PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (6-9, 3-5) vs. IDAHO VANDALS (0-17, 0-14)

Thursday, February 20, 2021, 7:05 p.m., Viking Pavilion (3,094), Portland, OR

Live Video 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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THE OPENING TIP

The opportunities to play have been sporadic, but the momentum is growing as Portland State looks forward to its final three weeks of Big Sky Conference play. The Vikings have won four of their last five games, with three cancelled in their midst, and are beginning to develop some offensive rhythm to go with their stout defense.
     
PSU (6-9, 3-5) will have a chance to extend its run this week as it faces the University of Idaho (0-17, 0-14) in a home-and-home series. The Vikings host the Vandals on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m., then play at Idaho on Saturday in a 12:05 p.m. game.
     
This week's games are two of just six remaining in the Big Sky Conference schedule. Due to cancellations, the Vikings have played only eight league games thus far - the fewest in the Big Sky along with Sacramento State and Southern Utah. The most they will be able to play prior to the Big Sky Tournament is 14. At 3-5, the Vikings stand in 10th place. However, the league will base final standings on winning percentage. Therefore, PSU can make up as much or more ground with wins (percentage-wise) of any team.
     
In lieu of last week's cancelled games at Northern Arizona (due to COVID-related issues in the NAU program), Portland State rescheduled a non-conference game with Simpson University (that had previously been cancelled due to weather). The favored Vikings came away with a convincing 99-66 victory in which they did everything well. SR F Khalid Thomas had a big night with a career-high 25 points (9-16 FG, 6-12 3-pt, 1-2 FT), six rebounds and two assists. SO G Kyle Greeley came off the bench for 16 points (8-15 FG), and career-highs of 10 rebounds and six assists. FR G Jaden Nielsen-Skinner also had a big game with career-highs of seven points, four rebounds, two steals and 11 assists. The last time a Viking had more assists was on Dec. 21, 2017 when Holland Woods dished off 13 in a win over California.
     
The Vikings also shot well at 49% from the field and 40% from three-point range, out-rebounded the Redhawks 44-33, and forced 21 turnovers.
     
In the four-out-of-five run - with the only loss coming in overtime - PSU has allowed just 59.0 points per game.
     
Idaho comes to Viking Pavilion having had a rough year. The Vandals are winless, with two losses in overtime and only two others by less than 10 points.
     
Thursday night's game will be live streamed on Pluto TV Channel 1051, www.pluto.tv and www.WatchBigSky.com. Live stats are available at www.ViksLive.com.
 
The Vikings round out their Big Sky Conference schedule at Northern Colorado on Feb. 25 and 27, then host Southern Utah on Mar. 4 and 6.
    
The Big Sky Conference Tournament takes place Mar. 10-13 at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.
 

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. IDAHO

• THE SERIES: Idaho leads the all-time series, 16-15, and the Big Sky Conference series, 6-5... PSU leads the Big Sky series 3-2 in Portland... the Vikings have four of the last six in the series.
• Jan. 2, 2020 at Moscow, Idaho 72, PSU 61: Portland State went cold from the field in the second half and Idaho was able to pull away for the win. The Vikings shot 50% in the first half, but only 30% after the break. PSU also committed 21 turnovers to 11 for the Vandals. Idaho's Trevon Allen led all scorers with 20 points. Matt Hauser scored 13 points and Alonzo Walker had 13 rebounds for the Vikings. Feb. 17, 2020 at Viking Pavilion, PSU 90, Idaho 69: Matt Hauser's hot shooting led the Vikings as he scored 24 points, making 8-15 from the field and 6-10 from three-point range. Alonzo Walker had a strong performance with 15 points and five rebounds.... PSU was 34-67 from the field (.507) overall... defensive pressure was once again a key. PSU forced 10 Vandal turnovers in the first half as it built its lead, and 16 overall in the game. The Vikings had 15 points off turnovers... a pair of 9-0 runs by the Vikings highlighted the opening half. PSU led 45-26 at the break after taking advantage of that pressure. The Vikings made seven steals in the half and 11 for the game. Idaho never got closer than 18 points in the second half, and the Vikings led by as many as 26.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery (Southern Utah, 1996) is in his third season on the Park Blocks and has a 60-53 career record. Peery is 4-2 all-time against Idaho... 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 Vandals are led by Head Coach Zac Claus (Eastern Washington, 1998) in his second season. He is 8-41 overall, 1-1 against the Vikings. Claus was a PSU assistant coach from 2000-02. 

IDAHO VANDALS

• The University of Idaho is located in Moscow. Idaho was an original member of the Big Sky Conference, then left after the 1995-96 season. The program rejoined the Big Sky in 2014-15.
• The Vandals were 8-24 last season, 4-16 and tied for 10th in the Big Sky Conference.
• This season the Vandals are 0-17 overall, 0-14 and 11th in the Big Sky Conference. Idaho averages 61.2 points and allows 77.5 points per game.  Vandals opponents have shot .470 from the field, .394 from three-point range and .757 at the line. Idaho commits the most turnovers (15.8) in the Big Sky.
• Senior forward Scott Blakney averages 11.0 points per game to lead the team. He shoots .605 from the field.
• Guards Damen Thacker (10.1) and Gabe Quinnett (10.0) also average in double figures. Quinnett leads the team with 31 three-point field goals and shoots .449 from long range. 

WHO IS HOT

• CAREER-HIGH NIGHT: SR F Khalid Thomas scored a career-high 25 points (9-16 FG, 6-12 3-pt, 1-2 FT) with six rebounds in a win over Simpson University (2/12)... SO G Kyle Greeley had 16 points (8-15 FG) with career-highs of 10 rebounds and six assists... FR G Jaden Nielsen-Skinner handed off a career-high 11 assists - the most by a Viking in two years - and had career-highs of seven points, four rebounds and two steals in the win.
• The Vikings have won four of their last five games, with the only loss in overtime.
• Portland State's defense has allowed only 59.0 points and forced 19.0 turnovers the past five 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.
• PSU shot a season-high .512 from the field (22-43) in a win over Montana (2/6).
• PSU ranks seventh in the nation in offensive rebounding at 14.0 per game. 

SCHEDULE SNAFUS

Portland State has had no fewer than 10 games cancelled this season, mainly due to COVID-related complications with opponents. Meanwhile, the Vikings have added four along the way. In Big Sky Conference play, where teams are not allowed to make up games, the Vikings are now able to play only 14 of a possible 20 scheduled games. Since five of the six cancelled conference games were on the road, PSU has the possibility of playing nine and home and five on the road for its 2020-21 league schedule. Home games are likely devalued somewhat in this strange year of competition due to the lack of fan attendance, but PSU would have a total of 13 home games and eight road games heading into the Big Sky Conference Tournament.

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

Portland State's win over Montana (2/6) was another extremely closely-played game for the Vikings. The largest lead in the game for either team was nine points (PSU). That continued a trend for the Vikings this season.

• In five of the last six Big Sky Conference games they have played, neither team has led by more than 10 points.
• In six of the 15 games this season, neither team has led by more than 10 points.
• Seven of the Vikings' nine losses are by three to nine points.

A LOOK AT ADJUSTMENTS

The unique 2020-21 Big Sky Conference schedule that has teams playing back-to-back games against the same opponent creates an interesting look at adjustments. PSU appears to adjust fairly well through four two-game sets in league play this season. In the first game of the back-to-back series' played so far, PSU is 0-4 in game one, scoring 62.8 points and allowing 74.8 points. In game two of those series, PSU is 3-1, scoring 67.0 points and allowing only 60.0 points.

IS ANOTHER LATE-SEASON RUN EMERGING?

One trend that developed in Head Coach Barret Peery's first three seasons on the Park Blocks has been a late-season run of success in Big Sky Conference play. In each season, there has been a definite rally that has started in mid-February and carried on to the end of the conference season. The combined Big Sky record in those late season runs was 17-2 (.895). The combined Big Sky record prior was 15-24 (.384).

• In 2017-18, PSU was 15-11 overall/5-8 in the Big Sky before winning four of five (Feb. 17-Mar. 3) to close out the conference schedule (19-12/9-9). Final record 20-14.
• In 2018-19, PSU 9-14/4-8 in the Big Sky before winning seven of the last eight (Feb. 14-Mar. 9) to close out the conference schedule (16-15/11-9). Final record 16-16.
• In 2019-20, PSU was 12-14/6-8 in the Big Sky before winning the final six (Feb. 17-Mar. 7) to close out the conference schedule (18-14/12-8). Final record 18-14.
• So far in 2020-21... PSU was 2-8/1-3 in the Big Sky, but has won four of the last five games (two of three in conference games).

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 67.3 points per game, which is the fewest since allowing 66.3 points during the 2002-03 season.

• Portland State has allowed just 59.0 points per game over the last five games.
• Opponents have been held to 70 points or less in 10 of 15 games and the last seven in a row.
• Opponents are shooting only .426 from the field and commit 16.3 turnovers per game... PSU also out-rebounds opponents by 5.1 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. 

SHOOTING STAR

With his long-range skills, SR F Khalid Thomas is a shooting star for the Vikings this season. Currently, he ranks second on the team in scoring (11.6) and rebounding (5.1) and leads in three-point field goals made (24).

• Thomas has a shooting line of .462/.369/.811. He has led the team in scoring three times and rebounding six times.
• Scored 20 points (7-14 FG, 3-6 3-pt, 3-5 FT) with six rebounds and two steals in a win over Weber State (12/20).
• Went for 14 points (4-6 FG, 6-7 FT), six rebounds, three steals, two assists and a blocked shot in a win over Idaho State (1/23).
• Had a career-high 25 points (9-16 FG, 6-12 3-pt, 1-2 FT), six rebounds and two assists in a win over Simpson (2/12).  

ONCE THEY'VE SEEN PARIS...

On a team laden with seniors, FR G Paris Dawson is picking up the college game and contributing rather quickly. He is averaging 8.6 points in 22.4 minutes per game.

• Started nine games and led the team in scoring three times.
• Dawson shoots .400 from three-point range.
• Scored a season and team-high 18 points at Washington State (12/13).
• Led the team with 15 points and five rebounds in a win over Montana (2/6).
• Went for 15 points (5-9 FG, 4-7 3-pt, 1-2 FT) and had three steals in a win over Simpson (2/12). 

TO ERR IS HUMAN... UNLESS YOU ARE IAN BURKE

JR G Ian Burke ranks fourth on the team in minutes played this season (22.1 per game). He has committed only three turnovers. That equates to one turnover every 110 minutes played... in 47 career games at Portland State, Burke has only 18 turnovers.

BIG GAMES OFF THE BENCH

• FR G Paris Dawson scored 18 points (6-10 FG, 2-3 3-pt, 4-5 FT) with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 23 minutes at Washington State (12/13).
• GR F John Hall had eight points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists in 20 minutes against Weber State (12/18).
• FR G Paris Dawson had 13 points and two rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench against Oregon State (12/22).
• JR G Elijah Hardy came off the bench for a season-high 17 points (7-14 FG, 3-7 3-pt) at Montana State.
• SR C Jacob Eyman scored 11 points (5-6 FG, 1-1 FT) win a blocked shot in only seven minutes of a win over Idaho State (1/23).
• SR F John Hall had 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-4 3-pt), five rebounds and a steal against Montana (2/4).
• SO G Kyle Greeley scored 16 points (8-15 FG) and career-highs of 10 rebounds and six assists in a win over Simpson (2/12).
• FR G Jaden Nielsen-Skinner scored seven points with four rebounds, two steals and 11 assists in a win over Simpson (2/12). His plus/minus was +40 in 24 minutes of play.