PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (2-2) at IOWA HAWKEYES (5-0)

Friday, November 26, 2021, 6 p.m. CT/4 p.m. PT • Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA
Live Stream: Big10+ (subscription)
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP

A different kind of challenge awaits Portland State this Friday in Iowa City, Iowa when it has a rare non-conference meeting with a Big 10 opponent. The Vikings will take on the University of Iowa for the first time in history in a 6 p.m. CT/4 p.m. PT game.
     
The game at Iowa is the first on the road since Nov. 9 and begins a stretch of five out of six away from home for the Vikings, including a pair of Big Sky Conference games.
     
PSU goes into the game off a disappointing performance at home on Tuesday night. The Vikings never got going offensively and lost 69-54 to cross-town rival University of Portland. The loss dropped Portland State's record to 2-2. 
     
One bright spot for the Vikings was the play of SR F James Jean-Marie who registered his fourth straight double-double of the season. That marks the most consecutive double-doubles by a Viking in PSU's Big Sky Conference era (1996-present). Jean-Marie had 17 points (7-17 FG, 3-4 FT) and 10 rebounds against the Pilots. He leads the team with 15.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game this season.
     
On the dark side was a 23-73 team shooting performance (.315), that included a mere 2-23 from three-point range (.087).
     
The Vikings will need to remedy those shooting woes quickly. To say Iowa is a formidable opponent would be an understatement. The Hawkeyes are 5-0 this season and have beaten opponents by an average of more than 31 points per game. Iowa leads the nation in scoring at 99.6 points per game and has the nation's second-leading scorer in Keegan Murray at 26.2 points per game. The Hawkeyes have an impressive team shooting slash line of .503/.394/.839. And, they have shot more than twice as many free throws as their opponents (124-60).
     
Friday's game is available via live stream on the Big 10+ network. A subscription fee is required. Live statistics can be found at www.ViksLive.com.

COMING UP

Portland State's five out of six stretch away from home includes an early start to its Big Sky Conference season. The Vikings travel to Idaho State (Dec. 2) and Weber State (Dec. 4) next week. PSU split games with both teams last year.
     
Big Sky teams will return to non-conference play over the following three weeks, then restart league play on Dec. 30.
     
PSU is home to host Cal Poly on Dec. 11, travels to CSUN on Dec. 18, then Utah State on Dec. 21 to round out the non-conference schedule. 

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. IOWA

• ALL-TIME SERIES: This will be the first meeting ever between Portland State and Iowa.
• PORTLAND STATE vs. THE BIG 10: Portland State has played Big 10 opponents only four times in its history and is 0-4 (Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State). The most recent opponent was Indiana on Nov. 9, 2019. The Vikings took an 85-74 loss to the Hoosiers.
• 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 Hawkeyes are coached by Fran McCaffery in his 12th season. McCaffery is 221-152 with the Hawkeyes. In 26 seasons as a collegiate head coach he is 472-329 (Lehigh, North Carolina Greensboro, Siena, Iowa).

SCOUTING IOWA

• The University of Iowa is a member of the Big 10 Conference located in a Iowa City.
• The Hawkeyes were 22-9 last season, 15-7 in the Big 10 Conference. Two starters and 10 letterwinners return from that team.
• Iowa is 5-0 this season, having beaten Longwood, Kansas City, North Carolina Central, Alabama State and Western Michigan. The Hawkeyes average 99.6 points per game and allow only 68.4. They lead the nation in scoring and average 11.2 three-pointers per game.
• Sophomore forward Keegan Murray leads the team and ranks second in the nation in scoring at 26.2 points per game. He shoots .622 from the field, .886 at the line, and averages 8.8 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game.
• Sophomore forward Kris Murray is averaging 12.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while shooting .594 from the field.
• In all, five Hawkeyes average in double figures. Junior guard Joe Toussaint also averages 5.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game.

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 four 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 all three averaging 9.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 steals.
     
Newcomers in the starting lineup have included: JR Gs Mikal Starks (4.8 ppg, 2.3 apg), Michael Carter III (7.3, 4.0, 2.3) and Marlon Ruffin (12.3, 3.3), and SR F James Jean-Marie (15.0, 10.3, .521 FG%). Jean-Marie has opened the season with four straight double-doubles. Ruffin has scored in double figures in three of four games.
     
Off the bench, JR G Ian Burke (5.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, .615 FG%), SR G Ezekiel Alley (7.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.5 apg), SO F Jacob Eyman  (2.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.3 bpg) and FR G Paris Dawson (9.7 ppg, 12-12 FT) have all played big minutes. 

WHO IS HOT

• SR F James Jean-Marie has four straight double-doubles and averages 15.0 points and 10.3 rebounds... he is the first Viking with four straight double-doubles in PSU's Big Sky Conference era (1996-present).
• FR G Paris Dawson scored a career-high 19 points (6-8 FG, 1-2 3pt, 6-6 FT) against George Fox... he is also 12-12 at the free throw line this season.
• SR G Ezekiel Alley ranks second in the Big Sky Conference in assists (4.5) despite coming off the bench... SR F Khalid Thomas leads the Big Sky in steals (2.8)... FR G Paris Dawson leads the Big Sky in free throw percentage (12-12).
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference in field goal percentage defense (.354). 

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 four games, Jean-Marie has four double-doubles. He averages 15.0 points and 10.3 rebounds.
• He shoots .521 from the field and .692 at the line.
• Jean-Marie has led the team in scoring once and rebounding four times.
• Went for a season-high 17 points (7-17 FG, 3-4 FT) and 10 rebounds against Portland (11/23). 

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.

• Ruffin is averaging 12.3 points per game.
• He shoots .475 from the field and .714 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. 

• Thomas averages 9.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and a Big Sky Conference-leading 2.8 steals per game.
• Scored a team-high 16 points (6-13 FG, 4-9 3-pt) at Oregon State (11/9). 

UP WITH ALLEY

SR G Ezekiel Alley has been an impact player off the bench and is expected to do more as the season progresses. A transfer from Northwest Nazarene, he has made a smooth transition from Division II to Division I.

• Dawson averages 7.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 20 minutes per game off the bench... he is also shooting .500 from the field, has four steals and two blocked shots.
• Alley ranks second in the Big Sky in assists and has led the Vikings in assists in all four games. 

ONCE THEY'VE SEEN PARIS...

FR G Paris Dawson missed the Oregon State game, but has come back to play well since. Although he played in 22 games last season (8.4 ppg, 32 3-pt FG), Dawson still qualifies as a freshman due to the NCAA's COVID-19 waiver for the season.

• Dawson leads the team in bench scoring at 9.7 points per game.
• Scored a career-high 19 points (6-8 FG, 1-2 3-pt, 6-6 FT) in the win over George Fox (11/17).
• He has made 12-12 free throws this season to lead the Big Sky Conference. 

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE...

JR G Ian Burke continues to be a reliable force on the Viking team. In 68 minutes of playing time this season he has only two turnovers. That continues the trend as Burke has just 26 total turnovers in 58 career games at PSU. He made only nine in 22 games last season.

• Burke is averaging career highs of 5.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
• He is 8-13 from the field, 3-6 from three-point range, 4-6 at the line this season.

BIG GAMES OFF THE BENCH

• JR F Gio Nelson scored a career-high 13 points (5-6 FG, 3-3 3-pt) with five rebounds in a win over Evergreen State (11/12).
• FR C Hayden Curtiss scored 10 points (5-7 FG) with four rebounds in 10 minutes against Evergreen State (11/12).
• FR G Paris Dawson scored 19 points (6-8 FG, 1-2 3-pt, 6-6 FT) in 21 minutes in the win over George Fox (11/17).
• SR G Ezekiel Alley made a season-best seven assists to go with eight points (4-5 FG) in the win over George Fox (11/17).
• JR G Ian Burke had seven points (2-4 FG, 1-2 3-pt, 2-2 FT), five assists, four rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots in only 14 minutes against George Fox (11/17).
• SR G Ezekiel Alley scored 11 points (5-9 FG, 1-3 3-pt) with three assists and two rebounds in 20 minutes against Portland.