MONTANA STATE BOBCATS (13-8, 6-2) at PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (9-11, 3-4)

Thursday, January 26, 2023, 7 p.m. • Viking Pavilion (3,094), Portland, OR
Live Stream: ESPN+ • Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Devon Pouncey
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com
Complete notes and stats in pdf

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Game Presented by Pride Northwest

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THE OPENING TIP

Portland State will reacquaint itself with Viking Pavilion over the next few weeks as the Vikings begin a four-game home stand and enjoy six of the next eight games in The Ship. PSU takes on defending Big Sky Conference Champion Montana State this Thursday in a game seen on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.
     
The Vikings (9-11, 3-4) have played only six of their first 20 games at home, competing in just three home games since Dec. 3. Those numbers will begin to swing toward the middle over the next few weeks as PSU rolls through the heart of its Big Sky Conference campaign.
     
A road victory at Idaho State on Saturday brings the Vikings home on a positive note. PSU won 72-65 in Pocatello behind a strong bench effort that saw SO F Isaiah Johnson score a career-high 16 points (7-10 FG, 2-2 FT) with four rebounds and three assists, and SR G Bobby Harvey add 12 points (4-6 FG) and three rebounds. SR G Cameron Parker continued his excellent play with 17 points, six assists and four rebounds. The Vikings led for the final 31 minutes of the contest and by double-digits most of the way.
     
The victory edged PSU up to sixth place in the Big Sky, one-half game ahead of Montana, who will be Saturday's opponent. Sixth-place or higher in the Big Sky standings earns a direct route to the conference tournament quarterfinals in March, and two extra days rest in preparation.
     
PSU's four-game home stand not only includes a game with the defending Big Sky Champs, but a rematch with current first-place and undefeated Eastern Washington (8-0, Feb. 4). Idaho comes in on Feb. 2.
     
Montana State (13-8, 6-2) is currently in second place in the Big Sky. The Bobcats are two games behind the Eagles. After starting the season 3-5, MSU has won 10 of its last 13 games. The Bobcats have played well on the road, going 6-4, including 3-1 in Big Sky road games.
     
Reigning Big Sky Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Jubrile Belo (13.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 19 blocks) will be a focus for the Vikings. Leading the team in scoring this year is returning Big Sky co-Top Reserve RaeQuan Battle (16.3 ppg). Montana State has been the top defensive team in the Big Sky to this point, allowing only 62.0 points in league games while holding opponents to .413 field goal shooting.
     
Portland State has a 4-2 home record this season. The Vikings will try to end a four-game losing streak to the Bobcats over the past two seasons.   
 

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. MONTANA STATE

• THE SERIES: Montana State leads the all-time series, 38-25, and the Big Sky series, 31-24... PSU is 17-10 in Big Sky home games... the Vikings have also won all four Big Sky Tournament meetings... MSU has swept the season series each of the last two years. The Vikings had won five of six games prior to that.
• LAST SEASON: Jan. 22, 2022 at Viking Pavilion, MSU 73, PSU 60: A slow start to the second half spelled doom for Portland State, as the Montana State Bobcats were able to pull away. It was a three-point game at halftime, but the Bobcats went on a 16-2 run to open the second half and Portland State was never able to get the deficit back to single digits... Ezekiel Alley scored 12 points off the bench for Portland State. He was matched by James Jean-Marie, who had a dozen points and seven rebounds. Damion Squire had 11 points for the Vikings... Xavier Bishop led four Bobcats in double figures with 15 points. He added seven assists, six rebounds and two steals. Feb. 10, 2022 at Worthington Arena, MSU 77, PSU 74: Montana State eked out its 10th straight victory. PSU had tied the game at 72 and 74 before the Bobcats pulled it out in the final 22 seconds. Khalid Thomas threw down a fast break alley-oop pass from junior guard Ian Burke to tie the game at 72-72.Montana State answered with a put-back dunk from star big man Jubrile Belo to lead 74-72. Each team had an empty possession, then Damion Squire buried a pull-up mid-range jumper tying it again at 74-74 with 47.2 seconds to go. RaeQuan Battle hit the game decider for MSU – a free throw line jump shot with just over 21 seconds remaining... Portland State was led by the 18 points from Ezekiel Alley. Thomas and Squire scored 16 points each... Five Bobcats scored in double figures, led by the 16 points and eight rebounds of Abdul Mohamed.
• COACHES: Vikings Coach Jase Coburn (Arizona State, 2006) is in his second season as Head Coach and has a 23-28 record overall. He is 0-2 against Montana State. Coburn spent eight previous seasons on the Park Blocks as an Assistant and Associate Head Coach... the Bobcats are coached by Danny Sprinkle, a former MSU star player, in his fourth season. Sprinkle is 69-40 overall, 2-4 against the Vikings.

 

SCOUTING MONTANA STATE

• Montana State is an original member of the Big Sky Conference. The Bobcats have won five regular season Big Sky Championships, three Big Sky Tournament titles and five NCAA Tournament appearances.
• The Bobcats are the defending Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament champions. They were 27-7 last season. Big Sky Player of the Year Jubrile Belo and Big Sky Top Reserve RaeQuan Battle return from that team.
• The Bobcats are averaging 75.2 points per game while allowing a league-low 66.4 points. MSU shoots .478 from the field and holds opponents to .416.
• Junior guard RaeQuan Battle is the team's leading scorer at 16.3 points per game. He has 30 three-point field goals.
• Senior forward Jubrile Belo averages 13.1 points and leads the team with 6.4 rebounds and 19 blocked shots. Belo shoots .609 from the field.
• Junior guard Darius Brown II averages 9.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He shoots .504 from the field,, .465 from three-point range and .881 at the line.

 

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 ninth in the nation... the Viking bench had 32 of the 72 points in the win at Idaho State and 30 of the team's 68 points at Weber State. The bench shot 23-46 from the field (.500) and 11-15 at the line (.733) in the two games... SO F Isaiah Johnson scored a career-high 16 points (7-10 FG, 2-2 FT) with four rebounds and three assists while SR G Bobby Harvey added 12 points (4-6 FG, 2-4 3-pt, 2-4 FT) and three rebounds at ISU.  Harvey also had nine points and five rebounds against the Wildcats.... Harvey leads the bench bunch with 7.5 points per game and has made 35 threes (.398)... SO C Hayden Curtiss leads the team with a .648 field goal percentage off the bench (18-28) while SO F Isaiah Johnson is shooting .567 (51-90)... JR G Isiah Kirby is .864 at the line (19-22).
• 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 10 games Johnson has averaged 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds with 10 assists and 10 steals and shot .607 from the field.
• BOBBY THREE-BALL: SR G Bobby Harvey has made a three-point field goal in 16 straight games. His 35 for the season rank second on the team. He is 8-14 (.571) from distance (12-19 overall, .632) in the last three games, averaging 11.3 points.
• AND ONE: SR G Cameron Parker ranks third in the Big Sky Conference with an .839 free throw percentage this season. He ranks fourth in the nation in free throws made and 11th in free throw attempts (113-135).... Parker was 20-25 in last week's two games. His 13-15 effort at Idaho State ranks in a tie for sixth all-time at PSU for free throws made in a game... he also ranks 17th 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 (16.2 pg).
• BIG SKY LEADERS: Portland State leads the Big Sky Conference in several categories. As a team, the Vikings lead in scoring (76.9), turnover margin (+4.2), turnovers forced (17.0), and steals (7.80)... the Vikings are 17th 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)... in Big Sky only games, PSU leads the league in blocked shots (3.14) and Parker leads in assists (6.3).
• FREE THROW SHOOTERS: Portland State is shooting .746 at the line this season which is a school-record pace (.743).

 

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 has 1,158 career points and 734 career assists in 127 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 1,882 points and 734 assists in 126 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 February based on current pace... Parker currently ranks 62nd on the NCAA's all-time assist list... Yuri Collins of Saint Louis has career totals of 873 points and 756 assists. He is the active NCAA assist leader (5oth all-time). Parker is currently number two among active assist leaders.
 

GAME WINNERS

FOUR BOUNCES, A BUCKET, AND A FAMILIAR STORY: When JR G Jorell Saterfield tossed up a soft running jumper in the lane at California Baptist (12/22) it bounced on the rim four times before settling through the net. That bucket gave the Vikings a 73-72 lead with 8.2 seconds to play. It was the seventh and final lead change in the last 3:40 of the game as PSU won 74-72. That basket also marked the first game-winner in the final 10 seconds of a game by a Viking since Jan. 11, 2020. On a remarkably similar play and game, Holland "Boo Boo" Woods hit a runner in the lane with 2.4 seconds to play at Montana State for a 77-76 win. That game, also on the road, saw the lead change hands eight times in the last 3:25 of the contest.
WOODS DELIVERS (TWICE) IN THE LAST 10 SECONDS: A lot of things had to go right for the Vikings to pull off a come-from-behind 75-74 victory over Northern Arizona (1/12), and somehow they did. PSU led by 17 points in the first half, but ceded the lead to the Lumberjacks shortly after halftime and trailed almost the entire second half before the heroics of JR F Hunter Woods... NAU's Oakland Fort swished a pair of free throws with 28 seconds left and the Lumberjacks led, 73-67... SR G Cameron Parker raced back up court with the ball, got to the rim and scored to make it 73-69 with 19 seconds left... PSU then fouled NAU's Nik Mains who made one of two free throws with 17.8 seconds remaining... Again, the Vikings pushed the ball up court, Parker came off a Woods' screen at the top of the arc and pitched it back to Woods on the wing. He swished the three-pointer with 9.8 seconds to play. PSU now trailed only 74-72... Mains was fouled again, went to the line and missed both free throws with 8.4 seconds on the clock. However, Carson Towt grabbed the offensive rebound for the 'Jacks. He was fouled and NAU had two more free throws with 7.1 seconds to go. Then, Towt missed both free throws... Woods rebounded, quickly passed to Parker and it was a footrace to the other end. Parker went left and Woods went right. When pressure got to Parker just before the three-point line he winged a pass cross court to Woods directly in front of the PSU bench. Woods let fly just before the buzzer sounded and ripped the net for an improbable 75-74 win.
 

SEASON HIGHLIGHT REEL

Nov. 16, Portland State 113, Evergreen 40: PSU scored its most points in four years in winning its home-opening game. The Vikings led wire-to-wire, making 15 three-point field goals. Seven players scored in double figures, led by 16 points from Isiah Kirby. The Vikings shot .547 from the field and out-rebounded the Geoducks, 59-26.
Nov. 19, Portland State 79, Oregon State 66: The Vikings ended a long drought to the Beavers in picking up its first-ever win over the Pac-12 program. Jorell Saterfield led the way with a career-high 26 points (8-17 FG, 4-9 3-pt, 6-6 FT) and five rebounds. Hunter Woods came off the bench to score 19 points (7-12 FG, 3-7 3-pt, 2-2 FT) and led a 42-point bench effort. The Vikings forced 18 OSU turnovers and turned them into 21 points.
Nov. 27, Portland State 83, Oregon State 71: For the second time in eight days Portland State knocked off Oregon State. The Vikings led for all 40 minutes and had six players score in double figures. PSU out-rebounded the Beavers, 35-30, and forced them into 18 turnovers.
Nov. 30, Portland State 114, Portland Bible 31: The Vikings scored the first 38 points of the game and led 63-9 by halftime. They won every facet of the game, out-shooting the Arrows, .605 to .250, out-rebounding them, 51-17, and forcing 25 turnovers while only committing six. It was PSU's second win in a row and seventh straight at home dating to last season. Five Vikings were in double figures, led by 18 points from SR G Bobby Harvey.
Dec. 3, Portland State 68, Air Force 64: After leading for most of the opening 30 minutes, the Vikings found themselves down 51-39 with 7:53 to play. They went on a 14-2 run, and 29-13 down the stretch to beat Air Force Academy. SR G Cameron Parker and JR G Jorell Saterfield scored 24 points each, combining for 32 in the second half and 25 of the Vikings' last 29 points. They were a combined 15-23 from the field (.652) and 15-18 at the line (.833). PSU shot .500 from the field overall in winning its third straight game and eighth in a row at home dating to 2021-22.
Dec. 3, Cameron Parker Reaches 1,000 Points: SR G Cameron Parker passes 1,000 career points in his 116th career collegiate game, and he did so in style. Parker scored a career-high 24 points (5-6 FG, 14-16) with six assists in a 68-64 win over Air Force. Parker had 18 of his 24 in the second half as the Vikings rallied from 12 points down to win.
Dec. 22, Portland State 74, California Baptist 72: The Vikings picked up another quality win, outlasting the Lancers in the closing moments. JR G Jorell Saterfield hit a running jumper in the lane with 8.2 seconds left to give PSU a 73-72 lead and the eventual win. It was the seventh lead change in the last 3:40 of the game. The Vikings were clutch in other ways, making 19-22 free throws, holding CBU to .286 second-half shooting, and getting a key blocked shot from Jacob Eyman with 17 seconds left that set up Saterfield's game-winner. SR G Cameron Parker led the Vikings with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
Dec. 31, Parker passes 700 career assists: SR G Cameron Parker passed 700 career assists at Sacramento State (704) and temporarily was the only active player in the NCAA with 700 career assists. (Jalen Pickett of Penn State soon reached the mark). Parker and Pickett were the only active players in the NCAA with 1,000 career points and 700 career assists.
Jan. 7, Portland State 74, Idaho 58: SR G Cameron Parker scored 16 of his game-high 18 points (7-11 FG, 1-1 3-pt, 3-4 FT) in the second half as the Vikings came from behind to beat the Vandals. He added a team-high six rebound and three assists. PSU trailed 30-27 at halftime, but blitzed Idaho 47-28 in the second half to pull away for the win. The Vikings shot .520 from the field and made 9-14 three-point field goals. Both season-bests against a Division I opponent.
Jan. 12, Portland State 75, Northern Arizona 74: JR F Hunter Woods buried a three-pointer at the buzzer, bringing back the Vikings from five points down with 17 seconds remaining. Hunter made a three with 9.8 seconds to play to pull PSU within 74-72. After NAU missed free throws, the Vikings raced up court, SR G Cameron Parker found Woods with a pass and he hit a three as time expired. Parker led the Vikings with 19 points (5-10 FG, 1-1 3-pt, 8-10 FT) and a season-high 11 assists. Woods added 18 points (5-10 FG, 4-8 3-pt, 4-5 FT), five rebounds and three steals.
Jan. 21, Portland State 72, Idaho State 65: Portland State's bench continued its production with a career-high 16 points (7-10 FG, 2-2 FT) from SO F Isaiah Johnson and 12 points (4-6 FG) from SR G Bobby Harvey in leading the Vikings to victory. PSU led for the final 31 minutes of the game and by double digits most of the way, and had a rebounding edge (29-22) in picking up the road win. SR G Cameron Parker led the way with 17 points (2-3 FG, 13-15 FT), six assists and four rebounds.