NORTHERN ARIZONA LUMBERJACKS (12-14, 5-7)
at PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (15-11, 6-7)

Saturday, February 17, 2024, 4 p.m. • Viking Pavilion (3,094), Portland, OR
Live Stream: ESPN+ • Play-by-play: Matt Richert • Analyst: Devon Pouncey
Live Stats: www.ViksLive.com

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Game presented by University Pointe Apartments

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OPENING TIP

Portland State is halfway to its goal of avenging two losses in last month's road trip to Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona. The Vikings picked up a thrilling 82-72 overtime win against the Bears on Thursday night, and now move on to host NAU on Saturday.
     
The Vikings (15-11, 6-7) rode a roller coaster of emotions against UNC, building a lead as high as 21 points in the second half before giving it all back and falling behind in the final two minutes. But they made the plays when needed, and overcame a late tying three-pointer by Northern Colorado's Dejour Reaves that sent the game to the extra period. Portland State held the Bears to 1-12 shooting in the extra period and won going away. PSU avenged a 29-point loss at UNC on Jan. 20 in beating the second-place Bears.
     
With its 15th win, Portland State now has its most wins in four seasons (18-14, 2019-20) and the most in the Head Coach Jase Coburn era. The Vikings also improved to 9-2 in games at Viking Pavilion.
     
SR G Bobby Harvey had the best game of his PSU career, sinking a career-high six three-point field goals for a career-high 26 points and grabbing a career-high eight rebounds. SR F KJ Allen pitched in 15 points, including a clutch field goal late in regulation and four straight free throws in overtime, to go with eight rebounds. The Vikings also saw the return of point guard Ismail Habib, who had missed four games with an ankle injury. Habib scored 14 points with five rebounds, five assists and two steals. And, once again, the Big Sky's shot blocking leader, JR C Hayden Curtiss, swatted away four shots with a flurry in the first half that ignited a big Viking rally.
     
Now, PSU seeks another win at home on Saturday, facing a Lumberjacks team that beat the Vikings, 84-65, on Jan. 18 in Flagstaff. It is a key game in the standings as the Vikings are currently tied for sixth, one-half game ahead of NAU (12-14, 5-7). There are five games remaining in Big Sky play and the top six teams will avoid a first-round game in the Big Sky Tournament, Mar. 9-13, in Boise, ID.
     
NAU comes off a 73-58 win at Sacramento State on Thursday night. The 'Jacks have won two games in a row and have a 5-10 overall road record.
     
Saturday's game tips off at 4 p.m. at Viking Pavilion. It can be seen on ESPN+ with live statistics at www.ViksLive.com.
 

COMING UP

Among Portland State's final five regular season games are two at home and three on the road.Starting next week, the Vikings play three straight on the road: at Montana (Feb. 22); at Montana State (Feb. 24) and at Sacramento State (Mar. 2). PSU completes the regular season schedule at home on Mar. 4 against Idaho.
     
The Big Sky Conference Tournament runs Mar. 9-13 at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, ID. PSU could play its first game on Mar. 9, 10 or 11 depending on its place in the final Big Sky standings.
 

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE vs. NORTHERN ARIZONA

ALL-TIME SERIES: Portland State leads the all-time series with Northern Arizona, 32-26, and the Big Sky Conference series, 30-25... the Vikings are 20-6 all-time against the Lumberjacks in Big Sky games played in Portland.
EARLIER THIS SEASON: Jan. 18, 2024 at JL Walkup Skydome, NAU 84, PSU 65: Carson Basham had a career night in leading the Lumberjacks to an 84-65 win over Portland State. Basham had career-highs of 23 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots as the 'Jacks led start to finish. He made 9-13 from the field and 5-8 from the free throw line. Trent McLaughlin added 19 points and Oakland Fort scored 15 for NAU... Portland State struggled on both offense and defense from start to finish. The Vikings fell behind early and trailed by double digits for almost 30 minutes of the contest... Ismail Habib had 14 points to lead the Vikings. Isiah Kirby scored 12 points and Hunter Woods had 10 in another strong performance by the PSU bench.
COACHES: Vikings Coach Jase Coburn (Arizona State, 2006) is in his third season as Head Coach and is 41-47 overall. Coburn is 4-1 against Northern Arizona. He spent eight previous seasons on the Park Blocks as an Assistant and Associate Head Coach... the Lumberjacks are coached by Shane Burcar (Ottawa, 2004) in his fifth season. He has a 55-90 career record, including 3-5 against the Vikings.
 

SCOUTING NORTHERN ARIZONA

• Northern Arizona joined the Big Sky Conference in 1970. NAU has won four Big Sky regular season championships and two Big Sky Tournament titles, making two appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• This year, the Lumberjacks are 12-14 overall, 5-7 and eighth place in the Big Sky Conference. NAU averages 67.7 points per game and allows 75.6 points. The 'Jacks rank last in the Big Sky in rebounding with a -6.8 margin per game.
• Junior guard Trenton McLaughlin leads NAU in scoring at 16.8 points per game. He has made 61 three-point field goals. Junior forward Carson Basham averages 11.5 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds while shooting .589 from the field. Junior guard Liam Lloyd leads the team with 3.3 assists per game.

 

WHO IS HOT

• HARVEY ON A HEATER: SR G Bobby Harvey rang up a career-high 26 points (9-17 FG, 6-13 3-pt, 2-2 FT), with career-highs of eight rebounds and six three-point field goals made in the Vikings' win over Northern Colorado. This came after he matched a season-high with 17 points (6-9 FG, 5-7 3-pt FG) at Idaho State (2/10). It was his 14th double-figure scoring game of the season. Harvey leads the Vikings in three-point field goals (63) and ranks second in three-point percentage (.380). He also leads the Big Sky in three-point field goals made per game (2.52).
• DOUBLING UP: SR F KJ Allen has a team-high five double-doubles this season. He has averaged 14.0 points and 7.7 rebounds in the last three games. For the season, he leads the Vikings in scoring (11.7), rebounding (6.8) and three-point percentage (.385).
• BLOCK PARTY: JR C Hayden Curtiss had the biggest shot-blocking performance of his career with six in the win over Sacramento State (2/3). That was just one shy of the school record and he did so in 13 minutes of action. Curtiss blocked four shots against Northern Colorado on Thursday night. The 6-11 post leads the Big Sky Conference in blocked shots with 1.6 per game and 2.3 per game in league games... he also leads the team with a .516 field goal percentage... with 61 career blocked shots, Curtiss is now tied for ninth all-time in Portland State history. His 41 blocks this season ranks 10th-most in PSU history.
• WHAT THE VIKINGS HAVE BEEN MISSING: It wasn't a particularly good shooting outing, but it was a good performance overall and SO G Ismail Habib swished two free throws to give the Vikings a three-point lead with eight seconds remaining on Thursday night. Habib was playing in his first game since Jan. 27 due to an ankle sprain, and he totaled 14 points (5-15 FG, 4-9 3-pt, 2-2 FT), five rebounds, five assists and two steals.
• WINNERS: Portland State's 15th win of the season reached a few milestones. It marks the most wins of Jase Coburn's three seasons as a head coach. It also marks the most wins since PSU was 18-14 in 2019-20. The nine home wins is also the most since 2019-20... In 28 seasons as a member of the Big Sky Conference, 15 wins is currently tied for 11th-most in the Big Sky era. The most wins is 23 (twice, 2007-08 and 2008-09 NCAA Tournament teams)
• THE BENCH BUNCH: The Vikings have been producing all season when they make substitutions. PSU has scored 693 bench points (26.6 per game) to rank 42nd in the nation and second in the Big Sky... last year, the Vikings averaged 27.9 points per game off the bench to rank 12th in the nation.
• STRONG INDICATORS: Portland State is 9-2 when playing at home... 9-2 when leading at halftime... 8-1 when out-rebounding an opponent... 7-2 when out-shooting an opponent... 11-3 when scoring 70 or more points... 9-4 when starting a new lineup.
• LATE GAME HEROICS: Once again this season Portland State has had numerous close games and game-winning shots. Through 26 games, 14 have been decided by seven points or less. The Vikings are 10-4 in those games. PSU is 5-1 in games decided by three points or less and has won twice in overtime.