PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (7-9, 4-5) vs. IDAHO VANDALS (0-18, 0-15)

Saturday, February 22, 2021, 12:05 p.m., Memorial Gym, Moscow, ID

Live Video Stream: Pluto TV Channel 1060, www.pluto.tv, www.WatchBigSky.com
Live Stats: https://govandals.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

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THE OPENING TIP
With three straight wins overall, three straight wins in conference play, and five wins in the last six outings, Portland State is officially playing its best basketball of the season. The key now is to maintain that level as the Vikings come down the stretch of the Big Sky Conference season.
     
PSU (7-9, 4-5) will face Idaho (0-18, 0-15) for the second time in three days on Saturday. This time the game will be in Moscow, and no doubt the Vandals will be looking for revenge after an 84-64 PSU win on Thursday in Portland.
     
Portland State used a balanced effort that saw 12 players score, the team shoot 50% from the field, and the defense put up another brilliant performance in Thursday's win. SR G James Scott had 14 points and a season-high seven assists to lead the Vikings. The Vikings scored 34 points on Idaho's 26 turnovers - a season-high for an opponent. PSU also had a season-high 16 steals in the game.
     
The win improved the Vikings' position from 10th place to a tie for seventh in the Big Sky standings as Sacramento State, Northern Arizona and Montana all took Thursday night losses. Another win on Saturday and the Vikings have the chance to go to sixth place.
     
In Portland State's five out of six run - with the only loss coming in overtime - the Vikings have allowed just 59.8 points per game and forced 20.2 turnovers per game.
     
Saturday's game will be live streamed on Pluto TV Channel 1060, www.pluto.tv and www.WatchBigSky.com. Tip-off is at 12:05 p.m.
     
The Vikings will travel to Northern Colorado next week for a pair of games, then close out the Big Sky regular season at home against Southern Utah on Mar. 4 and 6.
     
The Big Sky Conference Tournament takes place Mar. 10-13 at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.
 
THE SERIES: The all-time series is tied, 16-16, and the Big Sky Conference series is also tied, 6-6... Idaho leads the Big Sky series 4-2 in Moscow... the Vikings have five of the last seven overall… Feb. 18, 2021 at Viking Pavilion, PSU 84, Idaho 64: PSU continued its trend of stout defense with a much-improved offense. For the third straight game, the Vikings shot at 50% (28-56), while forcing the Vandals into 26 turnovers – a season-high for an opponent... James Scott led a balanced effort for the Vikings with 14 points and a season-high seven assists. Backcourt mate Paris Dawson added 12 points, hitting 4-6 shots, 3-5 behind the arc, and his only free throw. Elijah Hardy came off the bench for 11 points and three steals as the Vikings made a season-high 16 in all... Idaho hit 11-16 from the field (.688), including 5-6 three-pointers but turned it over too often... ahead 61-47 with 11:13 to play, Portland State went on a 16-2 run for the largest lead of the night at 77-49. The Vikings cruised home from there... in all, PSU scored 34 points off Idaho's 26 turnovers... the Vandals were led by 16 points from Damen Thacker.

IF THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT STARTED TODAY...

The Big Sky Conference Tournament takes place Mar. 10-13 at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, ID. First-round games are on Wednesday, March 10. The top five teams in league play earn a bye into the quarterfinals on Thursday.
 
There are five games to go in the Big Sky regular season. The Vikings are currently in a tie for seventh place at 4-5. If the Big Sky Tournament began today, Portland State would be playing either the ninth or 10th seed - depending on tie-breakers - in a first-round game.
     
Game times have not yet been released by the Big Sky Conference.

THE UPCOMING BIG SKY SCHEDULE

1. Eastern Washington (10-2) - 2/20 at UM; 3/3, 3/5 ISU
2. Southern Utah (7-2) - 2/20 SAC; 2/24, 2/26 NAU; 3/4, 3/6 at PSU
3. Weber State (8-3) - 2/20 NAU; 2/25, 2/27 at SAC; 3/4, 3/6 UNC
4. Idaho State (7-3) - 2/25, 2/27 UM; 3/3, 3/5 at EWU
5. Montana State (6-4) - 2/24, 2/26 at UI; 3/4, 3/6 SAC
6. Northern Colorado (5-6) - 2/25, 2/27 PSU; 3/4, 3/6 at WSU
t7. Portland State (4-5) - 2/20 at UI; 2/25, 2/27 at UNC; 3/4, 3/6 SUU
t7. Sacramento State (4-5) - 2/20 at SUU; 2/25, 2/27 WSU; 3/4, 3/6 at MSU
9. Montana (5-8) - 2/20 EWU; 2/25, 2/27 at ISU; 3/4, 3/6 UI
10. Northern Arizona (4-7) - 2/20 at WSU; 2/24 at SUU; 2/26 SUU
11. Idaho (0-15) - 2/20 PSU; 2/24, 2/26 MSU; 3/4, 3/6 at UM

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). Adding in this year's numbers, PSU 22-3 (.880) during late-season runs (20-3 in Big Sky games).

• 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 five of the last six games (three of four in conference games). The Vikings are now 7-9/4-5.