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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (7-9, 1-3) at MONTANA STATE BOBCATS (8-7, 2-2)
Saturday, January 11, 2020, 5 p.m. PT • Worthington Arena (6,772), Bozeman, MT
Television: SWX (in Montana)
Live Stream: Pluto TV Channel 538, pluto.tv, WatchBigSky.com
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
Portland State's early-conference road march continues later this week as the Vikings make a trip to Montana State for a Saturday game. It will be the third straight road game in a string of four. The Vikings play at Montana on Monday, January 13.
     
Having lost three games in a row, PSU hopes to rev up its offensive production in search of its next victory. The Vikings are 7-9 overall, 1-3 in Big Sky Conference play. In three of the four league games, PSU has scored in the 60s (albeit one was a win), after never dipping below the 70s in 12 non-conference games. The scoring trough accentuates the challenge and intensity that comes with the beginning of conference play.
     
Portland State continues to lead the nation in offensive rebounding (15.4 per game), but will need to improve on its shooting - .431 from the field and .569 at the free throw line in league games - to improve its offensive production.
     
Improving scoring numbers will likely be as tough as ever against a Montana State team that allows only 65.1 points per game, 59.7 in league games. The Bobcats are 8-7 on the season, 2-2 in the Big Sky. They come off a pair of losses on the road last weekend at Northern Colorado and Southern Utah. PSU split against those two teams in the opening weekend of conference play.
     
MSU is 5-1 at home and won the first two conference home games over Sacramento State and Northern Arizona on opening weekend.
     
Portland State is 2-7 on the road this season. Last weekend's road losses came in a pair of tightly contested games. PSU led by six in the second half against Idaho before going cold from the field. That led to a 72-61 Vandal victory. The lead see-sawed 13 times in the first 12 minutes of the second half against Eastern Washington before the Eagles built a 10-point lead then had to hang on to beat the Vikings, 71-69.
     
The Vikings will be led by JR G Holland Woods, who comes off a 22-point, seven-assist performance at Eastern Washington. It has been a big season for Woods who ranks fourth in the league in scoring (17.6), has set a new Portland State record for career assists (444), passed 1,000 career points (1,104) and is just two steals away (126) from the PSU record in that category.
     
The Bobcats counter with a star point guard of their own in Harald Frey. A second-team All-Conference selection last year (like Woods), Frey has similar numbers with 16.5 points and 4.9 assists per game. He was particularly tough on the Vikings last year, averaging 26.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
     
PSU can look back on recent success against Montana State, having won three of the last four and six of the last nine meetings.
     
Saturday's game will tip off at 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT at Worthington Arena in Bozeman. The game is televised on SWX in Montana. The Pluto TV live stream is available on Channel 538, www.pluto.tv and www.WatchBigSky.com. Live statistics can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
 
COMING UP
Portland State continues its road trip at Montana on Monday, Jan. 13. The Vikings' next home game is Jan. 18 against Idaho State, followed by a Jan. 20 home game with Weber State.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. MONTANA STATE
• THE SERIES: Montana State leads the all-time series (dating back to 1957-58), 34-25... the Bobcats lead the Big Sky series, 27-22... MSU leads 18-5 in Big Sky games in Bozeman... PSU is 4-0 all-time in Big Sky Tournament games against Montana State... the season series was split last year with each team winning on its home court... PSU has won three of the last four and six of the last nine meetings.
• LAST YEAR: Jan. 3, 2019 at Bozeman, MSU 98, PSU 88: The Bobcats won a shootout with the Vikings that featured 56 fouls (32 by PSU). The Bobcat backcourt of Tyler Hall and Harald Frey combined for 57 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists to lead MSU to the win. Montana State shot .536 from the field, .462 from three-point range and .743 at the line. PSU was led by 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists from Holland Woods. Michael Mayhew added 17 points and Sal Nuhu scored 16. Mar. 9, 2019 at Viking Pavilion, PSU 84, MSU 80: Hall and Frey combined for 55 points in this game, but PSU had enough to overcome the Bobcat duo. The Vikings got an inspired 19-point effort off the bench from Deante Strickland in capturing an eighth straight home win. Michael Nuga added 15 points off the bench as PSU's second-stringers scored more than half of their points (43) while MSU's had only two.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery (Southern Utah, 1996) is in his third season on the Park Blocks and has a 43-39 career record. Peery is 3-1 all-time against Montana State... 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 Bobcats are coached by first-year man Danny Sprinkle (Montana State, 2000). A four-year letterwinner and star for MSU back in the 90s, Sprinkle will be facing them as a head coach for the first time.
 
MONTANA STATE BOBCATS
• Montana State University is located in Bozeman. The Bobcats are an original member of the Big Sky Conference and have won four regular season championships and two tournament titles over the years. MSU has made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Bobcats were 15-17 last season, 11-9 and tied for fourth in the Big Sky Conference with the Vikings. Three starters and five letterwinners return from that team. Senior guard Harald Frey was a second team All-Big Sky Conference selection.
• This season, Montana State is 8-7 overall, 2-2 in the Big Sky Conference. The Bobcats average 67.3 points per game and allow 65.1. They have held opponents to .398 shooting from the field and .284 three-point shooting. However, they have a -3.6 turnover margin... MSU leads the Big Sky Conference in free throw percentage (.741).
• Harald Frey averages 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game to lead the Bobcats. He also shoots .882 at the free throw line and has a team-high 32 three-point field goals.
• Sophomore forward Jubrile Belo averages 11.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He shoots .670 from the field.
• Junior guard Amin Adamu averages 11.2 points and 4.9 rebounds.
 
WHO IS HOT
• Portland State has held opponents to 18-74 three-point shooting in conference games (.243).
• SR F Markus Golder had season-highs of 14 points, 13 rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals at Eastern Washington.
• SR G Lamar Hamrick missed the last game due to a bad back. But in the last six games he has played he shot 26-43 (.605) from the field, averaging 10.3 points off the bench... he is 5-8 from three-point range in his last three games (.625)... Hamrick is shooting a team-best .548 from the field and .436 from three-point range.
• PSU leads the Big Sky Conference and the nation in offensive rebounding (15.4 per game)... the Vikings average 14.4 second-chance points per game.
 
WHO IS NOT
• The Vikings have shot 57-96 from the free throw line over the last six games (.594)... they are shooting .569 at the line in league games.
• PSU has lost three games in a row.
• SR G Lamar Hamrick missed the last game due to a bad back.
 
A LOOK AT LOSSES
Portland State is in the midst of its longest stretch of road games in Big Sky Conference play (4). The Vikings are 2-7 overall on the road and now 0-2 in Big Sky games after their loss at Eastern Washington. 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 17.5 points, 9.0 points against Division I opponents.... the Vikings' largest loss is just 11 points.
• PSU is one game better than last season after 16 games (6-10).
 
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. 
 
BOO BOO IS REWRITING THE RECORD BOOK
Portland State point guard Holland "Boo Boo" Woods became the all-time assist leader in program history during a Dec. 28 win over Northern Colorado. Woods figures to move that number much higher over the next year.
     
Woods recently became the 19th Viking in history to pass 1,000 career points. He now has 1,104 points to rank 12th all-time.
     
Still coming is a new record for career steals. Woods has 126 and ranks second at Portland State behind Calaen Robinson (128). 
 
VIKINGS CAREER ASSIST LEADERS

1.	Holland Woods (2017-20)	444
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.	Calaen Robinson (2015-17)	128
2.	Holland Woods (2017-20)	126
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	Brian Towne (1996-99)	1,123
11.	Derek Nesland (1996-00)	1,107
12.	Holland Woods (2017-20)	1,104

 
BOO BOO, PART TWO
A few more highlights from Holland Woods:
• Ranks fourth in the Big Sky in scoring (17.6), second in assists (5.5), seventh in free throw percentage (.817) and fifth in steals (1.7).
• Has led the team in scoring eight times and has eight 20-point games.
• Boo Boo has led the team in assists 13 times this season and in 66 of 81 career games.
• Finished with 22 points (6-14 FG, 3-7 3-pt 7-9 FT) and seven assists at Eastern Washington.
• Had 25 points (9-21 FG, 3-9 3-pt, 4-6 FT) with five assists against Southern Utah.
• Scored 23 points (7-17 FG, 4-9 3-pt, 5-5 FT) with four assists at Pepperdine.
• Had second double-double with 14 pts (7-16 FG, 2-6 3-pt, 2-2 FT), 10 assists in win over CSUN.
• Went for 23 points (7-16 FG, 1-4 3-pt, 8-9 FT) and seven rebounds at Oregon State.
• Had 22 points (8-13 FG, 3-5 3-pt, 3-4 FT) and five assists at UC Santa Barbara.
• Tallied 20 points (6-14 FG, 2-4 3-pt, 6-6 FT) and five assists in a win over Grambling State.
• Posted 18 points (6-13 FG, 1-3 3-pt, 5-6 FT), 11 assists and three steals in the win over San Jose State.
• Scored 22 points (9-16 FG, 1-4 3-pt, 3-3 FT) with five assists and four rebounds against Portland.
• Had a game-high 27 points at Indiana (5-13 FG, 4-8 3-pt, 13-16 FT) and three assists.
• Named 2nd team All-Big Sky Conference in 2018-19. Was Big Sky Freshman of the Year in 2017-18.
• Led the Vikings in scoring (15.0), assists (5.3) and steals (1.6) last season.
 
TRIPLE THREAT
SR G Matt Hauser has stepped up his game as the Vikings' top three-point shooting threat.
• Hauser is averaging 15.3 points and has a team-high 42 three-point field goals.
• Ranks 11th in the Big Sky in scoring, fourth in three-pointers per game and ninth in steals (1.6).
• Has led the team in scoring five times this season and has four 20+ point games.
• Scored 20 points (8-19 FG, 4-10 3-pt FG) against Southern Utah.
• Went for a career-high 29 points (10-22 FG, 9-16 3-pt) and seven rebounds in the win over CSUN. It was the second-most three-pointers in a game in PSU history.
• Posted 24 points (9-15 FG, 4-9 3-pt, 2-2 FT) with six rebounds, three assists and three steals in the win over San Jose State.
• Scored 21 points at Indiana (7-9 FG, 4-6 3-pt, 3-3 FT).
• Averaged 8.4 points and 2.4 assists in his 85-game career at Santa Clara. Included was a career-high 22 points against Portland State on Dec. 9, 2017 (a PSU win)... made 113 three-pointers in three seasons.
 
YAHOO FOR NUHU
SR C Sal Nuhu opened the season just as Vikings fans would have expected; by swatting away shots.  Despite missing six games with an ankle sprain, he is averaging 2.0 blocks to go with 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds.
• Scored 18 points with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots in a win over Loyola Marymount (12/19).
• Had six blocks against Puget Sound (11/5) to go with 12 points and seven rebounds.
• Nuhu led the Big Sky Conference last season with 64 blocked shots (2.0 pg). That total ranked fourth in Portland State history for a season. Nuhu now ranks fifth all-time at PSU.
 
VIKINGS CAREER BLOCKED SHOTS LEADERS

1.	Scott Morrison (2004-08)	187
2.	Seamus Boxley (2000-05)	128
3.	Collin Spickerman (2014-16)	117
4.	Jamie Jones (2008-10)	105
5.	Sal Nuhu (2017-19)	84

GOOLSBY GOALS
SR F Rashaad Goolsby has upped his game in his senior season.
• He is averaging 6.1 points, a team-high 7.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Last season, he averaged 4.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.7 steals in 18.3 minutes per game.
• Ranks eighth in rebounding and seventh in steals in the Big Sky Conference.
• He leads the Big Sky Conference in offensive rebounding (3.3).
• Has led the team in rebounding nine times this season.
• Had a career-high 16 rebounds to go with a career-high four assists, three steals and two blocked shots in a win over CSUN.
• In his first start, a win at San Jose State, posted 10 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and three assists.
• Made a career-high five steals against Portland.
• Goolsby grabbed 10 rebounds in the win over Puget Sound.
 
TALKING THE WALKER
The Vikings' other graduate transfer newcomer, SR F Alonzo Walker, has started all 13 games he has played for PSU and been productive. In 25 minutes per night, he averages 8.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots.
• Walker has led the team in rebounding four times and has three 10+ rebound games.
• Grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds with eight points and two blocked shots at Idaho.
• Posted 13 points with nine rebounds and two blocked shots in the win at San Jose State.
• Scored 13 points with eight rebounds and two steals against Portland.
 
HAMMER TIME
SR G Lamar Hamrick is quickly becoming the Vikings' key player off the bench. He averages 7.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in 16.5 minutes per game.
• In his last six games, he has shot .605 from the field, .500 from three-point range while averaging 10.4 points.
• Leads the team in field goal shooting at .547.
• Scored 16 points (6-9 FG, 3-4 3-pt 1-2 FT) with five rebounds in a win over Northern Colorado.