GEORGE FOX BRUINS (0-0) at PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (1-1)

Friday, November 12, 2021, 7:30 p.m. • Viking Pavilion (3,094), Portland, OR
Live Stream: ESPN+ • Play-by-Play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Devon Pouncey
(replay Sunday at noon on The CW in Portland area)
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP

The Vikings continue their three-game non-conference home stand this week with a Wednesday night contest against George Fox University. The Vikings (1-1) face the Bruins (0-1) for the first time in five seasons when they square off at Viking Pavilion in a 7 p.m. game that airs on ESPN+.
     
Portland State got its home stand off as expected on Friday night, routing Evergreen State of the NAIA, 100-44. It marked the first career win at the collegiate level for new Head Coach Jase Coburn. Five Vikings scored in double figures as all 13 available played. PSU jumped out to a big early lead and coasted to the win. JR G Marlon Ruffin led the way with 18 points (6-9 FG, 5-6 FT) in 18 minutes while SR F James Jean-Marie had his second straight double-double (15 pts, 10 reb).
     
George Fox, an NCAA III program, is expected to pose a greater challenge to the Vikings than Evergreen State. The Bruins opened their season with a 95-85 exhibition loss at Idaho of the Big Sky Conference. It was a one-point game at halftime as George Fox shot well from distance (12-27 3-pt FG) and forced 20 Idaho turnovers.
     
The level of opponent will continue to ramp up as the Vikings host University of Portland on Nov. 23, then travel to Iowa for a Nov. 26 contest.
     
Portland State has lost only 12 non-conference home games in the last 13 seasons (60-12). PSU is 29-11 against Division I schools, and 31-1 against lower division schools over that span.

COMING UP

Portland State is in the midst of a three-game home stand. The Vikings will host the University of Portland on Tuesday, Nov. 23. That game begins at 7 p.m. All PSU home games and Big Sky Conference road games will be live streamed on ESPN+. PSU plays at Iowa on Nov. 26, then has an early start to its Big Sky Conference season, traveling to Idaho State (Dec. 2) and Weber State (Dec. 4).

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. GEORGE FOX

• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series, 3-0... all three games have been played at PSU and the Vikings have won by an average of 23 points... the most recent meeting was a 98-65 Viking win on Dec. 23, 2013... Viking legend Freeman Williams scored 66 points in a 124-81 in over George Fox on Jan. 13, 1978.
• PORTLAND STATE vs. LOWER DIVISION SCHOOLS: Portland State is 53-2 all-time against lower division programs since joining the Big Sky Conference and Division I in 1996-97 (26th season)... PSU has already beaten Evergreen State of the NAIA this season (100-44)... George Fox is the second and final lower division opponent.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Jase Coburn (Arizona State, 2006) is in his first season as Head Coach. He has spent eight previous seasons on the Park Blocks as an Assistant and Associate Head Coach... the Bruins are coached by Maco Hamilton (Eastern Oregon, 2001), who is beginning his 10th season. He is 72-120 all-time with the Bruins, 0-1 against Vikings.

SCOUTING GEORGE FOX

• George Fox in an NCAA III member of the Northwest Conference located in Newberg, OR.
• The Bruins were 5-11 in the pandemic-shortened 2021-21 season, 5-5 in NWC play. Junior forward Kalu Stricklin is the top returning player after averaging 10.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and shooting .542 from the field.
• George Fox opened its 2021-22 season at Idaho last Friday, losing 95-85 in an exhibition. The Bruins were out-rebounded 40-29, but forced 20 Idaho turnovers to keep the game close. Momo Stokes and James Moore came off the bench to score 14 points each at Idaho. Brendan Ritschard had five rebounds, four assists and three steals. 

THE NEW-LOOK VIKINGS

Portland State was guaranteed to look different in 2021-22 as Jase Coburn has taken over as the Vikings' new Head Coach. Through the first two games, PSU looked quite a bit different on the court. Although the Vikings have eight returners and seven newcomers, only one returning player has been in the starting lineup.
     
SR F Khalid Thomas has started both, averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 steals.
     
Newcomers in the starting lineup have included: JR Gs Mikal Starks (4.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.5 apg), Michael Carter III (8.5, 5.0, 3.0) and Marlon Ruffin (14.5, 3.5, 0.5), and SR F James Jean-Marie (14.5, 10.0, 0.5). Jean-Marie opened the season with a double-double, scoring 14 points (5-12 FG, 4-4 FT) with 10 rebounds at Oregon State. He had 15 (6-9 FG) and 10 against Evergreen State. Ruffin had 11 points (4-10 FG, 3-6 FT) and four rebounds at Oregon State, then 18 points (6-9 FG, 5-6 FT) against Evergreen State.
     
Off the bench, JR G Ian Burke (6.0, 4.5, 1.0), SR G Ezekiel Alley (5.0, 4.0, 4.0) and SO F Jacob Eyman  (2.0, 2.5, 1.5 bpg) have played big minutes. Expect FR G Paris Dawson (10 pts vs. ESC) to also be a major contributor off the bench.  He missed the Oregon State game due to injury. 

WHO IS HOT

• JR F Gio Nelson scored a career-high 13 points (5-6 FG, 3-3 3-pt) with five rebounds, two assists and a steal against Evergreen State (11/12).
• Portland State shot .536 (37-69) from the field against Evergreen State. That was the best team shooting percentage since the 2019-20 season.
• The Vikings held Evergreen State to 15-65 shooting (.231).
• New Head Coach Jase Coburn picked up his first career win at the collegiate level. 

DOUBLE TROUBLE

SR F James Jean-Marie is expected to be double trouble for opponents as his powerful inside game is complemented by a soft outside shooting touch, not to mention his dominant board work (triple trouble?).

• Through two games, Jean-Marie has two double-doubles. He averages 14.5 points and 10.0 rebounds.
• He shoots .524 from the field, 1-2 from three-point range and .667 at the line.
• Jean-Marie has led the team in rebounding twice.

RESPECT THE SPECS

JR G Marlon Ruffin has found his way into the Portland State starting lineup with a unique look. Ruffin is one of the few collegiate players who wears glasses on the court... and his specs have style.

• Through two games, Ruffin is the Vikings co-leading scorer with 14.5 points per game.
• He shoots .526 from the field and .667 at the line.
• Has led the team in scoring once.
• Went for 18 points (6-9 FG, 5-6 FT) in 18 minutes against Evergreen State (11/12). 

SHOOTING STAR

SR F Khalid Thomas is the Vikings' top returning scorer (11.2) and rebounder (5.0) and tied for the team-lead in three-pointers last season (32). His career-highs are 25 points, seven rebounds and six three-pointers in a game. 

• Averages 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.5 steals per game.
• Scored a team-high 16 points (6-13 FG, 4-9 3-pt) at Oregon State (11/9). 

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE...

JR G Ian Burke did something against Evergreen State he had done only three previous times in his 56-game PSU career: he had more than one turnover. In fact, Burke had two turnovers - an anomaly - since in 56 career games, he has only 26 total turnovers. He made just nine all of last season.