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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (20-13) vs. SAN DIEGO TOREROS (19-13)
CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT), Second Round
Saturday, March 17, 2018, 7 p.m. • Jenny Craig Pavilion (5,100), San Diego, CA
Live Video and Audio: www.WatchCIT.com, www.TheW.tv • Play-by-Play: Jack Cronin (USD)
Live Stats: www.usdtoreros.com/ot/usd-gametracker.html
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
The Portland State Vikings will open post-season play this Saturday when they meet the University of San Diego in a second-round CollegeInsider.com Tournament game. Tip off for Saturday's game in San Diego is scheduled for 7 p.m. It will be live streamed at www.WatchCIT.com and www.TheW.tv.
        
The Vikings are making their first post-season appearance since 2014 when they played, ironically, in San Diego in a CIT game won by the Toreros.
        
Portland State (20-13) hopes it will be different this year when they debut in the 20-team CIT. The CIT is in its 10th year and was established to feature strong Mid-Major programs that do not otherwise receive post-season bids. CollegeInsider.com is a proponent of Mid-Major basketball and sponsors the Mid-Major Top 25.
        
The Vikings last played in the Big Sky Conference Tournament last week. PSU won an opening-round game over Sacramento State, then lost in a quarterfinal game to Big Sky finalist Eastern Washington (now competing in the CBI). Despite that loss, PSU has won five of its last seven games. The Vikings are 10-5 in road games this season.
        
San Diego (19-13) won its opening-round game of the CIT on Monday, beating Hartford, 88-72. Prior to that, the Toreros lost to BYU in their opening-round game of the West Coast Conference Tournament. USD is 11-6 in home games at the Jenny Craig Pavilion this season.
        
The winner of Saturday's game will advance to a quarterfinal round game next week against an opponent to be determined. CIT games are taking place throughout the week around the country (see schedule below). Four first-round games took place on Monday, trimming the field to 16.
 
PORTLAND STATE AND THE POST-SEASON
The Vikings went 20-13 on the year, marking their third-best season in their 22-year history in the Big Sky Conference. PSU was knocked out of the Big Sky Conference Tournament last week by Big Sky-finalist Eastern Washington, eliminating their chances of an NCAA Tournament bid. However, the CIT bid marks the seventh time in its 57-season basketball history that Portland State has received a national post-season bid, and the second time PSU has been picked for the CIT (NAIA in 1955 and 1956; NCAA College Division in 1967; NCAA Division I Tournament in 2008 and 2009; CIT in 2014 and 2018).
        
Portland State will be a road team during the CIT due to its lack of a home facility in 2017-18. The Vikings played home games at Lewis and Clark College (and one at Memorial Coliseum) as the new $51-million Viking Pavilion was being completed on campus. PSU was 8-5 in the "home-away-from-home" games, but even better on the road. The Vikings compiled a 10-5 road mark, which proved to be the best road record in school history (The Vikings were also 2-3 in neutral site games).
        
Portland State features the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year in point guard Holland "Boo Boo" Woods. The 6-footer out of Phoenix averages 10.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and a Big Sky-leading 5.6 assists per game. Other key players include leading scorer Bryce Canda. The senior guard from Portland averages 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and has team-highs of 75 three-pointers and 55 steals. SR F Brandon Hollins has been a team sparkplug averaging 9.9 points and a team-best 7.6 rebounds. SR C Ryan Edwards (9.5 points, 3.9 rebounds) ranks second in the Big Sky Conference with 55 blocked shots.
        
Head Coach Barret Peery leads the Vikings after having the most successful season ever for a first-year head coach on the Park Blocks.
                
PSU has been among the nation's top scoring teams (85.8, 3rd), while also ranking first in turnover margin (+5.4), second in steals (9.9), turnovers forced (18.1) offensive rebounding (14.6).
 
COLLEGEINSIDER.COM TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
The CIT uses the old NIT model in which there is no set bracket. Future round opponents are determined by the results of the previous round. Games are played at home sites.
 
First Round, Mar. 12
Central Michigan 94, Fort Wayne 89
Drake 80, Abilene Christian 73
Liberty 65, North Carolina A&T 52
San Diego 88, Hartford (72)
 
Second Round (team matchups and times TBA)
Central Michigan (20-14 MAC)
Wofford (21-12 Southern)
Northern Colorado (22-12 Big Sky)
Sam Houston State (19-14 Southland)
Drake (17-16 Missouri Valley)
Liberty (21-14 Big South)
 
Wednesday, Mar. 14 (Live stream at www.WatchCIT.com)
Niagara (19-13 MAAC) at Eastern Michigan (21-12 MAC), 4 p.m. PT
Texas San Antonio (19-14 Conference USA) at Lamar (19-13 Southland), 5 p.m. PT
Saint Francis PA (18-12 Northeast) at Illinois Chicago (17-15 Horizon), 5 p.m. PT
 
Thursday, Mar. 15 (Live stream at www.WatchCIT.com)
Louisiana Monroe (16-15 Sun Belt) at Austin Peay (18-14 Ohio Valley), 5 p.m. PT
 
Saturday, Mar. 17 (Live stream at www.WatchCIT.com)
Portland State (20-13 Big Sky) at San Diego (19-13 WCC), 7 p.m. PT
 
Quarterfinals, March 22-25, sites and teams TBA
 
Semifinals, March 28, sites and teams TBA (televised on CBS Sports Network)
4 p.m and 6 p.m PT
 
Championship, March 30, sites and teams TBA (televised on CBS Sports Network)
4 p.m. PT
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. SAN DIEGO
• ALL-TIME SERIES: San Diego leads the all-time series with Portland State, 5-1, including 3-0 in San Diego. The most recent meeting between the schools came on March 18, 2014 - an 87-65 San Diego win - also in a CIT game.
• COMMON OPPONENTS: Portland State and San Diego have four common opponents this season: Northern Arizona, Portland, Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount. The Vikings are 4-0 against those schools (1-0 against each). The Toreros are 5-2 against those schools (1-0 vs. NAU; 2-0 vs. LMU; 1-1 vs. UP; 1-1 vs. SC).
• VIKINGS vs. THE WEST COAST CONFERENCE: Portland State had success this season against West Coast Conference schools, going 3-0. The Vikings won all three games on the road (Portland, 80-75; Loyola Marymount, 94-85; Santa Clara, 87-84)... PSU is 39-71 all-time against current members of the WCC.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery is in his first season on the Park Blocks. Peery's 20 wins are the most ever by a first-year coach at Portland State. 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 Toreros are led by acting Head Coach Sam Scholl.
 
SAN DIEGO TOREROS
• The University of San Diego is a member of the West Coast Conference. The Toreros are 19-13 overall and went 9-9 in the WCC, tying for fourth place. USD is 11-6 at home this season.
• The Toreros average 70.1 points and allow 66.1 points per game. They have held opponents to .413 shooting from the field and .304 three-point field goal shooting, which ranks sixth in the nation. USD makes 8.5 three-pointers per game while giving up only 4.8.
• The Toreros defeated Hartford, 88-72, on Monday in a first-round CIT game. San Diego shot .582 from the field, making 12 three-pointers, and out-rebounded Hartford, 32-24. Six Toreros scored in double figures led by 16 points from Cameron Neubauer. Isaiah Wright had 14 points and 11 assists.
• San Diego is led by junior forward Isaiah Pineiro who averages 15.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Pineiro played the 2015-16 season at Portland State before transferring to USD.
• Junior guard Isaiah Wright averages 13.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.
• Junior guard Olin Carter III averages 12.4 points and has made a team-high 82 three-point field goals.
 
WHAT THE VIKINGS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
Here is a look at the memorable moments and milestones for the Portland State Vikings in the 2017-18 season:
• 20 wins - the most by a Viking team since 2008-09 when it reached the NCAA Tournament... also the third-most wins in the Big Sky era (22 seasons) and third time PSU has reached 20 wins (five times in school history).
• 10-5 road record - Portland State has the most road wins and best road winning percentage in school history. Including neutral site games (12-8), the Vikings also have the most "away from home wins" in school history (11-9 in 2008-09).
• Head Coach Barret Peery has the most wins (20) and second-best winning percentage (.606) by a first-year coach at the Division I level in Portland State history.
• The Vikings beat two Pac-12 schools (Stanford, Cal) in the same season for the first time in school history.
• PSU's 10-3 non-conference record was its best in school history. The Vikings three losses came against prominent programs (Duke, Butler, Oregon).
• Comeback wins - Portland State has nine second-half come-from-behind victories (four by double digits). Six of those have been on the road, two at Memorial Coliseum.
• Portland State was 7-1 against teams from other Division I basketball conferences in the west (3-0 vs. West Coast Conference; 2-1 vs Pac-12; 1-0 against vs. Big West; 1-0 vs. Mountain West).
• Scoring - Portland State is averaging 85.8 points per game this season, the most since 1976-77 (91.0).
• PSU is nationally-ranked in scoring (85.8, 3rd), steals (9.9, 2nd), turnover margin (+5.4, 1st), turnovers forced (18.1, 2nd) and offensive rebounds (14.5, 2nd).
• Portland State's CIT bid marks the seventh time in its 57-season basketball history that PSU has received a national post-season bid, and the second time PSU has been picked for the CIT (NAIA in 1955 and 1956; NCAA College Division in 1967; NCAA Division I Tournament in 2008 and 2009; CIT in 2014 and 2018).
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 20-13 this season, 8-5 at home, 10-5 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).
• PSU is 9-5 in games decided by five points or less or overtime.
• The Vikings are 2-1 in overtime.
 
WHO IS HOT
• The Vikings. PSU has won its last two games and five of the last six.
• SR G Holland Woods scored 18 points, grabbed six rebounds and handed off four assists in the Vikings' Big Sky Tournament first-round win over Sacramento State. He scored the Vikings' last 11 points over the final 3:20, hitting a three-pointer, a jump shot and six straight free throws... Woods had 10 points, four rebounds and three assists in a Big Sky Tournament quarterfinal loss to Eastern Washington.
• JR G Derek Brown came off the bench to score a team-high 14 points (5-5 FG, 2-2 3-pt, 2-2 FT) with four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 24 minutes against Eastern Washington.
• JR G Deante Strickland Strickland has averaged 12.2 points over the last seven games while coming off the bench.
 
WHO IS NOT
• Portland State shot 44-113 (.389) in two Big Sky Conference Tournament games.
• PSU averages 22.1 fouls per game, ranking 350th in the nation (among 351).
 
MORE ABOUT WINS: With 20 wins this season, the Vikings now rank third in the win column in 22 seasons as a Big Sky member... PSU's 20 wins are the most since the 2008-09 season when the Vikings reached the NCAA Tournament... Portland State has three 20-win seasons in its Big Sky era and six in 57 competitive seasons of basketball at Portland State... the lists:
 
Most wins in a season, Big Sky era:
2007-08: 23-10
2008-09: 23-10
2017-18: 20-13
2004-05: 19-9
2006-07: 19-13
1998-99: 17-11
2011-12: 17-15
2013-14: 17-15
 
Portland State's 20-win seasons, All-time:
2007-08: 23-10 (Division I/Big Sky Conference)
2008-09: 23-10 (Division I/Big Sky Conference)
1949-50: 21-9 (JC school playing in NAIA Oregon Collegiate Conference)
1955-56: 21-8 (NAIA/Oregon Collegiate Conference)
1958-59: 20-8 (NAIA/Oregon Collegiate Conference)
2017-18: 20-13 (Division I/Big Sky Conference)
 
FIRST-YEAR COACHING RECORDS: New Portland State Head Coach Barret Peery has had a good first year on the Park Blocks. He now has the most wins by a first-year coach in PSU history. Below is a look at the best coaching records for first-year head coaches in Portland State history, ranked by winning percentage.
 
Year         Coach               W-L
1947-48    Joe Holland        14-5
2017-18    Barret Peery     20-13
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
 
THE ROAD - NOT AS ROUGH AS IT SEEMS: Portland State was 10-5 in road games this season (5-4 in Big Sky road games). That is the most road wins for a Viking team in school history. PSU's previous best road mark in 22 seasons in the Big Sky Conference was 8-7 in 2007-08... including neutral site games, PSU is 12-8 in games away from home, which also ranks as the most "away from home wins" in a season (11-9 in 2008-09)... PSU's road winning percentage (10-5, .667) is better than its home winning percentage (8-5, .615).
 
Best Road Records, Big Sky era (1996-2018)
2017-18    10-5
2007-08    8-7
2008-09    7-7
 
THE COMEBACK: Portland State's come-from-behind victory at Southern Utah (2/22) marked the ninth time this season that Portland State has erased a second-half deficit (four by double digits) and pulled out a win. Six 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.
• Beat Montana State, 80-77, on Feb. 10 (R) - trailed by 10 with 12:12 remaining.
• Beat Idaho State, 91-77, on Feb. 17 (H) - trailed by seven with 19:46 remaining.
• Beat Southern Utah, 96-91 in overtime, on Feb. 22 (R) - trailed by nine with 13:59 remaining, six with 4:36 left (trailed by 14 in the first half).
 
CLUTCH SHOOTERS: FR G Holland Woods hit the fourth truly "clutch" shot of the season for the Vikings (and the second by him) when he buried a three-pointer with 3.2 seconds left at Southern Utah to tie the game at 80-80 and second it to overtime. PSU went on to win 96-91. Here is a look at the Vikings' other "Big Shots" this season:
• Woods hit a game-winning shot with 0.6 points left against Idaho on Jan. 6 giving PSU a 73-72 win. 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.
• Although they didn't come in the last five seconds, SR G Bryce Canda hit decisive three-pointers on two occasions this season, with both coming on the road. His three at Portland with 34.3 seconds left broke a 75-75 tie in an 80-75 win. Later in the season (Feb. 10), Canda hit a three with 18.9 seconds left to break a 77-77 tie in an 80-77 win at Montana State.
 
GRAND LARCENY: Portland State has set a new school record for steals in a season for the third straight year. In 2015-16, the Vikings had 263 steals (8.5 per game). In 2016-17 they had 307 (9.9 per game). This year, they have 327 steals (9.9 per game).
• The Vikings average 9.9 steals per game to rank second in the nation.
• PSU leads the nation in turnover margin (+5.4).
• The Vikings force 18.1 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 11 times.
• Three Vikings rank in the top 10 in steals in the Big Sky Conference.
 
GAME NUMBER 34: Portland State's game with San Diego will be its 34th of the season, officially making 2017-18 the "longest" season in PSU history. The previous mark for games played in a season is 33, set in 2007-08 and matched in 2008-09.
 
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. Here is a look at PSU's hustle chart and the points they produce:
• Turnovers forced: 596 (18.1 to lead the Big Sky and rank second in the nation) for 717 points (22.4 per game)
• Fast break points: 346 (10.5 per game)
• Offensive rebounds: 480 (14.5 to lead the Big Sky and rank second in the nation) for 492 second chance points (14.9 per game)
 
PUTTING THE BISCUIT IN THE BASKET: Portland State is averaging 85.8 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    85.8
2016-17    85.3
1998-99    79.1
2006-07    78.2