PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (8-11, 2-4) at IDAHO STATE BENGALS (7-12, 4-2)

Saturday, January 21, 2023, 5 p.m. PT • Reed Gym (3,040), Pocatello, ID
Live Stream: ESPN+
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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THE OPENING TIP

Portland State will have to be satisfied with a road split on this week's Big Sky Conference journey as the Vikings head to Idaho State on Saturday. Make no mistake though, it won't be easy to pull off, as the Bengals are warming up in Big Sky play.
     
PSU (8-11, 2-4) dropped an 84-68 decision at Weber State on Thursday night marking a second loss in a row. The Wildcats had a lights-out shooting night, hitting .574 from the field and 10-18 from three-point range. The Vikings couldn't match that and thus move on to look for a bounce-back win in Pocatello.
     
Portland State has lost four of six Big Sky games so far, but has historically a good track record against the Bengals. PSU has nearly doubled Idaho State in Big Sky wins (35-18), is 12-12 in Big Sky games in Pocatello, and swept a three-game set from them last year, including a Big Sky Tournament win. PSU has won four straight, seven of eight, and 10 of 12 in the series.
     
And any coach would tell you those numbers don't mean anything.
     
That would seem to be the case this season as Idaho State, which started slow, is hitting its stride in league play. The Bengals have won four of six Big Sky games including a 65-61 win over then-second-place Sacramento State on Thursday. They also have wins over Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado and Weber State in the early conference season.
     
Efficient shooting is always the number-one key to victory in a basketball game and the Vikings shot only .392 from the field at Weber State. But the old saying of "possession is nine-tenths of the law" also applies for the Vikings. PSU was out-rebounded for the 13th time in 19 games at Weber State (40-22) and rebounding has often played a role in recent losses. The Vikings have a -3.4 rebound margin and are 4-9 in games in which they lose the glass battle this season.
     
The Vikings look to turn all those numbers around on Saturday night when they meet the Bengals. Tip-off is 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT at Reed Gym in Pocatello. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
     

COMING UP

Portland State will be home the next two weeks. The Vikings have games against defending Big Sky Champion Montana State (Jan. 26), Montana (Jan. 28), Idaho (Feb. 2) and Eastern Washington (Feb. 4).
 

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. IDAHO STATE

• THE SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series, 39-22, and the Big Sky Conference series, 35-18... PSU is 12-12 in Big Sky games played in Pocatello, which is the best road mark against a Big Sky team... the Vikings swept the season series last year, including a Big Sky Tournament win... they have won four straight, seven of eight, and 10 of 12 in the series.
• LAST SEASON: Dec. 2, 2021 at Pocatello, PSU 63, ISU 55: Portland State withstood a six-minute scoring drought in the second half to pull out the win in new Head Coach Jase Coburn's first Big Sky game... PSU never trailed after the opening two minutes, but went cold from the field in the second half. The difference was a huge rebounding advantage of 45-31 over the Bengals while forcing 18 ISU turnovers. During the Vikings' scoreless stretch they only gave up five points and still led 49-44 with 6:02 to go... James Jean-Marie had a team-high 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead both teams... Tarik Cool led all scorers with 27 points, but ISU didn't provide him with much help otherwise. Feb. 26, 2022 at Viking Pavilion, PSU 73, ISU 69 (ot): Khalid Thomas scored a career-high 27 points, but no basket was more emphatic than a fast break dunk in overtime that rocked the Viking Pavilion and led Portland State to the win... PSU trailed for more than 30 minutes of the contest and by as many as 12 late in the first half. But, after being down 34-24 at intermission, they inched their way back into the game... Idaho State was up 68-65 with 1:18 remaining in overtime when Viking Damion Squire scored inside to cut it to 68-67 and set up the biggest play of the night. On Idaho State's next possession, Thomas knifed in to cut off a pass and make his fourth steal of the night. The 6-10 forward raced to the other end to hammer down a jam over ISU's Daxton Carr. PSU led 69-68 with 38 ticks left in overtime and the crowd went wild, forcing a Bengal timeout... Jacob Eyman blocked Carr's drive to the basket out of bounds. Then, junior guard Mikal Starks drew a charge with 12 seconds left and the Vikings took over... Thomas added seven rebounds and four steals to his 27 points... Idaho State was led by the 14 points and six assists of Tarik Cool. Mar. 9, 2022 at Boise Arena, Big Sky Tournament First Round, PSU 66, ISU 52: Three breakaway plays in the second half, the kind Portland State has thrived on all season, gave the Vikings the momentum they needed to pull out a 66-52 Big Sky Tournament first-round win over Idaho State... Khalid Thomas started the rally with an aerial attack on the rim following a long pass from Ezekiel Alley. A moment later he nailed a three-pointer against an expiring shot clock. Then, Michael Carter III had back-to-back breakaway dunks. What was a slim 37-36 Viking advantage was soon a 50-38 lead with 7:59 to go in the game. The Bengals never got closer than nine points down the stretch... Thomas led the Vikings with 17 points and five rebounds. Alley added 15 points and five rebounds... Liam Sorensen had 14 points to lead the Bengals.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Jase Coburn (Arizona State, 2006) is in his second season as Head Coach and has a 22-28 record overall. He is 3-0 against Idaho State. Coburn spent eight previous seasons on the Park Blocks as an Assistant and Associate Head Coach... the Wildcats are coached by Ryan Looney in his fourth season. Looney is 35-68 overall, 1-6 against the Vikings.

 

SCOUTING IDAHO STATE

• Idaho State is an original member of the Big Sky Conference. The Bengals have won four Big Sky regular season championships, four Big Sky Tournament Championships and made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Bengals are 7-12 this season, 4-2 and tied for third in the Big Sky Conference. They average 68.9 points and allow 69.6 points per game and are 5-3 in home games.
• Four players average double figures scoring in a balanced Bengals attack... senior guard Brock McKenzie leads the team with 12.6 points per game while shooting .486 from the field, .400 from three-point range and .818 at the free throw line. McKenzie has made a team-high 38 three-point field goals... sophomore guard Miguel Tomley averages 12.3 points and has made 34 three-pointers... senior forward Jared Rodriguez averages 10.5 points and 4.4 rebounds although he has been out in recent games... junior center Brayden Parker averages 10.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and shoots .539 from the field.

 

WHO IS HOT

• THE BENCH BUNCH: Portland State has had solid bench play all season and averages 31.4 points per game off the bench to rank 10th in the nation... the Viking bench had 30 of the team's 68 points at Weber State, making 10-22 from the field (.454) and 7-9 at the line (.778)... SR G Bobby Harvey had nine points and five rebounds against the Wildcats.... the bench had 35 of the team's 67 points against Northern Colorado (1/16), converting 15-22 field goals (.682)... Harvey scored 13 points (5-6 FG, 3-4 3-pt) while JR G Isiah Kirby did not miss a shot, scoring 10 points (4-4 FG, 2-2 FT)... Harvey leads the bench bunch with 7.2 points per game and has made 33-84 threes (.393)... SO C Hayden Curtiss leads the team with a .630 field goal percentage off the bench (17-27) while SO F Isaiah Johnson is shooting .550 (44-80).
• PORTAL PRODUCTION: SO F Isaiah Johnson was a late addition to the Vikings' roster last summer after leaving Oregon State. He is proving to be a great addition...  in the last nine games Johnson has averaged 8.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and shot .588 from the field.
• AND ONE: SR G Cameron Parker ranks third in the Big Sky Conference with an .836 free throw percentage this season. He ranks fifth in the nation in free throws made and 22nd in free throw attempts (102-122).... he also ranks 18th in the nation with 5.7 assists per game.
• IN A HURRY: Portland State is first in the Big Sky Conference and ninth in the nation in fast break points (16.6 pg).
• BIG SKY LEADERS: Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference in several categories. As a team, the Vikings lead in scoring (77.2), turnover margin (+4.5), turnovers forced (17.4), and steals (8.11)... the Vikings are 13th in the nation in turnovers forced... JR F Hunter Woods leads the Big Sky in steals (1.7), SR G Cameron Parker leads in assists (5.7).

 

GRAND LARCENY

Remarkably, Portland State has led the Big Sky Conference in team steals per game for the past seven seasons. They lead once again with an 8.11 mark through 19 games. Thievery on the basketball court was also prevalent during the Barret Peery and Tyler Geving coaching eras. In addition, PSU has had two individual steals leaders with JR F Hunter Woods leading this year. A look:
 
Season, steals per game
2015-16: 8.5
2016-17: 9.9, individual: Calaen Robinson, 2.35
2017-18: 9.8
2018-19: 8.3
2019-20: 8.7, individual: Holland Woods, 2.06
2020-21: 8.2
2021-22: 9.3
2022-23: 8.1, individual: Hunter Woods, 1.74
 

1,000-700... THERE ARE ONLY TWO

SR G Cameron Parker passed 1,000 career points earlier this season then passed 700 career assists at Sacramento State on Dec. 31. Parker currently 1,141 career points and 728 career assists in 126 career games. He is one of only two active players with 1,000 career points and 700 career assists. Jalen Pickett of Penn State has 1,870 points and 729 assists in 125 career games... there are a handful of other active players at 1,000 career points and more than 600 assists, though none would reach 700 assists until at least late January based on current pace... Parker currently ranks 67th on the NCAA's all-time assist list... Yuri Collins of Saint Louis has career totals of 856 points and 745 assists. He is the active NCAA assist leader (57th all-time). Parker is currently number three among active assist leaders.
 

IT'S NOT WHO STARTS...

Portland State's bench has been very effective this season. Starters have logged 2,341 minutes and reserves have logged 1,459 minutes. Remarkably, in those minutes, the bench has kept a good scoring pace in relation to the starters, 868 to 597.

• Bench players have logged 38% of the minutes and 41% of the points.
• PSU ranks 10th in the nation in bench scoring at 31.4 points per game.
• The bench has outscored the starters on four occasions.
• Bench players (227-466, .487) have out-shot the starters (285-689, .414) from the field.

 

SHOOTING, SCORING... IT ALL MAKES SENSE

After 19 games this season...

• The Vikings are 7-1 when they shoot a higher percentage than their opponents. They are 1-9 when they do not, 0-1 when shooting even.
• The Vikings are 6-3 when they lead at halftime, 1-7 when trailing. They are 1-1 when the game is tied at halftime.