PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-0) vs. PORTLAND PILOTS (2-1)

Complete Portland State game notes and player profiles.

THE OPENING TIP

The conspirators against a Portland State basketball season have been pushed aside for the time being and it appears the Vikings will play basketball.

Portland State has battled myriad issues in receiving an exemption from the state of Oregon to even compete in the 2020-21 season. And the cloud of COVID-19 has hung over the Vikings as it has everyone, forcing adjustments to simply getting through daily life. Then, last week's games at the Husky Classic were scrubbed when Cal State Fullerton and San Diego both experienced COVID-related shutdowns, and the Vikings were delayed with getting an exemption to play.

After all that, Portland State now embarks upon the opening of its 2020-21 campaign against no less an opponent than crosstown rival University of Portland. The Vikings and Pilots will meet on Saturday night at the Chiles Center in a 7 p.m. game. The Dec. 5 opening game is the latest start to a season since PSU opened the 1963-64 campaign on the same date.

In reality, the Vikings won their first battle of the 2020-21 season last week; receiving an exemption from the state of Oregon to take part in full-contact competition. PSU did not begin practice until early November, and in fact was unable to go five-on-five in practice until Wednesday before Thanksgiving when the final approval was given. That may leave the Vikings a little behind in their preseason preparation, but after a nearly eight-month hiatus from any kind of basketball, they are eager to get started.

Portland battled a similar scenario to PSU throughout the preseason in receiving an exemption, but was able to get underway last week, hosting three games. The Pilots lost to Seattle, 84-72, then defeated William Jessup, 83-73, and Northwest University, 74-69, for a 2-1 start.

Much like the Vikings, Portland's roster has had a significant makeover. PSU returns four letterwinners and no starters, while the Pilots have four returning letterwinners and one returning starter.

Portland State has six Division I transfers on its roster that are expected to impact the team immediately. Included are three from the Pac-12 (Khalid Thomas from Arizona State, Charles Jones from Utah, Elijah Hardy from Washington), one who faced the Pilots twice last year (Amari McCray from Pacific), and two from back east (John Hall from Evansville and James Scott from Temple). The intrigue of game one of the 2020-21 season will be their influence on the program after just eight full practices.

Although a lot has changed since March, PSU ended last season winning their final three road games. They could extend that streak on Saturday.

Head Coach Barret Peery, beginning his fourth season on the Park Blocks, led PSU to an 18-14 record last season, 12-8 and fourth in the Big Sky Conference. The Vikings did not get to play in the post-season due to COVID-19 cancellations. 

Last year, the Pilots ended a three-game losing streak to the Vikings, winning 82-75 at Viking Pavilion. Since PSU reinstated its basketball program in 1996-97 and joined the Big Sky Conference, its non-conference series with Portland has been tight. UP leads 13-10 during that span (and has won 37 of 57 throughout history in the city series). That said, PSU has won in its last two appearances at the Chiles Center (2016 and 2017).

A live stream link to this Saturday's game will be released later this week.

COMING UP

Portland State has added a Dec. 8 home game against Northwest University. The Vikings will host the Eagles in a 7:05 p.m. game at Viking Pavilion. PSU is unable to host fans for home games at this time. All home games and Big Sky Conference road games are available via live stream at www.pluto.tv and Pluto TV Channel 1051.

The Vikings travel to Washington State for a Sunday, Dec. 13 game that will be televised on the Pac-12 Network. The game tips off at 2 p.m.

Portland State has moved home games against Weber State to Dec. 18 and 20. Those games - Big Sky Conference counters - have been moved back from their original dates (Dec. 3 and 5) and now align with the remainder of the league schedule. PSU plays at Eastern Washington following Christmas. This change will put all 20 Big Sky games in succession.

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. PORTLAND

• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland leads the all-time series, 37-20. The Pilots lead 13-10 since Portland State resumed its program in 1996-97 and joined the Big Sky Conference (PSU did not have basketball from 1981-96). However, Portland State has won the last two meetings at the Chiles Center (2016 and 2017)... PSU is 6-6 in home games against the Pilots and 4-7 in games played at the Chiles Center since '96-'97.
• LAST YEAR: Nov. 20, 2019 at Viking Pavilion, Portland 82, Portland State 75: Portland outscored the Vikings 14-3 at crunch time to pull away for the victory... Isaiah White led five Portland players in double figures with 21 points and eight assists... UP made 28-53 from the field (.528) and 7-16 from three-point range (.438), while Portland State shot 27-66 (.409) and 4-18 from long range (.222)... Holland Woods led the Vikings with 22 points and five assists. He made 9-16 from the field and 3-3 at the line... the Vikings were hindered when big men Sal Nuhu and Trey Wood each went out with ankle sprains.
• PORTLAND STATE vs. THE WEST COAST CONFERENCE: Portland State is 41-76 all-time against the West Coast Conference, including 20-37 against Portland... UP is the only WCC team on the docket this season.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery (Southern Utah, 1996) is in his fourth season on the Park Blocks and has a 54-44 career record. Peery is 2-1 all-time against Portland.. 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 Pilots are coached by Terry Porter (Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 1985) in his fifth season. Porter, a former Portland Trail Blazers star, has also been a head coach in the NBA. He is 39-92 at Portland, 1-3 against the Vikings... former Portland State Head Coach Tyler Geving is now an assistant coach on the Portland staff. Geving was head coach at PSU from 2009-17, compiling a 112-133 career record. Geving had the second-longest tenure (8 years) of any head coach in PSU history. He was an assistant for the Vikings from 2005-09. 

PORTLAND PILOTS

• The University of Portland is a member of the West Coast Conference.
• Last year, Portland was 9-22 overall, 1-15 in WCC play. The Pilots return one starter and four letterwinners.
• Portland State has started the season with a 2-1 record. The Pilots average 76.3 points and allow 75.3 points per game.
• Senior transfer guard Ahmed Ali got off to a good start for the Pilots. After three games, he averages 17.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists. 
• Junior forward Eddie Davis is averaging 10.3 points and 4.7 rebounds.
• Returning starting point guard Chase Adams is averaging 6.7 points and 3.7 assists.