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Big Sky Conference Tournament Quarterfinal Game
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (20-12, 9-9) vs.
EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES (18-13, 13-5)
Thursday, March 8, 2018, 8:05 p.m. • Reno Events Center, Reno, NV
Television: Eleven Sports Network
Live Video and Audio: www.WatchBigSky.com, www.Pluto.tv (channel 231) • Play-by-Play: Bill Doleman • Analyst: Joe Cravens
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com, www.BigSkyStats.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
Portland State achieved a big goal in Tuesday night's 71-67 Big Sky Conference Tournament win over Sacramento State - a 20-win season. But while the Vikings have checked that box, they have much more on their minds.
           
The next goal for sixth-seeded PSU is a shot at a Big Sky Tournament semifinal game for the first time since 2014. To do that, they will have to get past third-seeded Eastern Washington in a Big Sky Tournament quarterfinal game on Thursday. 
           
The Vikings (20-12) can boast their best season in nine years, and just their third 20-win season in 22 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference. They have Big Sky Freshman of the Year Holland "Boo Boo" Woods to thank as much as anyone for that. Woods led the Vikings with 18 points against the Hornets on Tuesday, and he scored PSU's final 11 points over the last 3:20 of the game to hold off Sacramento State. SR G Bryce Canda added 16 points and nine rebounds and JR G Deante Strickland scored 13 points off the bench.
           
Eastern Washington (18-13, 13-5 in the Big Sky) has been waiting to play its first tournament game, benefitting from a first-round bye due to a fourth-place finish in the league. The Eagles feature the Big Sky Player of the Year Bogdan Bliznyuk who averaged 20.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. The senior forward also shot a league best .914 at the free throw line.
           
The Eagles and the Vikings split their season series this year with each team winning on its home floor. Both teams have played well in recent games. PSU has won five of its last six, while the Eagles have won six in a row.
           
Portland State is now 2-2 in neutral site games with its Tuesday win (and 10-5 in road games). The Eagles are 1-1 in neutral site games (6-11 in road games).
           
Now 3-0 in Big Sky Tournament first round games (since the league went to the 12-team format three years ago), Portland State is 5-6 all-time in Big Sky quarterfinal round games. 
           
Thursday's game between the Vikings and the Eagles tips off at 8:05 p.m. It will be televised on the Eleven Sports Network, and live streamed at www.WatchBigSky.com and www.Pluto.tv (channel 231).
 
PORTLAND STATE IN THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Portland State is making its 15th appearance in the Big Sky Conference Tournament. Prior to 2015-16, Big Sky teams had to qualify for the tournament. This is the third year that all 12 teams automatically qualify. 
           
The Vikings are 12-12 all-time in Big Sky Conference Tournament games with titles in 2008 and 2009. PSU is 3-0 in first-round games, 5-6 in quarterfinals, 2-6 in semifinals and 2-0 in the championship. The Vikings are 7-8 all-time in neutral site games (also 4-1 in Portland, 1-3 at away sites).
           
Portland State is 1-1 all-time against Eastern Washington in the Big Sky Tournament, but the teams have not met in a tournament game in 12 years.
 
Mar. 4, 1999       Portland State 80, Eastern Washington 74 (quarterfinal) in Ogden, UT
Mar. 4, 2006       Eastern Washington 81, Portland State 75 (quarterfinal) in Cheney, WA
 
THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
RENO, NV | Reno Events Center | Mar. 6-10, 2018
 
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 • First Round | Session 1
Game 1 - #8 North Dakota 76 vs. #9 Montana State 74
Game 2 - #5 Northern Colorado 82 vs. #12 Northern Arizona 59
 
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 • First Round | Session 2
Game 3 - #10 Southern Utah 76, #7 Idaho State 68 
Game 4 - #6 Portland State 71, #11 Sacramento State 67
 
Thursday, March 8, 2018 • Quarterfinal Round | Session 1 (games on Eleven Sports/WatchBigSky.com/Pluto TV)
Game 5 - #1 Montana (23-7, 16-2) vs. #9 North Dakota (12-19, 6-12) - 12:05 p.m. 
Game 6 - #4 Weber State (20-10, 13-5) vs. #5 Northern Colorado (21-11, 11-7) - 2:35 p.m. 
 
Thursday, March 8, 2018 • Quarterfinal Round | Session 2 (games on Eleven Sports/WatchBigSky.com/Pluto TV)
Game 7 - #2 Idaho (22-8, 14-4) vs. #10 Southern Utah (12-18, 5-13) - 5:35 p.m. 
Game 8 - #3 Eastern Washington (18-13, 13-5) vs. #6 Portland State (20-12, 9-9) - 8:05 p.m. 
 
Friday, March 9, 2018 • Semifinal Round (games on Eleven Sports/WatchBigSky.com/Pluto TV)
Game 9 - Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 - 5:35 p.m. 
Game 10 - Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8 - 8:05 p.m. 
 
Saturday, March 10, 2018 • Championship Game (game on ESPNU)
Game 11 - Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10 - 5:05 p.m. 
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. EASTERN WASHINGTON 
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series, 26-23, and the Big Sky Conference series, 23-22... the teams are tied 1-1 in Big Sky Tournament games... they split the season series this year, with each team winning on its home court.
• Jan. 4 in Cheney, WA, EWU 81, PSU 74: Portland State suffered through a 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. The Eagles got 28 points and 12 rebounds from Bogdan Bliznyuk. Feb. 3 in Portland, PSU 94, EWU 81: Portland State shot a season-best .576 from the field and committed only six turnovers leading to a wire-to-wire win over the Eagles. The Vikings maintained a double-digit margin for most of the second half. FR G Holland Woods scored a career-high 29 points, hitting a school-record 10-10 field goals. He also had nine assists. The win ended a three-game losing streak. Cody Benzel scored 21 points for Eastern Washington.
• 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 Eagles are coached by Shantay Legans in his first season. Legans is 1-1 against the Vikings.
 
EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES
• Eastern Washington features Big Sky Conference Player of the Year Bogdan Bliznyuk. He averaged 20.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for the Eagles. Bliznyuk also led the Big Sky in free throw shooting at .914.
• The Eagles were 18-13 overall this season, 13-5 in the Big Sky, earning the number-three seed. Eastern Washington averages 75.1 points and allows 71.3 points per game.
 
PORTLAND STATE vs. THE BIG SKY FIELD THIS SEASON
• vs. #1 Montana (0-2) - L, 89-92 @ PSU; L, 60-80 @ UM
• vs. #2 Idaho (1-1) - W, 73-72 @ UI; L, 88-97 @ PSU
• vs. #3 Weber State (0-2) - L, 79-84 @ WSU; L, 86-95 @ PSU (ot)
• vs. #4 Eastern Washington (1-1) - L, 74-81 @ EWU; W, 94-81 @ PSU
• vs. #5 Northern Colorado (0-1) - L, 78-85 @ PSU
• vs. #6 Idaho State (2-0) - W, 87-83 @ ISU; W, 91-77 @ PSU
• vs. #8 Montana State (2-0) - W, 93-74 @ PSU; W, 80-77 @ MSU
• vs. #9 North Dakota (1-0) - W, 97-90 @ PSU (ot)
• vs. #10 Southern Utah (1-0) - W, 96-91 @ SUU (ot)
• vs. #11 Sacramento State (1-2) - L, 75-80 @ SAC; L, 61-71 @ PSU; W, 71-67 @ BSC Tourney
• vs. #12 Northern Arizona (1-0) - W, 72-66 @ NAU
 
WHAT THE VIKINGS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
Here is a look at the memorable moments and milestones (so far) 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 in school history and best road winning percentage. Including neutral site games (12-7), 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 best winning percentage (.625) 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 86.3 points per game this season, the most since 1976-77 (91.0).
• PSU is nationally-ranked in scoring (86.3, 3rd), steals (9.9, 2nd), turnover margin (+5.5, 1st) and turnovers forced (18.2, 2nd) and offensive rebounds (14.6, 2nd).
 
WOODS NAMED BIG SKY CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
It would be easy to say that freshman point guard Holland Woods was named Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year today simply by averaging 10.8 points and a Big Sky-leading 5.7 assists per game. But "Boo Boo" was so much more than that for the Portland State Vikings. A quick sampling of some of his season highlights:
 
• Eight points, five rebounds and five assists in a Thanksgiving Day game against #1-ranked Duke
• A 13-assist, 12-point performance in a 106-81 blowout victory over California on Dec. 21.
• A game-winning put-back shot to beat at Idaho on Jan. 6 with 0.6 seconds remaining.
• A school-record 10-10 field goal shooting performance, 29 points, nine assists and no turnovers to beat Eastern Washington on Feb. 3.
• A last-second three-pointer at Southern Utah to send the game to overtime and an eventual Viking win at Southern Utah on Feb. 22.
• Scored the last 11 points (and 18 overall with four assists) for Portland State in a Big Sky Tournament first round win over Sacramento State on Mar. 6.
• The fourth-most assists in Portland State school history (183).
• Averaging 32 minutes per game at point guard as he led the Vikings to 20 wins (third-most in its Big Sky history).
 
Woods proved to be the Big Sky's best freshman for all those reasons and more. The 6-foot freshman from Phoenix, Arizona's Apollo High School was honored today as the Big Sky Conference released its post-season awards.
           
Woods took over as starting point guard for the Vikings in game 10 of the season and never looked back. He has directed the Viking offense to 86.3 points per game, which ranks third in the nation and is the most by a Portland State team since 1976-77. Most importantly, the Vikings have compiled a 20-12 record heading into a Big Sky Conference Tournament quarterfinal against Eastern Washington on Thursday. That is the third-most wins in PSU's Big Sky era, exceeded only by the two NCAA Tournament seasons (23-10 in 2007-08 and 2008-09). The Vikings' 10-5 road record also ranks as the best in school history.
           
"Boo Boo has been tremendous all year long," said Viking Coach Barret Peery. "He hit the ground running the moment he got on campus and hasn't slowed down. He is a tremendous teammate that cares about winning and has really worked hard. 
           
"Boo Boo is mature and wise beyond his years when it comes to his understanding of the game. He was very prepared coming to college by his father and his coaches."
           
Woods becomes the second Viking ever to earn Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year. Portland State Hall of Famer Seamus Boxley was co-Freshman of the Year in the Big Sky in 2000-01.
           
Vikings seniors Bryce Canda and Brandon Hollins were each named honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference. Canda averages 14.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He leads the Vikings in three-point field goals with 74. Hollins averages 9.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and shoots .568 from the field. He led the Big Sky with 9.7 rebounds per game in league contests.
           
Voting was done by league coaches.
 
WINNING LINES 
• Portland State is 20-12 this season, 8-5 at home, 10-5 on the road, 2-2 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.
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 185-197 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (12-12). 
• PSU is 120-63 in home games, 59-125 in road games and 6-9 in neutral-site games.
 
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.
• SR G Bryce Canda had 16 points and a team-high nine rebounds against Sacramento State. He was coming off his best game of the conference season with 24 points (6-11 FG, 4-8 3-pt, 8-10 FT), eight rebounds, four assists and three steals in a win over North Dakota. Canda scored seven straight points in overtime to seal the win for the Vikings.
• JR G Deante Strickland scored 13 points off the bench in the Big Sky Tournament first-round win... Strickland has averaged 12.6 points over the last six games.
 
WHO IS NOT
• Portland State went 8:12 in the second half against Sacramento State without making a field goal. The Vikings were 9-27 from the field in the second half.
• PSU averages 22.1 fouls per game, ranking 350th in the nation (among 351).
 
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 12-7 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
 
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 (with at least one game remaining)... 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 five in school history... Here is a list of PSU's Big Sky teams with the most wins:
 
Most wins in a season, Big Sky era:
2007-08: 23-10
2008-09: 23-10
2017-18: 20-12 
2004-05: 19-9
2006-07: 19-13
1998-99: 17-11
2011-12: 17-15
2013-14: 17-15