PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (13-14, 7-8) vs. MONTANA STATE BOBCATS (14-11, 8-6)
Thursday, February 20, 2020, 7:05 p.m. • Viking Pavilion (3,094), Portland, OR
Television: Eleven Sports
Live Stream: Pluto TV Channel 532, pluto.tv, WatchBigSky.com • Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Devon Pouncey
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
"Big games" on the Big Sky Conference basketball schedule start to roll in with the regularity of winter storms on the Oregon coast this time of year. Thursday night at Viking Pavilion will be one of those "big games" for Portland State when the Vikings, currently in 7th place in the Big Sky at 7-8, host fourth-place Montana State (8-6).
     
PSU is trying to make a late-season push to get into the top five in the league and avoid a first-round Big Sky Tournament game. A trip directly into the quarterfinals would make a three-game run at a Big Sky title much more realistic than facing a first-round game and a four-games-in-four-days scenario. And, although the Vikings are three spots behind MSU, they trail the Bobcats by only a game-and-a-half in the standings. A PSU win on Thursday would pull them within a half-game of Montana State, who would fall no further than fifth depending on the outcome of fifth-place Northern Arizona's (8-7) game at Idaho. In fact, the Vikings could possibly even find themselves in a tie for fifth depending on the outcome of NAU/Idaho and Southern Utah (7-7) at Northern Colorado (10-4).
     
So, it is still a bit of shell game for the Vikings as they have five games remaining in their regular season schedule. But if PSU can win what is ahead, particularly on Thursday, they are likely to leapfrog in the standings.
     
A Monday night win over Idaho, 90-69, was a great start on that climb. The Vikings were solid for 40 minutes, taking a big first-half lead, then never letting the Vandals within 18 points in the second half on the way to their biggest win over a Division I opponent this season. SR G Matt Hauser had his second big outing in a row, scoring 24 points with four rebounds, five assists and three steals. PSU shot over 50% and made 11 more steals in another oppressive defensive performance.
     
The Vikings, 13-14 overall, are now 8-3 at home this season. They take on a Montana State team that has won two in a row and five of its last seven games. PSU pulled off a 77-76 road win at MSU on Jan. 11. JR G Holland Woods scored 30 points in that game, including the game-winning shot with 2.4 seconds remaining to play.
     
The Bobcats, 14-11 overall, are 4-8 on the road, 3-4 in Big Sky road games. MSU is one of the better defensive teams in the Big Sky Conference, holding opponents to 66.1 points per game and .407 shooting from the field.
     
All-Conference guard Harald Frey paces the Bobcats with 17.1 points and 4.8 assists per game.
     
Thursday's game with Montana State is a 7:05 p.m. tip-off at Viking Pavilion. The game is televised on Eleven Sports. The Eleven Sports network can be seen on DirecTV channel 623 and CenturyLink channel 646. It will also be live streamed on Pluto TV Channel 532, www.pluto.tv and www.WatchBigSky.com. Live statistics can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
 
COMING UP
The Big Sky schedule continues with games at Idaho State (Feb. 27) and Weber State (Feb. 29) next week. PSU wraps up the regular season at home hosting Northern Arizona (Mar. 5) and Sacramento State (Mar. 7).
 
IF THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT STARTED TODAY...
The Big Sky Conference Tournament takes place Mar. 11-14 at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, ID. First-round games are on Wednesday, March 11. The top five teams in league play earn a bye into the quarterfinals on Thursday. Last season, the Vikings tied for fourth place and opened against Weber State in a quarterfinal game.
     
There are five games to go in the Big Sky regular season. The Vikings are currently in seventh place at 7-8. If the Big Sky Tournament began today, Portland State would be playing 10th-place Idaho (3-11) in a first-round game. A win in the first round would set up a quarterfinal round matchup with the second-place team (currently Eastern Washington/Northern Colorado).
     
The Vikings are one game behind fifth-place Northern Arizona (8-7) and a first-round bye.
 
THE UPCOMING BIG SKY SCHEDULE
1. Montana (12-3) - 2/22 at MSU, 2/27 at NAU, 2/29 at SAC, 3/5 UNC, 3/7 SUU
t2. Eastern Washington (10-4) - 2/20 SAC, 2/22 NAU, 2/27 at SUU, 2/29 at UNC, 3/5 ISU, 3/7 WSU
t2. Northern Colorado (10-4) - 2/20 SUU, 2/22 at ISU, 2/27 UI, 2/29 EWU, 3/5 at UM, 3/7 at MSU
4. Montana State (8-6) -2/20 at PSU, 2/22 UM, 2/27 at SAC, 2/29 at NAU, 3/5 SUU, 3/7 UNC
5. Northern Arizona (8-7) - 2/20 at UI, 2/22 at EWU, 2/27 UM, 2/29 MSU, 3/5 at PSU
6. Southern Utah (7-7) - 2/20 at UNC, 2/22 at WSU, 2/27 EWU, 2/29 UI, 3/5 at MSU, 3/7 at UM
7. Portland State (7-8) - 2/20 MSU, 2/27 at ISU, 2/29 at WSU, 3/5 NAU, 3/7 SAC
t8. Sacramento State (6-9) - 2/20 at EWU, 2/22 at UI, 2/27 MSU, 2/29 UM, 3/7 at PSU
t8. Weber State (6-9) - 2/22 SUU, 2/29 PSU, 3/2 ISU, 3/5 at UI, 3/7 at EWU
10. Idaho (3-11) - 2/20 NAU, 2/22 SAC, 2/27 at UNC, 2/29 at SUU, 3/5 WSU, 3/7 ISU
11. Idaho State (3-12) - 2/22 UNC, 2/27 PSU, 3/2 at WSU, 3/5 at EWU, 3/7 at UI
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. MONTANA STATE
• THE SERIES: Montana State leads the all-time series (dating back to 1957-58), 34-26... the Bobcats lead the Big Sky series, 27-23... the Vikings have won four of the last five meetings and seven of the last 10 meetings... Portland State has a 17-6 record in Big Sky home games... PSU is 4-0 all-time in Big Sky Tournament games against Montana State.
• Jan. 11, 2020 at Bozeman, PSU 77, Montana State 76:  Holland Woods' runner in the lane with 2.4 seconds remaining gave Portland State the win. Woods scored 30 points with the last two coming when he crossed over his defender on the perimeter, drove into the lane and hoisted a tear drop in traffic. The game-winner ended a frantic final four minutes that included eight lead changes. MSU's Harald Frey had hit an awkward 15-foot bank shot with 10.9 seconds left to put the Bobcats ahead 76-75. Portland State finished at .484 from the field, .733 at the free throw line. The Bobcats shot .500 from the field and .788 at the line. Sal Nuhu scored 12 points with six rebounds and four blocked shots for the Vikings. Frey scored 26 points with five assists for MSU. Amin Adamu added 20 points.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery (Southern Utah, 1996) is in his third season on the Park Blocks and has a 49-44 career record. Peery is 4-1 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 (14-11) is 0-1 against the Vikings.
 
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 14-11, 8-6 and fourth place in the Big Sky Conference. The Bobcats have won five of their last seven games. MSU averages 67.4 points per game and allows 66.1. The Bobcats shoot .446 from the field and hold opponents to .407 from the field and .302 from three-point range.
• MSU leads the Big Sky Conference with a .743 team free throw percentage, but ranks last in turnover margin (-2.9).
• Point guard Harald Frey is the catalyst for the Bobcats, averaging 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals. He has made a team-high 52 three-pointers and shoots .874 at the free throw line.
• Sophomore forward Jubrile Belo averages 12.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, shoots .623 from the field, .772 at the line and has 25 blocked shots.
• Junior guard Amin Adamu is averaging 11.9 points. Junior forward Devin Kirby leads the team with 6.1 rebounds per game.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
 
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 13-14 on the season, 8-3 at home, 4-11 on the road and 1-0 in neutral site games.
• The Vikings won their last home game.
• The Vikings won their last road game.
• With 13 wins, PSU now has double-digit wins in 16 of the last 17 seasons... the Vikings have won at least 13 in each of the last seven seasons, and 13 of the last 14 years.
• Last season, PSU was 13-14 after 27 games.
Home Court(s)
• Portland State opened the Viking Pavilion at the Peter W. Stott Center in 2018-19. The Stoller Family Court is PSU's fifth home court since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97. Previously, the main home court was the old Peter W. Stott Center. However, the Vikings also used the Rose Garden (now Moda Center) and Memorial Coliseum occasionally over the years. In 2017-18, PSU used Lewis & Clark College's Pamplin Sports Center as a home court while the Viking Pavilion was being completed. Here is the breakdown:
  - Viking Pavilion - 27 games, 20-7, .741
  - Peter W. Stott Center - 233 games, 168-65, .721
  - Rose Garden (Moda Center) - 28 games, 19-9, .679
  - Memorial Coliseum - 19 games, 13-6, .684
  - Lewis and Clark (2017-18) - 12 games, 7-5, .583
  - 24th season - 319 games, 227-92 at home overall, .712
• Portland State has lost only 11 non-conference home games in the last 13 seasons (56-11). PSU is 29-11 against Division I schools, and 27-0 against lower division schools over that span.
Big Sky Battles
• Portland State is 203-216 all-time in all Big Sky Conference games, including the Big Sky Tournament (12-14).
• PSU is 133-67 in home games, 64-138 in road games and 6-11 in neutral-site games.
 
WHO IS HOT
• PSU OFFENSE: Portland State had its best shooting percentage of the season (32-56, .571) in the win at Northern Colorado (2/10), and its second-best free throw percentage (18-20, .900)... the Vikings followed with a strong shooting performance against Eastern Washington (28-57, .491, 8-16 3-pt, .500) and Idaho (34-67, .507)... the Vikings have shot .522 and averaged 84.7 points over the last three games.
• PSU DEFENSE: The Vikings forced 38 turnovers in the last two games, scoring 44 points off turnovers... they had 29 steals in the two games, including nine by JR G Holland Woods and seven by SR G Matt Hauser.
• SR G Matt Hauser has posted back-to-back 24 points scoring games... Hauser had 24 points (8-15 FG, 6-10 3-pt, 2-4) with four rebounds, five assists and three steals in the win over Idaho... against Eastern Washington, he scored 24 points (8-13 FG, 5-7 3-pt, 3-4 FT), adding five assists with four steals... Hauser shot 11-17 from three-point range in the two games (.647).
• With three blocked shots against Idaho, SR C Sal Nuhu has moved into fourth place on Portland State's career shot-blocking list with 106... with a 2.1 average he leads the Big Sky in league games and would also lead in season games but has not yet played in the mandatory 75% of games to qualify.
• With 13 steals in the last three games, JR G Holland Woods has moved into the Big Sky lead for steals with 56.
 
BOO BOO IS REWRITING THE RECORD BOOK
Portland State point guard Holland "Boo Boo" Woods has set three new Portland State records this season, and now holds four in his career.
• Woods passed the PSU career record for assists in a Dec. 28 win against Northern Colorado. He currently ranks 10th in Big Sky Conference history in assists.
• His second Portland State career record came in a win at Montana State on Jan. 11 when he eclipsed the steals mark. Appropriately enough, he scored 30 points and hit the game-winning shot with 2.4 seconds left in that game.
• Against Montana (1/30), Woods made 21-21 free throws to establish a new school and Big Sky record for most free throws made in a game without a miss. They were also school records for most attempted and most made in a game. Woods finished with a career-high 39 points in the win.
• Ironically, Woods now holds records for free throw and field goal shooting in a game at PSU. His previous record came his freshman season, when he went 10-10 in a win over Eastern Washington (2/3/18), to set a PSU mark for most field goals in a game without a miss. 
• In addition, Woods became the 19th Viking in history to pass 1,000 career points. He now has 1,282 points to rank sixth all-time. Woods has scored more points than any Viking in the past 15 years.
 
VIKINGS CAREER ASSIST LEADERS

1.	Holland Woods (2017-20)	491
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)	152
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.	Holland Woods (2017-20)	1,282
7.	Leo Franz (1970-73)	1,245
8.	Charlie Stoudamire (1969-72)	1,179
9.	John Winters (1955-59)	1,169
10.	Derreck Brooks (1973-77)	1,155

 
BOO BOO, PART TWO
A few more highlights from Holland Woods:
• Ranks sixth in the Big Sky in scoring (17.0), second in assists (5.2), fifth in free throw percentage (.834) and first in steals (2.1).
• Has led the team in scoring 11 times and has 10 games of 20 or more points, including two games with 30+ points.
• Boo Boo has led the team in assists 22 times this season and in 74 of 92 career games.
• Made 27 straight free throws at one point this season.
 
TRIPLE THREAT
SR G Matt Hauser has become the Vikings' top three-point shooting threat.
• Hauser is averaging 15.0 points and has a team-high 53 three-point field goals. He also averages 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals.
• In the past two games, has averaged 24.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.5 steals.
• Has led the team in scoring seven times this season and has six 20+ point games.
• Missed seven games due to an ankle sprain.
 
YAHOO FOR NUHU
SR C Sal Nuhu is on a roll in Big Sky play with three double-doubles for the Vikings. He is averaging 9.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots.
• In conference play he averages 10.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.
• Has four double-doubles this season and has led the team in rebounding eight times.
• Missed seven games this season (six due to an ankle sprain, one due to illness).
 
VIKINGS CAREER BLOCKED SHOTS LEADERS

1.	Scott Morrison (2004-08)	187
2.	Seamus Boxley (2000-05)	128
3.	Collin Spickerman (2014-16)	117
4.	Sal Nuhu (2018-20)	106
5.	Jamie Jones (2008-10)	105
6.	Chehales Tapscott (2010-12)	62
	Julius Thomas (2006-10)	62
8.	Jamaal Sanford (1996-98)	60
9.	Ryan Edwards (2017-18)	57
10.	Seth Scott (2002-04)	48

 
GOOLSBY GOALS
SR F Rashaad Goolsby has upped his game in his senior season.
• He is averaging 7.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals per game and 1.0 blocked shots per game. Last season, he averaged 4.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.7 steals in 18.3 minutes per game.
• In nine starts Goolsby averaged 7.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots.
• Ranks eighth in rebounding, 12th in steals and seventh in blocked shots in the Big Sky Conference.
• He leads the Big Sky Conference in offensive rebounding (3.1).
• Has led the team in rebounding 12 times this season and has two double-doubles.
 
TALKING THE WALKER
Graduate transfer newcomer, SR F Alonzo Walker, has started all 24 games he has played for PSU and been productive. In 24 minutes per night, he averages 10.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, has 16 blocked shots and shoots .507 from the field.
• Walker has led the team in rebounding five times and has three 10+ rebound games.
 
HAMMER TIME
SR G Lamar Hamrick has become the Vikings' key player off the bench. He averages 8.1 points, 3.0 rebounds per game and shoots .524 from the field and .452 from three-point range.
• In Big Sky Conference games his averaging 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and shoots .539.
 
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 20-7 in the Viking Pavilion (.741 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.