PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (3-8, 1-2) at SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS (5-6, 1-3)

Saturday, January 15, 2022, 2 p.m. • The Hornets Nest (1,012), Sacramento, CA
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (3-8, 1-2) at SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS (9-5, 3-1)

Monday, January 17, 2022, 6 p.m. PT • America First Event Center (4,800), Cedar City, UT
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: https://suutbirds.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

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THE OPENING TIP

After a more than two-week hiatus from competition, Portland State returns to play this Saturday at Sacramento State. Following 16 days with no games, the Vikings will now compete 10 times in 22 days.
     
Such is the circumstance brought about by a global pandemic that at first impacted a Viking opponent, then the Vikings themselves. PSU had three games (Jan. 1 vs. Idaho, Jan. 6 at Southern Utah and Jan. 10 vs. Northern Colorado) postponed as a result of COVID-19 protocols.
     
Now mostly healthy once again, though still getting back into a routine, Portland State (3-8, 1-2) will take on the Hornets (5-6, 1-3) Saturday at 2 p.m. in Sacramento. The Vikings then travel for a makeup game at Southern Utah (9-5, 3-1) on Jan. 17. PSU will take a 1-5 road record, 1-1 in the Big Sky, with them.
     
The break in the middle of the season schedule might provide a nice reset for the Viking team. PSU had lost five in a row before stopping play. To get off their losing streak, the Vikings will need to improve on the .366 field goal shooting, .273 three-point shooting and 62.6 points per game over the five-game losing streak.
     
Defense has been a different matter. Through 11 games, the Vikings have been a talented defensive group, leading the Big Sky in steals (9.5), turnovers forced (16.2), blocked shots (3.7) and field percentage defense (.405), and rank second in points allowed (67.1). So, just a moderate improvement on the offensive end would seem to lead to wins.
     
Going into this week's games, SR F James Jean-Marie (12.9 ppg) and JR G Marlon Ruffin (12.8 ppg) have been PSU's top offensive threats, while SR F Khalid Thomas (9.2 ppg) comes off a 20-point game in his last outing.
     
Jean-Marie also averages 9.8 rebounds to rank second in the Big Sky, while Thomas is second with 1.8 steals per game. FR G Paris Dawson currently leads the Big Sky in free throw shooting (28-31, .903).
     
Sacramento State comes off a quality road win at Northern Colorado last Saturday (85-71). The Hornets are 2-3 in home games, but lost both of their previous Big Sky home games (Montana and Montana State).
     
The Hornets follow the lead of senior forward Bryce Fowler, who averages 17.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He scored 30 in the win at Northern Colorado.
     
Portland State did not meet Sacramento State last season as the games were canceled due to COVID-19 complications. Saturday's game is a 2 p.m. tip.
     
Southern Utah is 5-1 at home this season. The Thunderbirds have not played since Jan. 1. They have games at Montana State and Montana this week prior to facing the Vikings on Jan. 17. Southern Utah is the top scoring (78.4) and rebounding (+5.4 margin) team in the Big Sky Conference.
     
The Thunderbirds swept the season series over PSU last year on the way to winning the Big Sky regular season title. Next Monday's game is a 6 p.m. PT contest.
     
Both road games can be seen on ESPN+.
 

COMING UP

Portland State returns home on Jan. 20 game against Montana. The contest is followed by three more at home against Montana State (Jan. 22), Idaho (Jan. 24) and Southern Utah (Jan. 27). All games tip off at 7 p.m. at Viking Pavilion and can be seen on ESPN+.
 

SCHEDULE CHANGES

Portland State had three games changed after postponements due to COVID-19 protocols. The Big Sky Conference announced the makeup dates on Jan. 7.
 
Monday, January 17 - Portland State at Southern Utah (previously Jan. 6)
Monday, January 24 - Idaho at Portland State (previously Jan. 1)
Monday, January 31 - Northern Colorado at Portland State (previously Jan. 10)
 

WHO IS HOT

• SR F Khalid Thomas scored 20 points with a career-high 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots against Eastern Washington... Thomas ranks ninth in the Big Sky in rebounding (6.4) and second in steals (1.8).
• SO F Jacob Eyman matched his career high with 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-3 FT) against Eastern Washington... SO F Trey Wood also matched his career high with seven points (3-4 FG, 1-2 3-pt).
• SR F James Jean-Marie has six double-doubles this season. He ranks second in the Big Sky with 9.8 rebounds per game and is 20th in the nation. He leads the Big Sky in offensive rebounds per game (4.3) and ranks third in the nation.
• FR G Paris Dawson is shooting .903 at the free throw line to lead the Big Sky Conference.
• 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. The Vikings have had that in 2021-22, leading the Big Sky Conference steals (9.5), turnovers forced (16.2), offensive rebounds (13.0), field goal percentage defense (.405) and blocked shots (3.7). They rank second in points allowed (67.1)... the Vikings are currently 24th in the nation in offensive rebounds and 21st in the nation in steals per game. 

PORTLANDSTATE vs. SACRAMENTO STATE GAME NOTES:

THE SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series, 32-20, and the Big Sky Conference series, 31-19... the teams did not meet last season due to COVID-19 cancelations... the teams split the season series in 2019-20 with each winning on their home court... Sacramento State leads the Big Sky series 14-10 in Sacramento.
LAST SEASON: Games canceled.
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... the Hornets are led by Interim Head Coach Brandon Laird (UC Davis, 2001) in his first season. He has spent the previous nine seasons as an assistant in the program.
 
SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE

• Sacramento State joined the Big Sky Conference the same season as Portland State, 1996-97. The Hornets have never won a Big Sky title.
• The Hornets were 8-12 last season, 5-9 and ninth in the Big Sky Conference. Two starters and seven letterwinners return from that team.
• Sacramento State is 5-6 this season, 1-3 in the Big Sky Conference. The Hornets average 65.5 points per game and allow 69.5 points per game.
• Senior forward Bryce Fowler leads the team with 17.5 points per game. He also averages 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting .513 from the field.
• Junior guard Zach Chappell averages 10.3 points and 1.7 steals per game. Junior center Jonathan Komagum leads the team with 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game.

PORTLAND STATE vs. SOUTHERN UTAH GAME NOTES

THE SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series, 11-6, and the Big Sky Conference series, 10-6... however, the Thunderbirds swept the season series in Portland last year... PSU is 4-3 all-time in games played in Cedar City, but have lost in their last two appearances there.
LAST SEASON: Mar. 4, 2021, SUU 68, PSU 58: Southern Utah used an 18-point mid-game run to take control of the contest... the dynamic duo of John Knight III and Tevian Jones combined for 47 of Southern Utah's 68 points... the Vikings had it all going their way in the first half. PSU hit four early three-pointers and led 25-13 with 6:28 to play. James Scott had 12 points in the first 14 minutes to pace the Vikings. But they went cold, missing their next nine shots and sprinkling in four turnovers to close out the half... the Thunderbirds took advantage with a 16-0 run to lead 29-25 at halftime... Southern Utah extended the run to 18 points with the first basket of the second half. The Vikings managed to come back and tie the game at 35-35 with 14:41 to play. But a 23-9 run over the next eight minutes, sparked by Knight, put the T-Birds in control. Southern Utah had its largest lead at 58-44 with 7:07 remaining in the game... the Thunderbirds managed just 22-52 from the field (.423) against a solid PSU defense. But the Vikings shot only 21-67 for the game (.313). PSU had its second-lowest point total of the season... Scott scored 20 points for Portland State. He also had eight rebounds and three assists. Elijah Hardy came off the bench to score 15 points with four rebounds. Mar. 6, 2021, SUU 73, PSU 54: Portland State could not slow down a Southern Utah team with a Big Sky Conference title in its sights. The Thunderbirds shot well early and then cruised to a 73-54 win over the Vikings in the regular season finale. With the win, Southern Utah (12-2) captured the Big Sky regular season title and was the number-one seed heading into Big Sky Tournament... The backcourt of John Knight III and Dre Marin dominated the first half for Southern Utah, making 13-16 shots from the field, including three three-pointers, and had 15 and 14 points, respectively. The Thunderbirds were a scalding 16-24 from the field as a team, hitting 5-9 three-pointers, and 4-5 at the line to lead 41-25... Southern Utah broke away in the second half, pushing its lead over 20 on a handful of occasions. The largest advantage was 64-39 with 9:06 to play. At that point the T-Birds were shooting 71% from the field... PSU hit 20-55 from the field overall (.364) and only 6-15 at the line (.400)... James Scott scored a team-high 17 points for the Vikings. Paris Dawson scored 13 points, and Khalid Thomas added 11 points and five rebounds... Southern Utah finished at 27-45 from the field (.600) and committed only eight turnovers against the Vikings' press. Knight scored a game-high 26 points on 11-13 from the field, with five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Marin added 19 points on 8-12 from the field.
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... the Thunderbirds are led by Head Coach Todd Simon (Central Michigan, 2003) in his sixth season. He is 82-87 overall, 5-4 against the Vikings. Simon is 91-95 in seven years as a collegiate head coach.
 

SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS

• Southern Utah is located in Cedar City. SUU joined the Big Sky Conference in 2012-13. The Thunderbird program won its first Big Sky Conference regular season championsionship in 2020-21.
• The Thunderbirds were 20-4 last season, 12-2 and first place in the Big Sky Conference.
• This season, the Thunderbirds are 9-5 overall, 3-1 in the Big Sky. They average a Big Sky-best 78.4 points per game and allow 72.6 points. SUU also leads the Big Sky in rebounding margin (+5.4).
• Senior guard John Knight III averages 15.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.9 steals and shoots a Big Sky-leading .579 from the field.
• Senior guard Tevian Jones averages 13.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Senior forward Maizen Fausette leads the team with 8.6 rebounds per game while averaging 12.4 points. Senior guard Dre Marin is averaging 11.8 points per game.