PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (9-10, 6-6) vs. SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS (17-3, 10-2)

Thursday, March 4, 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: https://uncbears.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

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THE OPENING TIP

The final week of the Big Sky Conference regular season offers a lot of intrigue for the Portland State Vikings as they prepare to host Southern Utah for a pair of games at Viking Pavilion.
     
PSU (9-10, 6-6) has played well over the past five weeks, winning five of their last six games, and seven of the last nine. The Vikings sit in the middle of the Big Sky standings in sixth place. They are among five teams in a volatile position based on the league's final weekend of play. Portland State can finish anywhere from fourth to eighth place, as can the other four teams in the mid-standings logjam.
     
Idaho State and Montana State are tied in fourth place at 7-5. The Bengals play two at league-leading Eastern Washington this week. Montana State hosts Sacramento State in a pair of games. PSU is 6-6 and hosts a Southern Utah team that is one-half game out of first. Northern Colorado is 6-7 and travels for two games at Weber State. And Montana is 7-9, but hosts last place Idaho for a pair of games.
     
So, the seedings are anything but decided. And of course, a fourth or fifth place finish means a first-round bye in next week's Big Sky Conference Tournament.
     
In addition, the top of the standings is a dog fight with EWU (11-2), SUU (10-2) and WSU (11-3) all with a chance to win the league title.
     
Portland State must focus on the task at hand, which is the Thunderbirds (17-3/10-2), winners of seven straight games. The Vikings' defense has not allowed an opponent to score more than 70 points in 11 games. However,  Southern Utah leads the league in scoring at 85.6 points per game and ranks third in the nation. The T-Birds are also sixth in the nation in rebounding margin (+9.8). And, they are still in the hunt for a Big Sky regular season championship.
     
By contrast, the Vikings have allowed only 58.9 points per game in their seven-of-nine streak, while forcing 18.2 turnovers per game.
     
The offense has improved as well. In the 73-65 win at Northern Colorado on Saturday, PSU shot .510 from the field - its third 50%+ shooting game in the last six games - and had only seven turnovers. SR G James Scott had a big performance with 19 points and six assists, while SR F Khalid Thomas added 14 points and six rebounds.
     
Portland State has won its last three home games and is 7-4 at home this season. Southern Utah is 3-3 on the road this season.
     
Thursday night's game tips off at 7:05 p.m. Saturday's game is a 12:05 p.m. start. Both games can be viewed via live stream on Pluto TV Channel 1051, www.pluto.tv and www.WatchBigSky.com. Live statistics are available at www.ViksLive.com.

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 two games to go in the Big Sky regular season for most teams. The Vikings are currently in sixth place at 6-6. If the Big Sky Tournament began today, Portland State would be playing Idaho (11th seed) in a first-round game.
 
THE UPCOMING BIG SKY SCHEDULE
1. Eastern Washington (11-2) - 3/3, 3/5 ISU
2. Southern Utah (10-2) - 3/4, 3/6 at PSU
3. Weber State (11-3) - 3/4, 3/6 UNC
t4. Idaho State (7-5) - 3/3, 3/5 at EWU
t4. Montana State (7-5) - 3/4, 3/6 SAC
6. Portland State (6-6) - 3/4, 3/6 SUU
7. Northern Colorado (6-7) - 3/4, 3/6 at WSU
8. Montana (7-9) - 3/4, 3/6 UI
9. Sacramento State (4-8) - 3/4, 3/6 at MSU
10. Northern Arizona (4-10) - regular season complete
11. Idaho (1-17) - 3/4, 3/6 at UM

2021 Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Championship Schedule 

Wednesday, March 10, 2021, live streamed on Pluto TV, WatchBigSky.com
Game 1 – No. 8 Seed vs. No. 9 Seed, 9 a.m.   
Game 2 – No. 7 Seed vs. No. 10 Seed, Noon
Game 3 – No. 6 Seed vs. No. 11 Seed, 3 p.m.
 
Thursday, March 11, 2021, live streamed on Pluto TV, WatchBigSky.com
Game 4 – No. 1 Seed vs. Game 1 Winner, 11 a.m.     
Game 5 – No. 4 Seed vs. No. 5 Seed, 2 p.m.
Game 6 – No. 2 Seed vs. Game 2 Winner, 5 p.m.
Game 7 – No. 3 Seed vs. Game 3 Winner, 8 p.m.
 
Friday, March 12, 2021, live streamed on Pluto TV, WatchBigSky.com
Game 8 – Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner (Semifinals), 5 p.m.
Game 9 – Game 6 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner (Semifinals), 8 p.m.
 
Saturday, March 13, 2021, televised on ESPNU
Game 10 – Championship Game, 6 p.m.
 
All times listed are Mountain

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. SOUTHERN UTAH

• ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series, 11-4, and the Big Sky Conference series, 10-4... Southern Utah swept the season series last year for the first time... PSU is 6-1 in Big Sky games at home against the Thunderbirds.
• LAST SEASON: Dec. 30, 2019 at Viking Pavilion, SUU 83, PSU 81: Southern Utah guard Dre Marin hit a corner three-pointer with 37.7 seconds left to give the T-Birds the lead and the win. PSU had come back from an 11-point deficit in the final eight minutes and the lead had changed hands six times in the final three minutes. The Thunderbirds shot .544 from the field and out-rebounded the Vikings, 42-32. Cameron Oluyitan scored 24 points with five assists, while Maizen Fausett (15 pts, 12 reb) and John Knight III (20 pts, 11 reb) each had double-doubles. Holland Woods had 25 points and five assists for the Vikings, while Matt Hauser added 20.  Feb. 8, 2020 at Cedar City, SUU 85, PSU 57: Portland State was unable to overcome its poorest shooting performance of the season. The Vikings made only 5-36 first-half field goals in falling behind by a dozen points. PSU finished at 17-67 from the field, only a .254 percentage... Southern Utah was solid from the field, making 29-60 (.483) and 9-22 three pointers (.409)... SUU's Cameron Oluyitan led all scorers with 24 points, making 7-8 shots, 4-5 from three-point range and 6-6 at the line. Maizen Fausett grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds... Rashaad Goolsby came off the bench to lead Portland State with 14 points and seven rebounds. Goolsby made 4-6 from the field and 6-7 at the line.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Barret Peery (Southern Utah, 1996) is in his third season on the Park Blocks and has a 63-54 career record. Peery is 2-3 all-time against Southern Utah... 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 Thunderbirds are coached by Todd Simon (Central Michigan, 2003) in his fourth season. He has a 70-81 record at Southern Utah, including 3-4 against the Vikings.
• FACING THE ALMA MATER: Portland State Head Coach Barret Peery faces his alma mater for the sixth and seventh times this week. He holds a 2-3 record against Southern Utah... Peery played at Southern Utah from 1993-95 and was part of two conference championships for the Thunderbirds. Peery served as a graduate assistant with the program in 1995-96 then returned to be an assistant coach at Southern Utah from 1998-2002. The 2000-01 team won the Mid-Continent Conference title, reaching the NCAA Tournament, and compiled a 25-6 record.

SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS

• Southern Utah is located in Cedar City. SUU joined the Big Sky Conference in 2012-13. The Thunderbird program has never won a Big Sky Conference championsionship, but has made one past appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a member of the Mid-Continent Conference (2001).
• The Thunderbirds were 17-15 last season, 9-11 and seventh place in the Big Sky Conference.
• This season, the Thunderbirds are 17-3 overall, 10-2 and in second place in the Big Sky. SUU leads the league in scoring at 85.6 points per game. The T-Birds allow only 69.7 points.
• Southern Utah leads the Big Sky in scoring, scoring margin (+15.9), rebounding (40.0), rebounding margin (+9.8) and three-point field goals made (9.2).
• Junior forward Tevian Jones ranks fourth in the Big Sky in scoring at 17.2 points per game. He averages 4.2 rebounds, has made 50 three-point field goals and shoots .851 at the free throw line.
• Junior forward Maizen Fausett is averaging 14.2 points, a team-best 6.6 rebounds, shoots .561 from the field and .779 at the line.
• Senior guard John Knight III averages 12.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.5 steals and shoots .551 from the field.
• Senior guard Dre Marin averages 12.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and shoots .448 from three-point range.

WHO IS HOT

• Portland State's defense has allowed only 58.9 points and forced 18.2 turnovers the past nine games, seven of which are wins... the Vikings allowed the fewest points (40) to a Division I opponent since joining the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97 in the 71-40 win over Idaho (2/20).
• After having no 50% shooting games in the first 13 contests, PSU has shot 50% or better in three of last six.
• SR G James Scott went for 19 points (6-9 FG, 7-13 FT) and six assists in the win at Northern Colorado (2/27)... he also leads the Big Sky in steals in conference games (1.9).
• JR G Ian Burke had his best game of the season at UNC (2/25) with 17 points (4-4 3-pt FG, 5-5 FT) and five rebounds. He has made 15-32 from distance (.469) since Jan. 16.
• SO C Jacob Eyman's season numbers are modest at 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. However, as a starter the last seven games, he averages 6.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game... he now leads the Big Sky in blocked shots (1.4 season, 1.8 conference)... PSU is 5-2 when Eyman starts.
• PSU ranks 16th in the nation in offensive rebounding at 13.1 per game.
• PSU had a season-high 16 steals in the win over Idaho (2/18) and ranks 18th in the nation for the season (8.7). 

PEERY PRESSURE, PART 4

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 65.5 points per game, which is the fewest in the Big Sky Conference era (1996-97-present, 25 seasons).

• Portland State has allowed just 58.9 points per game and forced 18.2 turnovers over the last nine games.
• Only five opponents have scored more than 70 points against PSU and none in the last 11 games.
• Opponents are shooting only .423 from the field and commit 16.8 turnovers per game... PSU also out-rebounds opponents by 4.2 per game.
• PSU held Idaho to the fewest points (40) by a Division I opponent during the Big Sky Conference era (1996-97-present). 

FEWEST POINTS ALLOWED BY PSU IN THE BIG SKY ERA
40, Idaho, 2/20/21 (71-40)
42, Sacramento State, 1/8/09 (59-42)
43, Idaho State, 1/23/21 (69-43)
43, Northern Colorado, 1/18/09 (57-43)
44, Maryland-Eastern Shore, 12/29/04 (89-44)

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 five two-game sets in league play this season. In the first game of the back-to-back series' played so far, PSU is 1-5 in game one, scoring 66.5 points and allowing 71.5 points. In game two of those series, PSU is 5-1, scoring 68.7 points and allowing only 57.5 points. PSU has cut opponent scoring by 14 points in the second game of the back-to-back.

ANOTHER LATE-SEASON RUN EMERGES

One trend that has developed in Head Coach Barret Peery's tenure 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 the second half of conference play 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 16-27 (.372). Adding in this year's numbers, PSU is 22-4 (.846) during late-season runs. Add in a pair non-conference games and PSU is 24-4 (.857).

• 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 seven of the last nine games (five of seven in conference games). The Vikings are now 9-10/6-6. 

THE FULL MONTY

SR G James "Monty" Scott has proven to be a solid transfer for the Vikings. He leads the team in scoring (13.1), assists (2.8) and steals (1.6).

• Ranks 14th in the Big Sky Conference in scoring, 19th in rebounding and second in steals.
• Scott has scored 20 or more points three times this season, and led the team in scoring in 10 games.
• Scott reached 1,000 career points earlier this season (over three schools - Kennesaw State, Temple and PSU). He currently has 1,156 points in 100 career games (see bio).
• Opened the season with 21 points, four rebounds and three assists at Portland (12/5).
• Scored 26 points with six rebounds, six steals and three assists in a win over Weber State (12/20).
• Had 23 points and a season-high 14 rebounds at Montana State (1/14).
• Scored 15 points with six rebounds and six assists at Montana State (1/16).
• Posted 14 points (3-6 FG, 1-3 3-pt, 7-9 FT) and a season-high seven assists in a win over Idaho (2/18).
• Went for 16 points (6-11, 2-3 3-pt, 2-3 FT), five assists and four steals in a win over Idaho (2/20).
• Scored 19 points (6-9 FG, 7-13 FT) with six assists and two steals in a win over Northern Colorado (2/27). 

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 (11.0), leads in rebounding (5.0) and has 27 three-point field goals made.

• Thomas has a shooting line of .465/.360/.818. He has led the team in scoring three times and rebounding eight 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 8.5 points in 22.5 minutes per game.

• Started 13 games and led the team in scoring three times.
• Dawson shoots a team-best .412 from three-point range with a team-high 28 three-point field goals.
• 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 six turnovers. That equates to one turnover every 70 minutes played... in 51 career games at Portland State, Burke has only 21 turnovers.

• Burke scored a season-high 17 points (4-4 3-pt FG, 5-5 FT) on a perfect shooting night, adding in five rebounds, at Northern Colorado (2/25).