PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (3-5) at CSUN MATADORS (3-6)

Saturday, December 18, 2021, 7 p.m. • The Matadome (2,200), Northridge, CA
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: https://gomatadors.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP

Portland State goes into its final action before the Christmas break and re-start of Big Sky Conference play looking to sharpen its game. The Vikings will play at CSUN this Saturday night in a 7 p.m. contest on ESPN+. They round out non-conference play at Utah State on Dec. 21.
     
PSU (3-5) comes off a 61-58 loss to Cal Poly last Saturday at home. A strong second-half performance couldn't quite make up for a slow start to the game. The Vikings rallied from 10 behind in the closing minutes and had a tying shot attempt in the last seconds but came up just short.
     
Portland State will try to bounce back from that loss, and a run of four losses in five games when it meets the Matadors. CSUN is 3-6 on the season and has lost three in a row. The Matadors have played one other Big Sky opponent this season, losing to Eastern Washington, 67-64, in overtime.
     
The Vikings continue to be a stalwart defensive bunch, holding opponents to 65.6 points per game and .393 shooting from the field. They lead the Big Sky in field goal percentage defense, steals (9.8), blocked shots (4.1) and rank second in rebound margin (+4.0). A better performance on the offensive end would seem to get the Vikings rolling. PSU shoots .403 from the field, .251 from three-point range, and has not shot better than .381 in the last five games.
     
Head Coach Jase Coburn remains confident in the team's ability to shoot and score. He saw a good sign in the play of JR G Michael Carter III, who had a season-high 20 points (5-10 FG, 2-3 3-pt, 8-12 FT) in the loss to Cal Poly. It marked the second straight game that Carter has scored a season-high. SR F James Jean-Marie continues to produce as his 14-point (5-9 FG, 1-1 3-pt, 3-6 FT), nine-rebound, three-blocked shot game attests. Though he did not reach double digits in rebounds for the first time this season, Jean-Marie continues to lead the Big Sky in backboard work at 10.8 per game.  He ranks second in the nation in offensive rebounds (4.9) and eighth in rebounds per game.
     
Portland State faces a CSUN team that is experiencing similar challenges. The Matadors currently shoot .386 from the field and .282 from three-point range. They have averaged just 50.3 points in their last four contests and have six games of 56 points or less.
     
The difference between the teams is on the glass. CSUN has a -5.9 rebounding deficit per game, an area where the Vikings may be able to take advantage. Portland State goes into the game 1-3 on the road this season. CSUN is 2-2 at home.
     
The teams meet for the first time in two seasons. PSU took a 73-67 win at home two years ago.
     
Saturday's game will be available for viewing on ESPN+. Live stats can be found at www.gomatadors.com.
 

COMING UP

Portland State plays its final non-conference game at Utah State on Dec. 21. Big Sky Conference play begins on Dec. 30 when the Vikings host Eastern Washington. That will start a stretch of six out of eight games at home.
 

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. CSUN

• ALL-TIME SERIES: CSUN leads the all-time series, 10-6... the Vikings are 2-5 all-time in games at the Matadome... the most recent meeting was Dec. 6, 2019 at Viking Pavilion when PSU defeated the Matadors 73-67... PSU and CSUN were previously co-members of the Big Sky Conference (1996-97 to 2000-01). During that span the Matadors held a 7-3 advantage. Since then, the series is tied 3-3.
• PORTLAND STATE vs. THE BIG WEST: Portland State is 29-39 all-time against current members of the Big West Conference after last week's loss to Cal Poly.
• HE WAS ONCE A VIKING: CSUN senior guard Elijah Hardy played for Portland State during the 2020-21 season. Hardy played in 20 games, starting once. In 16 minutes per game, he averaged 7.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals. In the off-season, Hardy transferred to CSUN. .
• 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... Trent Johnson (Boise State, 1986) is the interim Head Coach at CSUN. In 17 previous seasons as a head coach at Nevada, Stanford, LSU and TCU, Johnson has a record of 276-264. Johnson was 1-1 against the Vikings during his tenure at Nevada (1999-2004).

 

SCOUTING THE MATADORS

• CSUN is a member of the Big West Conference located in Northridge, CA.
• The Matadors were 9-13 last season, 5-9 in the Big West Conference. Two starters and eight letterwinners return from that team.
• CSUN is 3-6 this season, 2-2 at home. The Matadors average 57.3 points and allow 68.2 points per game. They shoot .386/.282/.766 on the season. CSUN is out-rebounded by 5.9 per game, but control the ball well with just 12.1 turnovers per game.
• Sophomore guard Atin Wright averages a team-leading 10.5 points per game with a team-best 13 three-point field goals. Senior forward Onyi Eyisi averages 10.4 points and 4.1 rebounds. He shoots .556 from the field. Former PSU Viking Elijah Hardy is averaging 9.0 points and a team-leading 2.7 assists.

 

WHO IS HOT

• JR G Michael Carter III has averaged 17.0 points (10-22 FG, 4-7 3-pt, 10-14 FT), 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals in the past two games. He scored 14 points with three rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot at Weber State. Carter followed that with a team season-high 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals against Cal Poly.
• SR F James Jean-Marie missed a double-double against Cal Poly, but still had 14 points (5-9 FG, 1-1 3-pt, 3-6 FT), nine rebounds and three blocked shots... he has six double-doubles in eight games and leads the Big Sky with 10.8 rebounds per game. Jean-Marie ranks eighth in the nation in boards, second in offensive boards. He also leads the team in scoring at 13.4 per game.
• SR F Khalid Thomas is tied for the Big Sky Conference lead in steals (2.0).
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference in field goal percentage defense (.393), steals (9.8), blocked shots (4.1) and offensive rebounds (13.9)... the Vikings are currently 15th in the nation in offensive rebounds and 25th in the nation in steals per game.

 

DEFENSE TRAVELS

Head Coach Jase Coburn likes to say, "defense travels" meaning regardless of where you play, or how much you score, you can always have a consistent defensive effort. So far this season, Portland State has made its mark with defense. The Vikings have held opponents to 65.6 points, .393 shooting from the field, forcing 16.4 turnovers per game, and holding a +4.0 rebounding margin. The Vikings lead the Big Sky in field goal percentage defense, steals (9.8), blocked shots (4.1) and offensive rebounds (13.9) per game.
 

ON THE REBOUND

SR F James Jean-Marie is averaging 10.8 rebounds per game to lead the Big Sky. It is still early in the season, but the last Viking to average double figures in rebounds was Bob Sisul in 1978-79 (10.4). The last Viking to average more rebounds was Bill Wilkerson in 1966-67 (11.8). The highest rebounding average of PSU's Big Sky Conference era (1996-present) was 9.4 by Seamus Boxley in 2003-04.
 
Best Viking Rebounding Averages, Big Sky Era (1996-present)
1. James Jean-Marie (2021-22), 10.8
2. Seamus Boxley (2003-04), 9.4
t3. Chehalis Tapscott (2011-12), 9.3
t3. Cameron Forte (2015-16), 9.3
t5. Chehalis Tapscott (2010-11), 8.1
t5. Seamus Boxley (2004-05), 8.1
 
Most Double-Doubles, Big Sky Era (1996-present)
1. Chehales Tapscott (2012-13), 13
2. Cameron Forte (2015-16), 12
3. Seamus Boxley (2003-04), 11
4. Seamus Boxley (2004-05), 10
5. Jamie Jones (2009-10), 8
t6. Aaron Moore (2012-13), 7
t6. Brandon Hollins (2017-18), 7
t8. James Jean-Marie (2021-22), 6 (tied with six others)