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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (8-9, 2-3) at MONTANA GRIZZLIES (8-8, 4-1)
Monday, January 13, 2020, 6 p.m. PT • Dahlberg Arena (7,322), Missoula, MT
Television: SWX (in Montana)
Live Stream: Pluto TV Channel 537, pluto.tv, WatchBigSky.com
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
It would be tough to top Portland State's performance at Montana State on Saturday night, but the Vikings will certainly try when they take on defending Big Sky Conference Champion Montana in Missoula.
     
PSU (8-9, 2-3) pulled out a gutty, 77-76 victory at MSU in a game that saw the lead change hands eight times in the last 3:25 of the contest. The big shot came from PSU's top performer, Holland "Boo Boo" Woods, who hit a runner in the lane with 2.4 seconds left to lead the Vikings to victory.
     
Woods had a big night with a career-high 30 points, six rebounds and six assists. And, with three steals in the game he became PSU's all-time leader in that category (129). He has already captured the career record for assists (450) this season.
     
Now PSU moves on to Montana and will try to accomplish something it has not done since the 2007-08 season - a weekend sweep of both Montana schools.
     
One of the highlights of Portland State's 2018-19 season was its performance against the Griz during the regular season. PSU swept Montana, winning an overtime contest in Missoula, 77-74, and an 81-69 verdict in Portland. It was a fairly significant feat considering the Griz only lost four league games all season on their way to the title.
     
The game at Montana marks the fourth in a row on the road for Portland State. It figures to be another tight affair as the Vikings' Big Sky games have been decided by margins of 4, 2, 11, 2 and 1 point so far.
     
Montana goes into Monday night's game off a big Thursday road win at Eastern Washington, 90-63, and some extra rest. This will be PSU's third opponent in five to have two extra days of rest prior to facing the Vikings.
     
The Griz are 8-8 overall, but 4-1 in the Big Sky as they attempt to defend their 2019 Championship. Montana is 6-1 at home.
     
Monday's game will tip off at 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula. The game is televised on SWX in Montana. The Pluto TV live stream is available on Channel 537, www.pluto.tv and www.WatchBigSky.com. Live statistics can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
 
COMING UP
The Vikings will have their first home game in nearly three weeks when they host Idaho State next Saturday night. That game is followed by a Jan. 20 home game with Weber State.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. MONTANA
• THE SERIES: Montana leads the all-time series, 38-25, and the Big Sky Conference series, 30-16... the Griz are 18-4 against the Vikings in Missoula... PSU has won two in a row in the series. Montana won six of the previous seven... the Vikings' sweep last year was the first over the Grizzlies since 2007-08.
• LAST YEAR: Jan. 5, 2019 at Missoula, PSU 77, UM 74 (ot): The Vikings came back from a seven-point deficit with 2:05 left in regulation. Holland Woods' late three-pointer tied the game to send it to overtime. He hit clinching free throws in the closing moments of overtime. Woods finished with 28 points. Kendal Manuel scored 22 off the bench for Montana. Mar. 7, 2019 at Viking Pavilion, PSU 81, UM 69: Portland State took control of the game late in the first half, led by 20 with 15 minutes to go, and cruised to victory over the first-place Grizzlies. Woods had another big game for the Vikings with 20 points, five assists and four steals. Deante Strickland scored 19 points off the bench. Sayeed Pridgett came up big for Montana with 28 points and five rebounds.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery (Southern Utah, 1996) is in his third season on the Park Blocks and has a 44-39 career record. Peery is 2-2 all-time against Montana... Peery's 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 Grizzlies are coached by Travis DeCuire (Montana, 1994) in his sixth season. DeCuire has a 117-66 overall record and has led the Grizzlies to two Big Sky Championships. He is 8-3 all-time against the Vikings.
 
MONTANA GRIZZLIES
• The University of Montana is located in Missoula. An original member of the Big Sky Conference, Montana has won 10 Big Sky regular season titles, 11 Big Sky Tournament titles, and made 12 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Griz won the Big Sky Championship last season, going 26-9 overall, 16-4 in Big Sky play. One starter and seven letterwinners return from that team. The most prominent player is Sayeed Pridgett, who was a first team All-Big Sky Conference selection last season. Kendal Manuel was the Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year and Top Reserve.
• This season, the Griz are 8-8 overall, 4-1 in the Big Sky. They average 66.2 points, which ranks 10th in the league. However, they allow only 67.8 points per game. Montana shoots .435 from the field, but has held opponents to .423 shooting.
• Senior guard Sayeed Pridgett is one of the league's top players, averaging 18.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. He ranks third in scoring, second in rebounding and ninth in assists in the Big Sky.
• Senior guard Kendal Manuel averages 14.3 points and has made a team-high 28 three-point field goals.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
 
WHO IS HOT
• JR G Holland Woods scored a career-high 30 points - the most by a Viking in 67 games - in the win over Montana State. He made 11-20 shots, 4-9 three-pointers and 4-5 free throws. His runner in the lane with 2.4 seconds left gave the Vikings a 77-76 win. Woods also made three steals to take over the PSU career record in that category (129)... Woods has nine games of 20+ points this season... through five Big Sky games, he leads the league in scoring (20.4).
• Portland State has held opponents to 25-93 three-point shooting in conference games (.269).
• In his first career start, SO G Ian Burke had six points (2-2 3-pt FG), a career-high seven rebounds and four assists.
• SR G Lamar Hamrick has shot 29-50 (.580) from the field, averaging 10.0 points off the bench in his last seven games... Hamrick is shooting a team-best .535 from the field.
• PSU leads the Big Sky Conference and ranks second in the nation in offensive rebounding (15.2 per game)... the Vikings average 14.3 second-chance points per game.
 
WHO IS NOT
• The Vikings are shooting .606 at the free throw line to rank last in the Big Sky in league games.
• SR G Matt Hauser missed Saturday's game at Montana State with an ankle sprain.
 
CLOSE BARELY DOES IT JUSTICE
Portland State's one-point win at Montana State should hardly be a surprise. That's how the Big Sky Conference seems to go every season. The lead in the game changed hands eight times in the last 3:25 and 20 times overall.
• In PSU's five Big Sky games so far, four have been decided by four points or less. The average margin of victory is 4.0 points.
• Despite the nine losses this season, the Vikings have been in every game into the final minutes. PSU's average loss in nine games is by 7.0 points. Conversely, the average win is by 15.5 points, 5.6 points against Division I opponents.... the Vikings' largest loss is just 11 points.
• PSU is two games better than last season after 17 games (6-11).
 
HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE
The completion of the Viking Pavilion prior to the 2018-19 basketball season was transformative for the entire Portland State Athletic Program. So far, the results on the court have been better than ever. PSU is 16-6 in the Viking Pavilion (.727 winning percentage). The previous main home court, the old Peter W. Stott Center gym, produced a .721 winning percentage after reinstating basketball and joining the Big Sky Conference between 1996-97 and 2017-18. In all, PSU's four different home venues prior to the Viking Pavilion produced a .709 winning mark. 
 
INJURY ANGST
Portland State has had bad luck with injuries so far this season. When SR G Matt Hauser missed the game at Montana State due to an ankle sprain, he became the third starter this season to be sidelined. SR C Sal Nuhu missed six games early this season with an ankle sprain. SR F Alonzo Walker missed three games with a foot injury. In addition, SR G Lamar Hamrick has missed four games with thumb and back injuries. PSU has lost a total of 14 player games to injury.
 
BOO BOO IS REWRITING THE RECORD BOOK
Portland State point guard Holland "Boo Boo" Woods added a second Portland State career record to his resume in the Vikings' win at Montana State on a night where, appropriately enough, he scored a career-high 30 points and hit the game-winning shot.
     
Woods made three steals against MSU to increase his career total to 129, passing Calaen Robinson for PSU's all-time leadership. Woods took over the career assists record on Dec. 28 at Northern Colorado and now has 450 in that category.
     
In addition, he became the 19th Viking in history to pass 1,000 career points. He now has 1,134 points to rank 10th all-time.
 
VIKINGS CAREER ASSIST LEADERS

1.	Holland Woods (2017-20)	450
2.	Terry Adolph (1976-78)	421
3.	Chucky Smith (1974-78)	392
4.	Derek Nesland (1996-00)	371
5.	Will Funn (2003-05)	328

 
VIKINGS CAREER STEALS LEADERS

1.	Holland Woods (2017-20)	129
2.	Calaen Robinson (2015-17)	128
3.	Anthony Lackey (1998-02)	121
4.	Zach Gengler (2013-17)	120
5.	Jeremiah Dominguez (2007-09)	115

 
VIKINGS CAREER SCORING LEADERS

1.	Freeman Williams (1974-78)	3,249
2.	John Nelson (1962-66)	2,123
3.	Willie Stoudamire (1969-72)	1,845
4.	Seamus Boxley (2000-05)	1,498
5.	Anthony Lackey (1998-02)	1,304
6.	Leo Franz (1970-73)	1,245
7.	Charlie Stoudamire (1969-72)	1,179
8.	John Winters (1955-59)	1,169
9.	Derreck Brooks (1973-77)	1,155
10.	Holland Woods (2017-20)	1,134

 
BIG GAMES OFF THE BENCH
• SR G Lamar Hamrick had 13 points (6-9 FG, 1-2 3-pt), four rebounds three assists and two steals against Southern Utah (12/30).
• SR G Lamar Hamrick scored 16 points (6-9 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 1-2 FT) with five rebounds in 16 minutes of a win over Northern Colorado (12/28).
• SR C Sal Nuhu scored 18 points (5-8 FG, 8-17 FT) with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots in a win at Loyola Marymount (12/19).
• FR G Kyle Greeley had 17 points (5-7 FG, 2-3 3-pt, 5-5 FT), seven rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes against Portland Bible (12/12).
• SO G Ian Burke scored 23 points (8-13 FG, 5-8 3-pt 2-2 FT), four rebounds, five assists and four steals in 23 minutes against Portland Bible (12/12).
• SR F Markus Golder had 12 points (4-8 FG, 3-3 FT), three rebounds and three steals in 18 minutes in a win over Grambling State (11/26).
• FR G Kyle Greeley scored 12 points (4-6 FG, 4-4 FT) with three rebounds in 12 minutes against Puget Sound (11/5).