Portland, OR – Portland State left no doubt in its home opener against Evergreen State, grabbing a big lead early and rolling to a 100-44 win at Viking Pavilion.
 
The Geoducks, an NAIA participant, were a decidedly different opponent than Elite Eight participant Oregon State, whom the Vikings played on Tuesday night. And the result was decidedly different as well. The Vikings led the Beavers for 25 of the first 30 minutes before losing 73-64. The Vikings led the Geoducks from the jump and never looked back. PSU built a 25-point halftime lead then coasted to a 56-point win.
 
Portland State dominated from the field, shooting .536; on the glass with a 57-32 advantage; and with defensive pressure, forcing 18 turnovers for 22 points. For PSU, it was a better shooting night than any the team had during the 2020-21 campaign. It was also the Vikings highest scoring game since Dec. 12, 2019 (101-48 over Portland Bible).
 
Junior guard Marlon Ruffin scored 18 points in 18 minutes to lead the Vikings. He hit 6-9 from the field and 5-6 at the line. Senior forward James Jean-Marie had 15 points on 6-9 from the field with 10 rebounds.
 
Off the bench, the Vikings got a career-high 13 points from junior forward Gio Nelson, and 10 points each from freshman guard Paris Dawson and freshman post Hayden Curtiss.
 
Portland State had 26 assists on 37 field goals as junior guard Mikal Starks and senior guard Ezekiel Alley had five apiece to lead the Vikings.
 
All 13 available Vikings played in the game, and none played more than 22 minutes.
 
A Michael Carter III dunk less than four minutes into the game staked the Vikings to their first double-digit lead, 15-4. By halftime the lead was 25 points at 48-23. Portland State shot .529 in the first half to only .276 for the Geoducks.
 
Evergreen State struggled mightily to score in the second half, making only 7-36 shots and missing all 13 three-point attempts. An 11-point run at the start of the second allowed the Vikings to put the game away.
 
The Geoducks finished the game at 15-65 (.231) from the field. Evergreen State was led by 12 points from Mitch Wetmore. Austin Curry had a team-high eight rebounds.
 
GAME NOTES

• The win was the first in the collegiate head coaching career of Jase Coburn.
• James Jean-Marie had his second double-double in as many games as a Viking.
• PSU is now 53-2 against lower division opponents since joining Division I and the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97.
• The Vikings are 60-12 in non-conference home games over the last 13 seasons.
• Portland State will play at home again next Wednesday when it faces George Fox in a 7 p.m. game live streamed on ESPN+.