PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (5-9) vs. SIMPSON REDHAWKS (1-5)

Friday, February 12, 2021, 7:05 p.m., Viking Pavilion (3,094), Portland, OR

Live Video and Audio Stream: None
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com

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THE OPENING TIP

Prepared to play a Big Sky Conference opponent on the road this week, Portland State has had to pivot and now competes at home. The Vikings' two games with Northern Arizona were cancelled on Monday evening due to COVID protocols in the NAU program. So, Head Coach Barret Peery went looking for a non-conference game to fill in the week. He found one in Simpson University, whom the Vikings will play on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. in Viking Pavilion. 
     
Portland State comes off one of its best performances of the season, having beaten the Griz last Saturday at Viking Pavilion, 61-56. As usual, the defense was there with PSU holding another opponent under 60 points. And, the offense had its best shooting night of the season, hitting .512 from the field and .750 at the free throw line. If the Vikings can continue to match the offense to its consistent defensive performance, they stand to win a lot of games down the stretch of the Big Sky season. Currently, they have won three of their last four outings.
     
PSU has had to overcome the loss of GR C Amari McCray (10.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.3 bpg), who suffered a knee injury in practice last week and is out for the season. Making up for his absence were SR F Khalid Thomas (12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3 ast, 2 blk last week) and new starter SO C Jacob Eyman (6.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 bpg, .750 FG% last week). Those two combined to block seven shots in last week's two games and were anchors on a defense that has allowed only 57.3 points and forced 18.5 turnovers in the past four games.
     
Simpson is an NAIA member of the California Pacific Conference. The Redhawks are 1-5 on the season, with their lone win being a good one, over 23rd-ranked College of Idaho. The Vikings and Redhawks were actually scheduled to meet earlier, on Jan. 29. However, a snow storm in Northern California prevented travel causing the game to be cancelled.
     
Details on whether a live stream of the game will be available have not yet been determined. However, live stats can be found at www.ViksLive.com.
     
Portland State returns to Big Sky Conference play against Idaho on Feb. 18, then travels to Idaho on Feb. 20. The Vikings are 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.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY FUNDRAISER: VIKS VERSUS CANCER

Pledge today to help Portland State Men's and Women's Basketball beat breast cancer! Pledge for every three-pointer made by Portland State Men's and Women's Basketball during the first two weeks of February. February is National Cancer Prevention month. Let's raise some funds to help educate the community on prevention and early detection. Don't forget to schedule your cancer and breast screens on time. Now more than ever, we can save lives together!

Concerned about how many three-pointers the Viks will make? Don't fret. Be sure and place a cap on your pledge amount to ensure your pocketbook is not surprised by the amazing athletes at Portland State University. To learn more and donate, visit pledgeit.org/cvc21-portland-state.

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. SIMPSON

• THE SERIES: Portland State and Simpson have never met in basketball.
• PORTLAND STATE vs. LOWER DIVISION SCHOOLS: The Vikings are 51-2 against lower division schools in 25 seasons as a member of the Big Sky Conference and Division I (1996-2021). PSU is 2-1 in games against lower division schools this season... Head Coach Barret Peery is 10-1 as a Viking Coach against lower division schools.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery (Southern Utah, 1996) is in his third season on the Park Blocks and has a 59-53 career record. He has never faced Simpson.. 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 Redhawks are coached by Todd Franklin (Simpson, 2004), who is in his fourth season at Simpson. Franklin has a 44-42 record and has never faced the Vikings.

SIMPSON REDHAWKS

• Simpson University is located in Redding, CA. It is an NAIA member of the California Pacific Conference. • The Saints were 15-12 last season, 7-7 in the CPC.
• This season, the Redhawks are 1-5 overall. They average 79.2 points per game and allow 84.7 points.
• Sophomore guard Mason Johnson leads the team with 17.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. He shoots .515 from three-point range.
• Senior guard Dylan Banks averages 14.8 points and 5.0 assists per game.
• Senior forward JT Branch averages 9.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, and shoots .694 from the field.

WHO IS HOT

• The Vikings have won three of their last four games.
• Portland State's defense has allowed only 57.3 points and forced 18.5 turnovers the past four 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).
• The Vikings forced a season-high 24 turnovers against Montana (2/4), making a season-high 12 steals.
• PSU ranks 13th in the nation in offensive rebounding at 13.7 per game.
• The Vikings' top free throw shooters are SO G Kyle Greeley (18-21, .857) and SR F Khalid Thomas (29-35, .829).

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

Portland State's win over Montana 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 14 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. 

WILL ANOTHER LATE-SEASON RUN EMERGE?

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. 

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 67.4 points per game, which is the fewest since allowing 67.5 points during the 2003-04 season.

• Portland State has allowed just 57.3 points per game over the last four games.
• Opponents have been held to 70 points or less in nine of 14 games.
• Opponents are shooting only .424 from the field and commit 16.0 turnovers per game... PSU also out-rebounds opponents by 4.7 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.