PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (4-8, 2-4) vs. MONTANA GRIZZLIES (7-8, 3-5)

Thursday, February 4, 2021, 7:05 p.m., Viking Pavilion (3,094), Portland, OR
Saturday, February 6, 2021, 12:05 p.m., Viking Pavilion (3,094), Portland, OR

Live Stream: Pluto TV Channel 1051, www.pluto.tv, www.WatchBigSky.com
      Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Devon Pouncey
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com

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VIKS VS. CANCER

Pledge today to help Portland State Men's and Women's Basketball beat breast cancer! Pledge for every three-pointer made by Portland State Men's and Women's Basketball during the first two weeks of February. February is National Cancer Prevention month. Let's raise some funds to help educate the community on prevention and early detection. Don't forget to schedule your cancer and breast screens on time. Now more than ever, we can save lives together!

Concerned about how many three-pointers the Viks will make? Don't fret. Be sure and place a cap on your pledge amount to ensure your pocketbook is not surprised by the amazing athletes at Portland State University. To learn more and donate, visit pledgeit.org/cvc21-portland-state.

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THE OPENING TIP

Though it seems like the 2020-21 basketball season is just getting going, the Portland State Vikings actually begin their homestretch run this week when they host the University of Montana.

The Vikings have the second half of the Big Sky Conference schedule ahead of them - 10 games equally split home and road - leading into the Big Sky Tournament Mar. 10-13.     

A season fractured by a pandemic has led to an unusual situation for everyone in the Big Sky. Last week, among a dozen games scheduled only six were played. Portland State fit that ratio playing one non-conference game and having a second cancelled by, oddly enough, snow conditions that prevented an opponent from traveling.     

PSU (4-8, 2-4) goes into the second half of the Big Sky schedule having played only six of the 10 scheduled Big Sky games, and a dozen overall (with eight total cancellations). Big Sky teams have played anywhere from six to 11 league games and between 11 and 16 total games. Cancelled conference games will not be made up, so with teams having played an uneven number of games at the end of the season, winning percentage will play a role in determining tournament seeding. That factor plays a role in this week's games as PSU and Montana are each two games below .500. However, the Griz have played two more games and therefore have a higher winning percentage.     

The Vikings and Montana meet on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. and Saturday at 12:05 p.m. in Viking Pavilion. After those games, the Vikings are on the road for five of the next six. PSU is 4-3 at home this season, having won their last two. The Grizzlies come in with a 2-6 road record.     

Last season, the teams split the season series with each winning on their home court. The Vikings have won three of the last four in the series.     

Portland State will continue to rely on a defense that has been particularly stingy of late. The Vikings are allowing 68.2 points per game which is the fewest in 13 seasons. In the last three games, two of which were wins, they have given up only 55.6 points. PSU is allowing opponents to shoot only .418 from the field this season and forcing 15.6 turnovers per game.     

Montana (7-8, 3-5) has split its last three weekend series in the Big Sky against Northern Colorado Northern Arizona and Sacramento State. The Griz have not played since Jan. 23. After starting the year 0-4, the have won seven of 11 games.     

The Griz also have a stout defense, giving up just 63.8 points per game, third-best in the Big Sky.     

This week's games are available via live stream on Pluto TV Channel 1051, www.pluto.tv and www.WatchBigSky.com. Live stats can be found at www.ViksLive.com.

Portland State plays five of the next six games on the road. Next week is a trip to Northern Arizona, followed by a game at Idaho on Feb. 18. PSU's next home game is Feb. 20 against Idaho.

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. MONTANA

• THE SERIES: Montana leads the all-time series, 39-26, and the Big Sky Conference series, 31-17... the series is tied 12-12 in Portland in Big Sky games... the season series was split last year with each team winning on its home court... the Vikings have won three of the last four overall.
• Jan. 13, 2020 at Missoula, UM 85, PSU 70: Montana shot .604 from the field in the game, the best by a Viking opponent all season. Still, PSU was down only two (58-56) midway through the second half. The Griz used a 13-2 run to break the game open. Kendal Manuel scored 27 points for Montana on 7-11 from the field, 5-7 three-pointers and 8-9 at the line. Sayeed Pridgett had 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. The Vikings shot .406 from the field and failed to make a three-pointer (0-11). Holland Woods led the Vikings with 18 points, three assists and three steals. Rashaad Goolsby scored 13 points with 11 rebounds. Jan. 30, 2020 at Viking Pavilion, PSU 88, UM 81: Holland "Boo Boo" Woods scored a career-high 39 points, making a PSU and Big Sky record 21-21 free throws in the game. Woods had 17 points, four assists and four steals at halftime as the Vikings bolted out to a 49-30 lead. They built the advantage to as many as 22 in the second half before the Grizzlies made a run. But in that run, they needed to foul to try to catch up. Woods was the beneficiary, making all 16 of his second-half free throws, including 10 in the last 1:22 of the contest... PSU finished the game shooting 29-61 from the field (.475), out-rebounded Montana 33-29, and had 11 steals... the Grizzlies shot .561 from the field on 32-57 shots. However their 14 turnovers were converted by the Vikings into 28 points... Kendal Manuel scored 19 points and had six rebounds for Montana.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery (Southern Utah, 1996) is in his fourth season on the Park Blocks and has a 58-52 career record. Peery is 3-3 all-time against Montana... 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 Grizzlies are coached by Travis DeCuire (Montana, 1994) in his seventh season. DeCuire has a 134-79 overall record and has led the Grizzlies to two Big Sky Championships. He is 9-4 all-time against the Vikings.

MONTANA GRIZZLIES

• The University of Montana is located in Missoula. An original member of the Big Sky Conference, Montana has won 10 Big Sky regular season titles, 11 Big Sky Tournament titles, and made 12 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Griz were 18-13 overall last season, 14-6 and third in the Big Sky Conference.
• This season, the Griz are 7-8 overall, 3-5 in the Big Sky. They score 69.8 points per game and allow 63.8, which is third-best in the league. The Griz shoot .462 from the field and a league-leading .793 at the line. However, they rank last in three-point field goals made per game (4.9)
• Sophomore forward Kyle Owens leads the Griz in scoring (12.3) and rebounding (6.3).
• Freshman guard Brandon Whitney averages 11.4 points per game and shoots .549 from the field.
• Senior transfer big man Michael Steadman is averaging 10.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and shoots .537 from the field.
• Junior guard Cameron Parker's 4.2 assists per game is second in the league. 

WHO IS HOT

• Portland State's defense has allowed only 55.6 points and forced 18.0 turnovers the past three games... the Vikings allowed the fewest points (43) to a Division I opponent in 12 seasons in the win over Idaho State (1/23). The last time the Vikings allowed fewer to a D1 school was a 59-42 over Sacramento State on Jan. 8, 2009.
• GR C Amari McCray posted a season-high 22 points (9-14 FG, 4-5 FT) in the win over Saint Martin's. He  has averaged 14.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots over the last six games... McCray scored 21 points (10-11 FG) with 12 rebounds and two blocked shots against Northwest Nazarene (1/9). It was his second double-double of the season... his .909 field goal percentage is third-best in school history for a game (10 FGA minimum).
• PSU ranks seventh in the nation in offensive rebounding at 14.3 per game. 

DEE-FENSE

Portland State's defense has been a trademark in the Barret Peery era. The full-court pressure has created havoc and lots of turnovers. This season, the Vikings are keeping opponent point totals low as well. PSU gives up 68.2 points per game, which is the fewest since allowing 68.0 points during the 2007-08 season.

• Portland State has allowed just 55.6 points per game over the last three games.
• Opponents have been held under 70 points in seven of 12 games.
• Opponents are shooting only .418 from the field and commit 15.6 turnovers per game... PSU also out-rebound opponents by 5.4 per game.
• PSU held Idaho State to the fewest points (43) by a Division I opponent in 12 seasons (1/23). The last time the Vikings allowed fewer to a D1 school was a 59-42 over Sacramento State on Jan. 8, 2009.