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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (18-12, 8-9) vs.
NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING HAWKS (11-18, 6-11)
Saturday, March 3, 2018, 1 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
Portland State goes into Saturday's regular season finale against North Dakota with something still to be earned before the Big Sky Conference Tournament. 
           
The Vikings (18-12, 8-9) host the Fighting Hawks (11-18, 6-11) in the only meeting of the season between the teams. And the game will give the Vikings a chance to move back into the sixth seed prior to the start of the tournament. If PSU wins, and Idaho State loses at Montana, the Vikings will finish sixth in the Big Sky. PSU is currently seventh.
           
Portland State saw its three-game winning streak end on Thursday at the hands of a talented Northern Colorado team, 85-78. Andre Spight scored 37 points to lead the Bears to victory. The Vikings stayed close, but played from behind all night, and couldn't quite catch the Bears. SR C Ryan Edwards had 19 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots to lead Portland State. 
           
Despite the loss, the Vikings can still claim the best season since 2008-09 when they were 23-10, won the Big Sky Tournament and reached the NCAA Tournament. The 18 wins for Head Coach Barret Peery also marks the most victories for a first-year mentor in Portland State history (previous 17-11 by Joel Sobotka, 1998-99).
           
North Dakota took a 90-73 win at Sacramento State on Thursday night. It was only the second road win of the season for the Fighting Hawks (2-12). North Dakota has won three of its last four games overall.
           
Meanwhile, Portland State has had its challenges playing a home schedule away from home at Lewis and Clark College's Pamplin Sports Center (due to construction of the new Viking Pavilion). PSU has lost five of its last seven home games. The Vikings are 7-5 in home games this season, 3-5 in Big Sky home games.
           
The home finale will also be Senior Day as Portland State will recognize four seniors completing their careers: C Ryan Edwards, F Traylin Farris, F Brandon Hollins, G Bryce Canda (Although also a senior, F Braxton Tucker will not be honored as he can petition for another year of eligibility).
           
Saturday's game tips off at 1 p.m. A live video stream is available at www.WatchBigSky.com and www.Pluto.tv. Live stats are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
Big Sky Conference Standings 
Montana, 15-2
Idaho, 13-4
Weber State, 12-5
Eastern Washington, 12-5
Northern Colorado, 11-6
Idaho State, 9-8
Portland State, 8-9
Montana State, 6-11
North Dakota, 6-11
Southern Utah, 5-12
Sacramento State, 3-14
Northern Arizona, 2-15
 
WHERE THEY STAND
Currently in seventh place in the Big Sky Conference standings, Portland State would take the number-seven seed in the Big Sky Tournament if it started today. The Vikings would face the number-10 seed in the opening round on Tuesday, which is currently Southern Utah. 
           
If the Vikings end the season tied with Idaho State, they would earn the number-six seed and face the 11th seed in the Big Sky (currently Sacramento State).
           
That is a projection as Portland State still has the potential to finish sixth or seventh in the Big Sky. That means five potential first-round opponents still remain as any could finish 10th or 11th. They are (with PSU record vs. opponent this year): Montana State (2-0), Southern Utah (1-0), North Dakota (0-0, vs. Sat.), Sacramento State (0-2), Northern Arizona (1-0).
 
WHAT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
With the most important part of the season just around the corner, it is time to look at the memorable moments and milestones (so far) for the Portland State Vikings in the 2017-18 season. 
 
• 18 wins - the most by a Viking team since 2008-09 when it reached the NCAA Tournament... also the fifth-most wins in the Big Sky era (22 seasons).
• 10-5 road record - Portland State has the most road wins in school history and best road winning percentage. Including neutral site games (11-7), the Vikings match most "away from home wins" in school history (11-9 in 2008-09).
• Head Coach Barret Peery has the most wins by a first-year coach 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 86.4 points per game this season, the most since 1976-77 (91.0).
• PSU is nationally-ranked in scoring (86.4, 4th), steals (9.8, 2nd), turnover margin (+5.7, 1st) and turnovers forced (18.1, 3rd) and offensive rebounds (14.6, 2nd).
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. NORTH DAKOTA 
• ALL-TIME SERIES: North Dakota leads the all-time series ,9-4, and the Big Sky Conference series, 7-4... PSU leads 3-1 in games played in Portland... North Dakota leads in Big Sky Conference Tournament games, 2-0.
• Dec. 29 in Portland, PSU 99, UND 62: Portland State runs of 26-2 in the first half and 22-1 in the second half blew the game wide open. The Vikings made 19 steals and scored 51 points off turnovers. PSU shot .565 from the field to .441 for the Fighting Hawks. Seven Vikings were in double figures led by 18 points, seven assists and six steals from Calaen Robinson. Mar. 4 in Grand Forks, UND 82, PSU 73: The Fighting Hawks led a close game throughout and clinched  the Big Sky Conference title with the win. UND shot .519 from the field, .913 at the line and out-rebounded the Vikings, 35-22. Quinton Hooker scored 29 and Geno Crandall had 21 with eight assists for North Dakota. Traylin Farris led the Vikings with 17 points. Mar. 9 in Reno, NV, Big Sky Tournament Quarterfinal, UND 95, PSU 72: North Dakota hit 12 of its first 14 shots, led by as many as 26 in the first half, and ran away with the win. Portland State never got closer than 12 after that. UND shot .559 from the field and .947 at the line as six players were in double figures. Corey Baldwin led the way with 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Bryce Canda scored 12 points for the Vikings. 
• 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 Fighting Hawks are coached by Brian Jones who is 177-197 in 12 seasons with North Dakota. Jones is 7-4 against Portland State.
 
NORTH DAKOTA FIGHTING HAWKS
• North Dakota is in its sixth year as a member of the Big Sky Conference. UND is moving to the Summit League in 2018-19.
• The Fighting Hawks were 22-10 last season, 14-4 in the Big Sky, winning the regular season and tournament titles.
• North Dakota is 11-18 this season, 6-11 in the Big Sky Conference. The Fighting Hawks average 75.3 points per game and allow 81.3 points per game, which ranks at the bottom of the Big Sky. UND is also last in field goal percentage defense (.494) and rebounding margin (-6.7).
• Junior guard Geno Crandall is one of five Fighting Hawks to average double figures in scoring. He leads the team at 16.5 points and 3.3 assists per game, and leads the Big Sky Conference with 2.0 steals per game. Crandall shoots .502 from the field and .419 from three-point range.
• Junior forward Conner Avants averages 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and shoots .579 from the field.
• Senior forward Dale Jones averages 11.1 points, a team-leading 6.3 rebounds and has made a team-best 56 three-point field goals.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 18-12 this season, 7-5 at home, 10-5 on the road, 1-2 at neutral sites.
• In Big Sky Conference games, PSU is 8-9 (3-5 at home, 5-4 on the road). 
• PSU is 7-5 in games decided by five points or less or overtime.
• The Vikings are 1-1 in overtime.
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 - 11 games, 6-5
  - 22 seasons - 291 games, 206-85 at home overall 
• Since the start of the 2006-07 season, PSU is 119-46 at home, including 70-38 in Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament games.
• 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.
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 183-197 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (11-12). 
• PSU is 119-63 in home games, 59-125 in road games and 5-9 in neutral-site games.
 
WHO IS HOT
• SR F Brandon Hollins' streak of four straight double-doubles ended at Northern Arizona when he had eight points and 12 rebounds. Still, in the last six games, Hollins has averaged 13.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game. In that span, Hollins scored a career-high 22 points (10-12 FG, 1-2 3-pt, 1-1 FT) against Weber State. He followed with a career-high 16 rebounds against Idaho State.
• SR C Ryan Edwards had a big game against Northern Colorado with 19 points (8-16 FG, 1-2 3-pt, 2-4 FT), seven rebounds and three blocked shots... he has averaged 15.5 points and shot .556 from the field over the last four games.
• FR G Holland Woods has made 48 of his last 54 free throws (.889). 
 
WHO IS NOT
• The Vikings have lost five of their last seven home games.
• Portland State averages 22.3 fouls per game, ranking 351st in the nation (among 351).
 
BIG SKY LEADERS: The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference in:
• Scoring, 86.4
• Steals, 9.8
• Assists, 16.7
• Turnover Margin, +5.7
• Assist-to-Turnover Ratio, 1.3
• Offensive Rebounds, 14.6
• Assists, Holland Woods, 5.8
• Blocked Shots, Ryan Edwards, 1.8
• Rebounds, Brandon Hollins, 9.5 (conference games only)