PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (15-14, 9-8) vs. WEBER STATE WILDCATS (11-16, 7-9)
Saturday, February 29, 2020, 6 p.m. PT • Dee Events Center (11,500), Ogden, UT
Television: None
Live Stream: Pluto TV Channel 535, pluto.tv, WatchBigSky.com
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP
Portland State maintained its momentum with a road win on Thursday night as the Vikings try to roll into the post-season with a head of steam.
     
PSU (15-14, 9-8) won its third straight game, 89-76 at Idaho State, with equal parts efficient offense and oppressive defense. Now the Vikings go to what has historically been the most challenging place to win in the Big Sky Conference; Weber State's Dee Events Center. PSU plays the Wildcats (11-16, 7-9) on Saturday in the final road game of the season. The final two home games come at Viking Pavilion next week.
     
The win at ISU continued the Vikings' upward trend offensively. In the Vikings' three-game winning streak they have averaged 88.7 points. PSU has scored 81 or more points in five straight games and seven of the last eight. The Vikings have won five of the last seven overall.
     
JR G Holland Woods continued his All-Conference-level season with a 29-point, four-assist performance in the win at ISU, hitting 12-19 from the field, 2-5 three-pointers and 3-3 at the line. He ranks in the top 10 in the Big Sky in scoring, assists and free throw percentage, and leads the league in steals. SR C Sal Nuhu continued his fine play as well with 15 points (6-11 FG, 3-3 FT), 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. Nuhu is the Big Sky leader in blocks again this season (2.2).
     
On defense the Vikings have been equally impressive of late. They have forced 79 turnovers in the last four games (19.7) and made 48 steals (12.0). PSU forced the Bengals into 24 turnovers for 30 points.
     
After completing the season sweep of Idaho State, the Vikings will try to do the same to Weber State. WSU is having an uncharacteristic sub-.500 season, but features two of the best guards in the league in Big Sky scoring leader Jerrick Harding (22.5 ppg) and Cody John (14.2 ppg). In addition, PSU is just 3-21 all-time in Big Sky games in Ogden. One of those victories was a 76-75 thriller last year.
     
The Vikings beat the Wildcats in Portland on Jan. 20, 92-76, and have won two of the last three in the series. They had lost seven straight and 14 of 16 prior to that. The Wildcats are 8-4 at home this season, PSU is 5-11 on the road.
     
Saturday's game with Weber State is a 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT tip-off. The game will be live streamed on Pluto TV Channel 535, www.pluto.tv and www.WatchBigSky.com. Live statistics can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
     
PSU wraps up the regular season at home next week 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 three games to go in the Big Sky regular season. The Vikings are currently in fifth place at 9-8. If the Big Sky Tournament began today, Portland State would be playing fourth-place Northern Arizona (10-8) in a quarterfinal round game. A win in that game would set up a semifinal contest against the winner of a game between the Big Sky regular season champion and the 8-seed/9-seed game winner.
 
THE UPCOMING BIG SKY SCHEDULE
t1. Montana (13-4) - 2/29 at SAC, 3/5 UNC, 3/7 SUU
t1. Eastern Washington (13-4) - 2/29 at UNC, 3/5 ISU, 3/7 WSU
t1. Northern Colorado (13-4) - 2/29 EWU, 3/5 at UM, 3/7 at MSU
4. Northern Arizona (10-8) - 2/29 MSU, 3/5 at PSU
5. Portland State (9-8) - 2/29 at WSU, 3/5 NAU, 3/7 SAC
6. Montana State (8-9) - 2/29 at NAU, 3/5 SUU, 3/7 UNC
7. Sacramento State (8-10) - 2/29 UM, 3/7 at PSU
8. Weber State (7-9) - 2/29 PSU, 3/2 ISU, 3/5 at UI, 3/7 at EWU
9. Southern Utah (7-10) - 2/29 UI, 3/5 at MSU, 3/7 at UM
t10. Idaho (3-14) - 2/29 at SUU, 3/5 WSU, 3/7 ISU
t10. Idaho State (3-14) - 3/2 at WSU, 3/5 at EWU, 3/7 at UI
 
2020 Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Championship Schedule
 
Wednesday, March 11, 2020, live streamed on Pluto TV, WatchBigSky.com
Game 1 – No. 8 Seed vs. No. 9 Seed, 9:30 a.m.          
Game 2 – No. 7 Seed vs. No. 10 Seed, Noon
Game 3 – No. 6 Seed vs. No. 11 Seed, 2:30 p.m.
 
Thursday, March 12, 2020, live streamed on Pluto TV, WatchBigSky.com
Game 4 – No. 1 Seed vs. Game 1 Winner, Noon         
Game 5 – No. 4 Seed vs. No. 5 Seed, 2:30 p.m.
Game 6 – No. 2 Seed vs. Game 2 Winner, 5:30 p.m.
Game 7 – No. 3 Seed vs. Game 3 Winner, 8 p.m.
 
Friday, March 13, 2020, televised on Eleven Sports, live streamed on Pluto TV
Game 8 – Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner (Semifinals), 5:30 p.m.
Game 9 – Game 6 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner (Semifinals), 8 p.m.
 
Saturday, March 14, 2020, televised on ESPNU
Game 10 – Championship Game, 6 p.m.
 
All times listed are Mountain
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. WEBER STATE
• THE SERIES: Weber State has been Portland State's number-one nemesis since joining the Big Sky Conference. The Wildcats have a 37-15 advantage over the Vikings in all Big Sky Conference games, which includes a 7-0 lead in Big Sky Tournament games... the Vikings broke through with only their third Big Sky win ever at Ogden last season (3-21).
• Jan. 12, 2020 at Viking Pavilion, PSU 92, Weber State 76: Portland State's inside game was too much for Weber State's perimeter attack as the Vikings had one of their most complete performances of the season. Senior forward Alonzo Walker scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds. His front court mate Sal Nuhu, a senior center, went for 14 points and a season-high 15 rebounds. Those two led a dominant inside attack as 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... Cody John and Jerrick Harding put on a fine show for Weber State, combining for 53 points. John had 29 on 12-17 from the field and 3-5 from three-point range. Harding went for 24 points, hitting 10-21 shots, 2-8 from distance and 2-2 at the line... PSU's bench was highly productive as well, outscoring the Weber State bench, 36-10. Lamar Hamrick scored 15 points with four rebounds. Kyle Greeley had 12 points, making 5-6 shots, including both of his three-pointers, had four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Holland Woods scored 12 points and led the Vikings with nine assists... The 92 points were the most by Portland State against a Division I opponent this season.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery (Southern Utah, 1996) is in his third season on the Park Blocks and has a 51-44 career record. Peery is 2-4 all-time 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)... Randy Rahe (Buena Vista, 1982) is the dean of Big Sky Conference coaches. In 14 seasons at Weber State he has compiled a 277-169 record, won five Big Sky regular season titles and three tournament titles. Rahe is 22-7 all-time against Portland State. 
 
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 18-15 last season, 11-9 and tied for fourth in the Big Sky. Three starters and eight letterwinners return from that team. Among them is two-time All-Big Sky Conference first-team selection Jerrick Harding and honorable mention All-Big Sky Cody John.
• This season, Weber State is 11-16 overall, 7-9 in the Big Sky Conference. The Wildcats average 69.5 points and allow 70.7 points per game.
• All-Conference guard Jerrick Harding averages a Big Sky-best 22.5 points per game, 23.8 in league games. He has made 55 three-point field goals and shoots .501 from the field and .867 at the free throw line.
• Cody John is averaging 14.2 points and shoots .855 at the line.
• Center Michal Kozak is averaging 10.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots in league games.
 
SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE VIKING QUICK NOTES
 
WINNING LINES
• Portland State is 15-14 on the season, 9-3 at home, 5-11 on the road and 1-0 in neutral site games.
• The Vikings have won three games in a row and five of their last seven.
• PSU has won its last two home games.
• The Vikings have won their last two road games.
• With 15 wins, PSU now has double-digit wins in 16 of the last 17 seasons... the Vikings have won at least 15 for the fourth straight year and six of the last seven.
• Last season, PSU was 14-15 after 29 games.
 
WHO IS HOT
• PSU OFFENSE: Portland State has been shooting and scoring at its best rate of the season. The Vikings have scored 81 or more points in seven of the last eight games. They have averaged 88.7 points during the three-game winning streak. PSU had its best shooting percentage of the season (32-56, .571) in the win at Northern Colorado (2/10), and is shooting .511 over the last five games... PSU is 31-35 at the free throw line in the last two games (.886).
• PSU DEFENSE: The Vikings have forced 79 turnovers in the last four games (19.7), scoring 95 points off turnovers (23.8)... they had 48 steals in those games (12.0), including 12 by JR G Holland Woods.
• SR C Sal Nuhu had his fifth double-double in Big Sky Conference play, and sixth of the season with 15 points (6-11 FG, 3-3 FT), 11 rebounds and two blocked shots in the win at Idaho State... Nuhu leads the Big Sky Conference with 2.2 blocked shots per game.
• JR G Holland Woods has averaged 25.5 points in the last two games, shooting 17-28 from the field (.607), 4-9 from three-point range (.444) and 13-13 at the line... he is the Big Sky leader for steals with 59 (2.0).
 
WHO IS NOT
• Portland State is allowing the most points (76.6) in Big Sky Conference games this season (but also scoring the most at 77.2).
• The Vikings have been out-rebounded by a total of 30 in the last four games (-7.3).
• SR F Markus Golder is out with a leg injury, becoming the fourth Viking starter to miss time due to injury this season.
 
PEERY PRESSURE AND PACE
Portland State continues to turn up the pressure in the third season of the Barret Peery Era. The Vikings maintain relentless full-court pressure and crash the offensive glass with abandon.
• This season, PSU has 79 more offensive rebounds than their opponents (2.7 more per game) and has forced 77 more turnovers than they have committed (2.7 per game). The 156 extra possessions amounts to more than 5.4 per game.
• PSU has an edge over opponents in points off turnovers (484-374) and second chance points (407-346).
• In 2017-18, the Vikings offensive rebound and turnover margin totals amounted to 9.7 more possessions per game than opponents.
• In 2018-19, the Vikings offensive rebound and turnover margin totals amounted to 7.4 more possessions per game than opponents.
 
TRENDING
• Portland State is 1-9 when trailing at halftime, but 14-5 when tied or ahead at the break.
• PSU has out-rebounded 15 of 29 opponents, and that is important. The Vikings are 10-5 when they get more boards, 4-8 when they don't, 1-1 when it is even.
• Shooting is always the most important factor. The Vikings are 9-2 when shooting a higher percentage than opponents.
 
INJURY ANGST
Portland State has lost four starters due to injury at some point this season.
• SR F Markus Golder is currently out with a leg injury.
• SR G Matt Hauser missed seven games with an ankle sprain.
• SR C Sal Nuhu missed six games early this season with an ankle sprain, and a seventh due to illness.
• SR F Alonzo Walker missed three games with a foot injury.
• SR G Lamar Hamrick missed four games with thumb and back injuries.
• PSU has lost a total of 22 player games to injury, 18 to starters.
• 10 different players have started games with nine starting three or more games this season.
• The Vikings have used nine different starting lineups.
 
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 eighth 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 from the field 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 1,333 points to rank fifth all-time. Woods has scored more points than any Viking in the past 15 years.