Portland State Vikings (1-2, 0-0) vs. Weber State Wildcats (2-1, 0-0)

Friday, December 18, 2020, 7:05 p.m. and Sunday, December 20, 2020, 12:05 p.m., Viking Pavilion (3,094), Portland, OR
Live Stream: Pluto TV Ch. 1051, www.pluto.tv, www.WatchBigSky.com
Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Devon Pouncey
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com

THE OPENING TIP

In the classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off movie, the chief protaganist warned, "Life comes at you pretty fast." The Portland State men's basketball team must feel they are living that maxim right now.

It was less than three weeks ago that the Vikings were given the go-ahead from the state of Oregon to have full-contact practices in preparation for the 2020-21 basketball season during COVID-pandemic times. Now, the Vikings are already faced with Big Sky Conference play by the end of the week. That is a big deal, as the nonconference playing schedule on the average season usually runs about seven weeks.

Don't cry for PSU, though. The Vikings are anxious to show what they can do on the court. An uneven three games in a brief pre-conference schedule has them at 1-2 as they prepare to host Weber State in a pair of games at Viking Pavilion this weekend. PSU and WSU play Friday night at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday at 12:05 p.m. as the Big Sky has adjusted the season schedule to back-to-back games among opponents for a pandemic-riddled 2020-21 season, limiting travel and contacts for all teams in the league.

Portland State comes off a 69-60 loss at Washington State on Sunday. The game followed a similar script to the previous two. A slow offensive start, but an extremely competitive battle throughout. FR G Paris Dawson was impressive with 18 points off the bench and GR C Amari McCray posted his first double-double of the season with 12 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. However, the Vikings suffered from .303 shooting from the field, including 4-19 from three-point range. The poor shooting nullified an advantage in rebounding and forced turnovers that is the Vikings' trademark.

Through three games Portland State has shot .372 as a team, .222 from three-point range while out-rebounding opponents by 13 per outing.

Weber State has had more practice time than the Vikings, but circumstances have limited them to three games as well. The Wildcats have wins over Division II schools Adams State and Westminster, with a loss at Boise State.

Weber State has been a dominant program in the Big Sky Conference for decades and seen significant success against the Vikings in Big Sky games (37-16 all-time). But, the Vikings swept the Wildcats in the season series last year for only the second time in 24 previous Big Sky seasons. PSU has won three of the last four meetings overall.

Portland State will also try to extend its Viking Pavilion winning streak. The Vikings have won five in a row at home dating to last season.

Both games with WSU can be seen on a live stream at Pluto TV Channel 1051, www.pluto.tv or www.WatchBigSky.com. Live stats are available at www.ViksLive.com.

COMING UP

PSU continues league play at Eastern Washington following Christmas (Dec. 31 and Jan. 2). PSU is unable to host fans for home games at this time. However, all home games and Big Sky Conference road games are available via live stream at www.pluto.tv, www.WatchBigSky.com and Pluto TV Channel 1051.

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. WEBER STATE 

• ALL-TIME SERIES: Weber State leads the all-time series 41-16 and the Big Sky Conference series, 37-16... last season Portland State swept the season series for only the second time in the Big Sky era... the Big Sky series is tied 12-12 in Portland.
• PSU vs. WSU LAST SEASON:  Jan. 20 at Viking Pavilion: PSU 92, WSU 76: Portland State's inside game was too much for Weber State's perimeter attack. Alonzo Walker scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds for PSU. His front court mate Sal Nuhu went for 14 points and a season-high 15 rebounds... the Vikings scored 56 points in the paint and out-rebounded the Wildcats, 47-28. Included were 20 offensive rebounds for 20 second chance points.... Guards Cody John and Jerrick Harding put on a fine show for Weber State, combining for 53 points.  Feb. 29 at Ogden: PSU 89, WSU 83: Rashaad Goolsby and Lamar Hamrick combined for 34 points off the bench to lead the Vikings.Goolsby (18) and Hamrick (16) each posted career scoring highs. Goolsby hit 6-10 shots from the field, 6-6 at the line. Point guard Holland Woods had 17 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals.  The win at Weber State was the Vikings second straight in Ogden and only the fourth in their Big Sky Conference history... John and Harding combined for 39 points for Weber State on the night. 
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery (Southern Utah, 1996) is in his fourth season on the Park Blocks and has a 55-46 career record. Peery is 3-3 against Weber 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 Wildcats are coached by Randy Rahe (Buena Vista, 1982) in his 15th season. Rahe has a 280-174 record at Weber State. He is 22-8 all-time against the Vikings... Rahe has won five Big Sky regular season titles and three tournament titles. 

WEBER STATE WILDCATS

• Weber State University is an original member of the Big Sky Conference. The Wildcats have won 22 Big Sky regular season titles, 10 Big Sky tournament titles and made 16 appearances all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Wildcats were 12-20 last season, 8-12 and tied for eighth in the Big Sky Conference. One starter and four letterwinners return from that team.
• This season, WSU has started out 2-1 in nonconference play. The Wildcats average 77.3 points and allow 67.7 points per game. They shoot .838 from the free throw line to lead the Big Sky.
• Senior transfer Isiah Brown is leading the Big Sky Conference in scoring at 24.3 points per game. He also averages 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game. 
• Senior center Cody Carlson averages 15.3 points per game. He has shot a remarkable 17-20 from the field (.850), including 4-5 from three-point range (.800) and 8-10 at the line (.800). Carlson leads the Big Sky in field goal percentage.
• Senior forward Michael Kozak leads the Big Sky in blocked shots (2.7), and freshman Dillon Jones leads in steals (2.7).

EVERYBODY REBOUNDS

Portland State has excellent size on the roster in 2020-21, with three players in the rotation standing at 6-10. The Vikings, who have always been a good rebounding team under Coach Barret Peery - particularly on the offensive glass, are showing it again. 

• Portland State has out-rebounded all three opponents and has a +13.0 rebounding margin (19th in the nation).

• PSU has 54 offensive rebounds in two games for 50 second-chance points.

• A pair of guards led the Vikings in rebounding in the first two games, both by establishing career highs. JR G Ian Burke grabbed 10 off the glass at Portland. SR G James Scott had 12 against Northwest...  GR C Amari McCray had 11 rebounds to go with 12 points at Washington State.

THE FULL MONTY

The sample size is very small, but SR G James "Monty" Scott has proven to be a solid transfer for the Vikings. He scored 21 points at Portland in his first game as a Viking. After three games, he leads the team in scoring (11.3), ranks second in rebounding (6.0) and averages 2.3 assists. Scott played at Temple last season.

ONCE THEY'VE SEEN PARIS...

FR G Paris Dawson is picking up the college game rather quickly. In the last two contests he has compiled 29 points (10-16 FG, 3-5 3-pt FG, 6-7 FT), six rebounds, four assists and three steals in only 39 minutes of play.

CENTER OF ATTENTION

GR C Amari McCray, a transfer from the University of Pacific, is a legit, back-to-the-basket "5 at 6-10, 265 pounds. McCray's last two games have shown what he brings to the table. He scored 23 points with 17 rebounds and four blocked shots in only 39 minutes of play... McCray had his first double-double at Washington State (12 points, 11 rebounds).

SHOOTING STATS

Portland State's .377 team field goal percentage ranks 291st in the nation of 319 teams ranked. The good news is, PSU is shooting .766 at the free throw line (44th in the nation).

TASTY VIKING TIDBITS

• Portland State's Dec. 5 season-opener at Portland was the latest start to a season for PSU since 1963-64.

• The Vikings are still putting all the pieces in place for the 2020-21 campaign. PSU got a late start to its practice schedule after an eight-month layoff due to the COVID pandemic. Portland State did not start practice until November and only recently (Nov. 25) were the Vikings given an exemption by the Oregon Health Authority to begin full-contact, five-on-five practice. 

• Head Coach Barret Peery, now in his fourth season at Portland State, coached his 100th game on the Park Blocks on Dec. 8 against Northwest. He is the eighth coach among 13 in PSU history to reach the 100-game milestone. Peery was 55-45 through 100 games with the Vikings, including 32-12 at home. Only Arba Ager (1948-53), Sharkey Nelson (1953-65), Ken Edwards (1972-78) and Ken Bone (2005-09) won more games in their first 100 starts. 

• Portland State has had six different players start games in 2020-21. None of them played for the Vikings in 2019-20. Five transfers from other Division I programs started the opener at Portland: JR G Elijah Hardy; SR G Charles Jones; SR G James Scott; SR F Khalid Thomas; and GR C Amari McCray. The sixth starter has been FR G Jaden Nielsen-Skinner, who was a redshirt last season.