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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (5-6) vs. NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS (6-5)
Monday, December 31, 2018, 2:05 p.m. • Viking Pavilion (3,094), Portland, OR
Live Stream: Pluto TV Channel 232, www.pluto.tv, www.WatchBigSky.com • Play-by-play: Matt Richert
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
Portland State Basketball opens its 23rd campaign in the Big Sky Conference, the second under Head Coach Barret Peery, when it hosts Northern Colorado in an afternoon game on New Year's Eve at the Viking Pavilion.
     
The Vikings, two-time winners (2005, 2008) of the Big Sky regular season title in the previous 22 years, will seek a third in a slightly different looking league in 2019. The Big Sky Conference has been reduced from 12 to 11 teams with the departure of the University of North Dakota. That changes the formatting of the Big Sky Tournament in March, creating five first-round byes, rather than four. The Big Sky has also moved to a true double round-robin format, with each team playing the other 10 twice during the regular season and increasing the number of league games to 20.
     
PSU, 5-6, desires a strong start when it meets Northern Colorado, 6-5, in the league opener. The Vikings closed out their non-conference schedule on a three-game losing streak, albeit to three teams with a combined record of 27-12 heading into the Christmas break.
     
Portland State was picked to place fifth in the Big Sky Conference preseason coaches poll and seventh in the Big Sky media poll. Northern Colorado was picked to place third in both polls.
     
After facing UNC, Portland State is on the road for the next two games, four of the next five, and eight out of 11. The Vikings will close out the Big Sky schedule with six of eight games at home beginning on Feb. 14. The Big Sky Tournament takes place on Mar. 13-16 with the champion heading to the NCAA Tournament. PSU won tournament titles in 2008 and 2009.
     
The game with UNC is also the first of three games in six days for the Vikings as they travel to Montana State and Montana later in the week.      
     
Northern Colorado wrapped up its non-conference schedule with a 6-5 record. The Bears started 6-1, but have lost four straight - with all four coming away from home. Included  on their schedule are quality wins over Pepperdine, and at Wyoming and Denver. UNC is 3-3 in road games, 0-2 in neutral site games.
     
The Bears will play one game before facing the Vikings. UNC starts its Big Sky Conference schedule at Sacramento State (6-3) on Saturday night, then will travel to Portland.
     
Northern Colorado is a strong offensive team, leading the Big Sky in scoring at 83.9 points per game. The Bears also feature the Big Sky's top scorer in Jordan Davis, who averages 24.0 points per game.
     
PSU guards Holland "Boo Boo" Woods (14.5 ppg, 5.1 apg) and Michael Nuga (14.7 ppg) will lead the Vikings as they start conference play. Also having a strong non-conference performance was JR C Sal Nuhu (10.7 ppg, 6.5 ppg, 1.9 bpg). 
     
Next Monday's game with Northern Colorado tips off at 2:05 p.m. It will be available via live stream at Pluto TV Channel 232, www.pluto.tv and www.WatchBigSky.com. Live statistics are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
COMING UP
Portland State travels to Montana State (Jan. 3) and Montana (Jan. 5) next week. That begins a stretch of eight of the next 11 games on the road for PSU. The Vikings wrap up Big Sky play with six of eight games at home leading into the Big Sky Conference Tournament, Mar. 13-16.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. NORTHERN COLORADO
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series, 18-9, and the Big Sky series, 14-9. However, the Bears have won the last three meetings between the teams, two of which were PSU home games.
• LAST YEAR: Mar. 1, UNC 85, PSU 78: The teams met only once in last year's unbalanced schedule format. It was a Northern Colorado win at PSU's alternate home of Lewis and Clark College. The Bears shot .522 from the field and got a stellar effort from Andre Spight who scored 37 points (15-24 FG, 3-5 3-pt, 4-7 FT). Ryan Edwards had 19 points and seven rebounds for the Vikings.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery (Southern Utah, 1996) is in his second season on the Park Blocks and has a 25-20 career record. Peery is 0-1 against Northern Colorado... Peery's 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 Bears are led by third-year Head Coach Jeff Linder (Western State). He has a 43-35 career record at UNC, including 3-0 against the Vikings.
 
NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS
• Northern Colorado is located in Greeley, CO and is in its 13th season as a Big Sky member.
• Last year, the Bears were 26-12 overall, 11-7 and fifth place in the Big Sky Conference. The Bears went on to win four straight games and capture the CollegeInsider.com post-season tournament title.
• Three starters and six letterwinners return from that team. Included is Jordan Davis, who was a third team All-Big Sky Conference selection last season.
• Northern Colorado leads the Big Sky Conference in scoring (83.9), scoring margin (+10.1), field goal percentage (.480), free throw percentage (.763) and three-point field goals (10.9).
• Senior guard Jordan Davis leads the Big Sky in scoring (24.0) and ranks third in assists (4.8).
• Junior guard Jonah Radebaugh is tops in the Big Sky in minutes played (35.7). He averages 12.0 points and shoots .404 from three-point range.
• Junior guard Trent Harris averages 11.9 points and has made 34-75 three-pointers (.453) to rank third in Big Sky in makes and fifth in percentage.
 
PORTLAND STATE IN THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE
• Portland State is in its 23rd season of Big Sky Conference play. PSU won the 2004-05 and 2007-08 Big Sky Conference regular season titles. The Vikings have had eight winning records in conference play and earned 14 Big Sky Tournament berths in 18 seasons eligible (the BSC tournament now includes all teams), winning the 2008 and 2009 Big Sky Conference Tournament titles.
• Portland State was picked to place fifth in the Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, seventh in the Big Sky Media Poll (polls listed on page 10 of this release).
• The Big Sky Conference features a balanced schedule in 2018-19 for the first time in several years. The change to an 11-team league has made for a 20-game league slate.
• This marks the fourth year in Big Sky history in which all teams will qualify for the post-season tournament. It also marks the first year that the tournament will be hosted in Boise, ID (it was held in Reno, NV the last three years). The tournament takes place on Mar. 13-16 with the top five teams earning first-round byes into the quarterfinals.
• The Vikings are 12-13 all-time in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
 
A QUICK LOOK AT NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
A challenging non-conference schedule led Portland State to a 5-6 record as it prepared for Big Sky Conference play. Highlights included a 71-64 win over UC Riverside in the Grand Opening of the new Viking Pavilion, and an 87-78 victory over crosstown rival University of Portland. Lowlights included some inconsistent shooting performances, particularly on the road. However, a look at Portland State's opponents shows the guys in the other jerseys had a lot to do with it. The Vikings' six losses came against teams with a current combined record of 50-24 (as of Dec. 25).
     
While the Vikings sought to find their gme offensively, some newcomers were revealed to be big contributors. Despite starting only one game, JR G Michael Nuga was the team's leading scorer (14.7 ppg in only 20 mpg), and JR C Sal Nuhu was the team's leading rebounder (6.5) and ranked second in the Big Sky with 1.9 blocked shots per game. Preseason All-Big Sky Conference selection SO G Holland Woods was solid, averaging 14.5 points and 5.1 assists.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 5-6 on the season, 4-2 at home, 0-3 on the road, 1-1 at neutral sites.
• The Vikings have lost three games in a row.
• PSU was 20-14 in 2017-18, 8-5 at home, 10-6 on the road, 2-3 at neutral sites.
• In Big Sky Conference games, PSU was 9-9 (4-5 at home, 5-4 on the road).
Home Court(s)
• Portland State opens the Viking Pavilion at the Peter W. Stott Center in 2018-19. The Stoller Family Court will be PSU's fifth (and hopefully final) home court since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97. The main home court was the old Peter W. Stott Center. However, the Vikings also used the Rose Garden (now Moda Center) and Memorial Coliseum occasionally over the years. In 2017-18, PSU used Lewis & Clark College's Pamplin Sports Center as a home court while the Viking Pavilion was being completed. Here is the breakdown:
  - Viking Pavilion - 6 games, 4-2
  - 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 - 12 games, 7-5
  - 23rd season - 298 games, 211-87 at home overall
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 124-48 at home, including 71-38 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
• Portland State has lost only 10 non-conference home games in the last 12 seasons (53-10). PSU is 28-10 against Division I schools, and 25-0 against lower division schools over that span.
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 185-198 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (12-13).
• PSU is 120-63 in home games, 59-125 in road games and 6-10 in neutral-site games.
 
WHO IS HOT
• JR G Michael Nuga scored a season-high 24 points (9-19 FG, 4-11 3-pt, 2-2 FT) against CSU Bakersfield.  It was his second 20-point game of the season and he has been in double figures in his last seven game (he missed two with a sprained toe). Nuga has averaged 17.1 points during that span.
• JR C Sal Nuhu scored in double figures in seven of the last nine games, and scored nine points in each of the other two.
• Portland State leads the nation with 20.3 offensive rebounds per game... the Vikings have out-rebounded 10 of 11 opponents this season.
• JR F Robert McCoy matched his season high with 12 rebounds against CSU Bakersfield.
• SO G Holland Woods matched his season high with nine assists against CSU Bakersfield.
 
WHO IS NOT
• PSU has lost two in a row at home and three straight overall.
• Portland State is shooting .270 from three-point range this season, which ranks last in the Big Sky Conference.
• The Vikings are averaging 24.4 fouls per game - 350th in the nation - including a season-high 36 against UC Santa Barbara.
 
YOU'VE GOT TO PUT THE BISCUIT IN THE BASKET: There is no question that shooting efficiency is the most important element in basketball. So far, the Vikings have been inconsistent when chucking the rock at the old peach basket, with distinct differences in shooting between wins and losses, and home and road games. Here is a breakdown:
• Field goal percentage: 312-763, .409
• Two-point percentage: 240-496, .483
• Three-point percentage: 72-267, .270
• Shooting in wins: .491/.379
• Shooting in losses: .331/.185
• Shooting in home games: .469/.341
• Shooting in road/neutral site games: .342/.197
 
PEERY PRESSURE, PART II: Portland State Head Coach Barret Peery emphasizes a full-court pressure defense that forces turnovers and creates transition opportunities. Then, on the offensive end, his team relentlessly attacks the offensive glass. Here are the analytics of those two areas. In 2018-19:
• The Vikings have forced 19.1 turnovers per game and have a +3.4 turnover margin.
• The Vikings average 20.3 offensive rebounds per game while opponents average 8.5.
• In all, the difference in total turnovers (37) and total offensive rebounds (129) is 166 extra possessions compared to opponents (15.1 per game).
• As a result, PSU has 176 more field goal attempts than the opponents. Opponents have 23 more free throw attempts.
 
CHEERING FOR BOO BOO: SO G Holland "Boo Boo" Woods ranks second on the Vikings' in scoring (14.5), and first in assists (5.1). He ranks 12th in the Big Sky in scoring, second in assists and seventh in steals (1.5).
• He has led the team in scoring six times and assists eight times this season.
• Woods, the Big Sky leader in assists last season (5.6), has led the Vikings in assists in 33 of 44 career games.
• Scored in double figures seven times with three 20+ point games.
• Woods reached 200 career assists in 36 career games. He is now five assists short of reaching the Portland State all-time top 10 for assists.
• Had a season-high nine assists twice this season.
• Went for 20 points and five assists at Stanford.
• Had 27 points (8-14 FG, career-high 5-7 3-pt, 6-6 FT) and six assists in a win over Portland.
 
NU-COMERS PLAYING WELL: Portland State newcomers JR G Michael Nuga and JR C Sal Nuhu are having a big impact for the Vikings.
Nuga Nuggets:
• Nuga leads the team in scoring at 14.7 points per game in 20 minutes per night.
• He is shooting .495 from the field and .380 from three-point range.
• Has scored in double figures the last seven games, averaging 17.1 points.
• Went for 17 points and nine rebounds against Stanford.
• Scored a season-high 24 points against CSU Bakersfield.
Yahoo For Nuhu:
• Nuhu averages 10.6 points in 20.8 minutes per game.
• He averages 6.5 rebounds to lead the Vikings and rank seventh in the Big Sky. He ranks second in the Big Sky with 1.9 blocked shots per game.
• Nuhu shoots .553 from the field.
• Has scored in double figures eight times.
• Posted a double-double against Stanford with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
• Went for 10 points, nine rebounds and a season-high six blocked shots against Portland.
 
FINDING HIS F-ORME: SR F Jamie Orme is taking a big step forward in 2018-19 by moving into the starting lineup. He averaged 4.0 points and 3.1 rebounds last season in 13 minutes per game. Now he is averaging 8.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in 21 minutes per game.
• Ranks 14th in the Big Sky in rebounding.
• Scored in double figures six times and has two double-doubles this season.
• Has season highs of 19 points, 13 rebounds (twice) and five assists.
 
WHAT BROWN CAN DO FOR YOU: SR G Derek Brown has also taken a big step up in 2018-19 with his move to the starting lineup. Last year, he averaged 5.1 points in 12 minutes per game... this season Brown averages 9.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals.
• Led the team in scoring three times, assists twice and scored in double figures six times.
• Has season highs of 16 points, six rebounds and eight assists.
 
PARTICIPATION AWARDS ALL AROUND: Portland State Head Coach Barret Peery's style of aggressive full-court pressure requires fresh bodies at all times. The Vikings sub early and often and everybody plays. So far, the core 11 players are all averaging at least 12 minutes per game or more. Only six average 20 minutes, and only SO G Holland Woods averages over 30.
 
IF YOU BUILD IT: The crowd of 2,020 that attended the game against Portland (12/5) in the Viking Pavilion is the largest crowd of the season so far. Portland State's home opener against UC Riverside had a crowd of 1,424. The largest recent crowd was a sellout of that 1,500 attended the Portland State/Oregon State game in the old Stott Center gym on Dec. 12, 2012... PSU is averaging 1,125 fans through six home games - the most since the 2007-08 season (1,347).
 
Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference in:
Rebounds Per Game  46.1
Offensive Rebounds   20.3
Rebounding Margin    +12.5
Turnover Margin          +3.4
Steals                            10.5
 
NEW RECORDS: Portland State took advantage of a lower division opponent in beating Portland Bible, 123-40, on Dec. 1. The result was several new school records:
• Margin of victory: 83 points
• Turnovers forced: 43
• Steals: 31
• Individual steals: Deante Strickland, 9
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL
• Nov. 6: #14 Oregon 84, PSU 57: The Vikings opened the season with their usual aggressive approach on defense and the glass, but suffered through a woeful shooting night in a loss to the 14th-ranked Ducks. PSU made only 21-73 shots from the field (.288) compared to 27-50 for Oregon (.540). SO G Holland Woods led the Vikings with 13 points and three assists.
• Nov. 10: PSU 71, UC Riverside 64: The Vikings held the Highlanders without a field goal for eight minutes late in the second half. PSU trailed by four with 8:24 to play but pulled away in the closing minutes leading by as many as 10. SR G Derek Brown scored 12 points with six rebounds and three assists.
• Nov. 16: PSU 125, Willamette 61: PSU needed little time to dispatch Division III Willamette, jumping to a 23-0 lead in the first five minutes and cruising to an easy win. SO G Holland Woods and JR G Michael Nuga each scored 22 points, while SR F Jamie Orme (19 pts, 13 reb) and JR F Robert McCoy (11 pts, 12 reb) each had double-doubles.
• Peery Wins 200th: Portland State Head Basketball Coach Barret Peery captured his 200th career victory on Saturday in a 125-61 win over Willamette. Peery, who is in his second season at Portland State, is currently 22-15 as Vikings' Head Coach. He also won 178 games in six seasons at the junior college level (93-11, Indian Hills CC (IA), 2011-14; College of Southern Idaho, 85-19, 2005-08). His composite record is 200-45.
• Nov. 23: UCSB 76, PSU 69: Portland State shoots .355 from the field, making only 3-23 three-pointers in the game. The Vikings also had 36 fouls, sending the Gauchos to the line 42 times. JR G Michael Nuga came off the bench to score 13 points for PSU.
• Nov. 24: PSU 91, Northwest Nazarene 75: Portland State jumped to a 23-5 lead in the first eight minutes and never looked back. The Vikings held the Nighthawks to .367 shooting and forced 20 turnovers. SR G Derek Brown scored 16 points with five rebounds. SO G Holland Woods had 16 points and nine assists.
• Nov. 28: Stanford 79, PSU 67: Another struggle in the shooting department cost the Vikings big as they out-rebounded Stanford 51-36 and forced 19 Cardinal turnovers. PSU made only 26-82 shots (.317) and 2-24 three-pointers (.083). SO G Holland Woods had 20 points and five assists, JR G Michael Nuga scored 17 points with nine rebounds, and JR C Sal Nuhu added 15 points and 14 rebounds.
• Dec. 1: PSU 123, Portland Bible 40: PSU took advantage of lower division Portland Bible setting new school records for margin of victory (83), turnovers forced (43) and steals (31). JR F Robert McCoy led seven Vikings in double figures with 26 points and eight rebounds. JR C Sal Nuhu had 17 points on 8-8 field goals in only 10 minutes of action. SR G Deante Strickland had eight assists and a school-record nine steals.
• Dec. 5: PSU 87, Portland 78: SO G Holland Woods had one of his best games as a Viking, hitting a career-high five three-pointers on the way to a 27-point, six-assist night. SR F Jamie Orme added a double-double (10 pts, 13 reb) and JR C Sal Nuhu came close (10 pts, 9 reb, 6 blk) as the Vikings outrebounded the Pilots, 55-29, winning their third straight over UP.
• Dec. 12: BYU 85, PSU 66: The Vikings suffered through another poor shooting performance on the road, hitting only .313 from the field and 5-24 from three-point range (.208), and committed 21 turnovers. That nullified a 56-32 rebounding advantage. SR G Derek Brown led the Vikings with 14 points.
• Dec. 15: Loyola Marymount 85, PSU 58: The Vikings shot only .347 from the field and had 18 turnovers in losing their first home game in the Viking Pavilion, and second in a row overall. PSU was also out-rebounded for the first time all season (37-36). JR F Rashaad Goolsby and SO G Holland Woods each had a game-high 12 points.
• Dec. 20: CSU Bakersfield 76, PSU 71: Portland State came back from a 19-point second-half deficit to get within one on two occasions, but couldn't quite get over the hump. PSU made only two field goals in the last two minutes as the Roadrunners hung on. PSU was out-shot from the field .473 to .386. JR G Michael scored a season-high 24 points, JR F Robert McCoy grabbed 12 rebounds and SO G Holland Woods handed off nine assists for the Vikings.