21.5 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 nine times.
• Five Vikings rank in the top 13 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: 344 for 414 points (25.8 per game)
  • Fast break points: 231 (14.4 per game)
  • Offensive rebounds: 235 (14.7 to lead the Big Sky) for 229 second chance points (14.3 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
 
POINTING NORTH: SR G Deontae North is having a brilliant season for the Vikings. North leads the team in scoring (20.9) while averaging 4.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
• Ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in scoring, fifth in steals (1.7) and seventh in three-pointers made (2.4).
• North has scored 13 or more points in every game this season... he has nine 20-point games and two 30-point games.
• Has scored 20+ points in seven straight games.
• North has led the team in scoring nine 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 16.1 points and leads the team in rebounding (6.8), steals (2.2), and three-point field goals (39). 
• Canda ranks 10th in scoring, second in steals and sixth 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 seven times... he has five double-doubles.
• Has scored in double figures in 13 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 for nine games, he has moved into the starting lineup. He ranks second in minutes played (31.1), averages 10.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and a team-leading 5.7 assists. 
• Woods leads the Big Sky in assists and ranks fourth in steals (1.9).
• Woods has nine double-figure scoring games and two 20-point games.
• Has led the team in assists 11 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 7.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and ranks second in the Big Sky with 1.8 blocks per game.
• Has five double-figure scoring games.
• His seven blocked shots in only 14 minutes at Cal tied a school record.
 
FARRIS WHEEL: SR F Traylin Farris has been bothered by an ankle sprain, missing seven games this season. However, he continues to be productive when he plays, averaging 6.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per game.
• Had a double-double in the season-opening win at Portland: 11 points, 12 rebounds, four assists.
• Shoots .600 from the field.
 
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 (8.8) while coming off the bench. 
• Mayhew ranks third on the Vikings in three-point field goals (35) and averages 1.7 steals per game (sixth in the Big Sky)... he made a career-high five steals in the win over Stanford.
• He has twice set a career-high with 17 points in a game.  
• Scored in double figures six times.
 
BIG SKY LEADERS: The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 89.9
• Steals, 12.1
• Assists, 18.2
• Blocked Shots, 4.3
• Turnover Margin, +9.4
• Assist-to-Turnover Ratio, 1.5
• Offensive Rebounds, 14.7
• 3-pt FG Made, 10.3
• Assists, Holland Woods, 5.7
 
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 10.3 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 that have played have made a three-pointer... 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 68 double-figure scorers through 16 games (4.3 per game)... nine 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.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
• Nov. 11, PSU 80, Portland 75: Portland State scored the final 12 points of the game to pull out a come-form-behind win over Portland. The Vikings trailed 75-68 with 2:33 to go but forced two turnovers and four missed shots by the Pilots down the stretch. SR G Bryce Canda hit the big shot, a three-pointer with 34.3 seconds left, to give the Vikings a 78-75 lead. Canda led all scorers with 18 points. SR F Traylin Farris added 11 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high four assists.
• Nov. 14, PSU 111, Willamette 60: The Vikings set a school record with 22 steals in a win over Willamette. The Vikings forced 30 turnovers in all, turning them into 40 points. Seven players scored in double figures, led by SR G Deontae North's 19 points and seven assists. SR F Brandon Hollins had 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. SR G Bryce Canda added 15 points, nine rebounds and six steals.
• Nov. 18, PSU 94, UC Riverside 82: Portland State improved to 3-0 with a road at UC Riverside. The Vikings led for nearly 34 minutes, and UCR never got closer than seven points in the second half. SR G Bryce Canda scored a career-high 20 points to lead five Vikings in double figures. JR G Michael Mayhew scored a career-high 13 points off the bench. The Vikings forced 23 Highlander turnovers for 20 points. PSU is now 2-0 on the road.
• Nov. 20, PSU 83, Utah State 79: Portland State started strong, building an 18-point first half lead. But Utah State roared back to lead briefly in the second half. The Vikings forced nine Aggie turnovers in the last eight minutes of the game. SR G Bryce Canda and JR G Michael Mayhew, making his first career start, each scored 17 points as five players were in double figures. The win improved PSU to 4-0, 2-0 at home.
• Nov. 21, Canda Named Big Sky Conference Player Of The Week: In three wins over seven days, Canda averaged 17.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.3 assists per game. He shot 21-41 from the field (.512) as the Vikings beat Willamette (111-60), UC Riverside (94-82) and Utah State (83-79). 
• Nov. 23, Duke 99, PSU 81: Portland State gave top-ranked Duke a great challenge in the opening game of the PK80 Invitational. The Vikings led 49-45 at halftime and as late as 14 minutes remaining in the game. But the Blue Devils out-shot, out-rebounded and used a huge disparity in free throws (42 attempts to 12 for PSU) to engineer the win. SR G Deontae North had a game-high 24 points for the Vikings. PSU took its first loss, dropping to 4-1.
• Nov. 24, Butler 71, PSU 69: Portland State took it to the final shot, but couldn't pull off a come-from-behind win. The Vikings trailed the majority of the game, though never by double digits. Down by seven with 1:19 to play they pulled within two, but a late three-point attempt fell short. SR G Deontae North had a team-high 18 points and four assists. JR G Michael Mayhew had 17 points and SR G Bryce Canda added 14 points and six rebounds. PSU made 12 three-pointers, but the Bulldogs had the advantage in the paint, out-scoring PSU down low, 44-20.
• Nov. 26, PSU 87, Stanford 78: Portland State came from 12 points down to run away with a win in the 7th place game of the PK80 Invitational Motion Bracket. The Vikings forced Stanford into 28 turnovers, converting them into 40 points. A 31-8 second-half run proved decisive. SR G Deontae North led the Vikings with 22 points and seven rebounds.
• Nov. 28, North Named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week: In three games over Thanksgiving weekend at the PK80 Invitational, SR G Deontae North averaged 21.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals. North shot 18-43 from the field (.419), 7-16 from three-point range (.438) and 21-26 at the free throw line (.808). North had 24 points against Duke, then scored a team-high 22 points with seven rebounds and three steals in win over Stanford.
• Dec. 2, PSU 125, Portland Bible 50: Portland State established new school records for margin of victory (75), steals (27) and dunks (13) in a game. PSU also scored the most points since Feb. 3, 1978 (133). The Vikings shot .570 from the field, forced 38 turnovers and turned them into 52 points. SR G Bryce Canda led six Vikings in double figures with 20 points. JR G Deante Strickland (11) and FR G Holland Woods (10) combined for 21 assists.
• Dec. 6, PSU 94, Loyola Marymount 85: The pressure continued as the Vikings forced Loyola Marymount into 33 turnovers and made 20 steals. PSU led the entire game on the way to its third straight victory. SR G Bryce Canda tied his career high with 20 points and set a new career high with 13 rebounds. FR G Holland Woods also had a career-high 20 points, four assists and three steals. JR F Jamie Orme came off the bench for nine points, six rebounds, six steals and three blocked shots. At 7-2, PSU matched its best nine-game record in 22 seasons in the Big Sky.
• Dec. 9, PSU 87, Santa Clara 84: Portland State came from 17 points down with 14:51 to play to win the game on the road. The Vikings shot 20-24 from the field in the second half (.833), including making their last 16 shots in a row. They didn't take the lead until a three-pointer by Michael Mayhew with 56 seconds remaining. SR G Deontae North (30 pts) and FR G Holland Woods (26 pts) each posted career highs. North is 7-7 from the field in the second half and Woods is 6-6. It marked the fourth straight win for the Vikings and improved them to 4-0 on the road.
• Dec. 12, Woods Named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week: FR G Holland Woods had his two best games of the season as the Vikings picked up a pair of road victories. "Boo Boo" posted back-to-back career-scoring highs with 20 points in a 94-85 win at Loyola Marymount, then 26 points in an 87-84 win at Santa Clara on Saturday.For the week, he averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals. He shot 16-21 from the field (.761) and 11-12 at the line (.917).
• Dec. 13, Oregon 95, PSU 84: Oregon out-shot the Vikings .500 to .378 from the field and that proved to be the difference as Portland State got 10 more shots up than the Ducks. PSU last led 35-32 with five minutes to play in the first half, but went into a shooting slump. Trailing by 14 in the second half, the Vikings cut it to two points on three occasions, but couldn't get over the hump. SR G Bryce Canda scored a career-high 31 points and SR G Deontae North added 23 points. FR G Holland Woods handed out 10 assists. The loss ends a four-game Viking winning streak.
• Dec. 16, PSU 116, Linfield 71: Portland State rang up 69 second half points to pull away from Linfield and record another blowout win against a lower division school. SR G Deontae North scored 27 points while SR G Bryce Canda had a near-triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. PSU made 18 three-pointers and forced 27 Wildcat turnovers to pad their victory. PSU is now 4-0 at home and has won six straight at home overall.
• Dec. 21, PSU 106, Cal 81: Portland State jumps to an 11-0 lead, then by more than 20 midway through the first half. The Vikings lead by 20+ most of the way home with an easy wire-to-wire win on the road. PSU goes to 10-3 at the conclusion of non-conference play, its best non-conference record ever. SR G Bryce Canda leads the Vikings with 23 points. SR C Ryan Edwards ties a school record with seven blocked shots and FR G Holland Woods hands off a career-high 13 assists - third most in school history.
• Dec. 30, Sacramento State 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 Gs Deontae North's 20 points and nine rebounds. SR G Bryce Canda had his fifth double-double (11 pts, 10 reb).
• Jan. 4, Eastern Washington 81, PSU 74: Portland State suffered through its second straight poor shooting night, hitting only .368 from the field and .150 from three-point range. Still, PSU was within two in the final minute before losing to the Eagles. SR G Deontae North had his sixth straight 20-point game, leading the Vikings with 21. SR F Brandon Hollins had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
• Jan. 6, PSU 73, Idaho 72: FR G Holland Woods hit a put-back, game-winner from the middle of the key with 0.6 seconds remaining to turn a 72-71 deficit into a 73-72 win. The Vikings trailed by five with just over a minute to go, but got catch-up baskets from SR Fs Brandon Hollins and Traylin Farris, setting up Woods' winner off a JR G Deante Strickland miss. SR G Deontae North had his second 30-point performance of the season, making 11-15 field goals and 6-8 three-pointers.