TIPOFF
The nickname of Reno, Nev., is "the biggest little city in the world." That seems analogous to the Portland State men's basketball team's exhibition against Nevada Sunday (1:30 p.m. Tip), as the Vikings face off against the Wolf Pack at Lawlor Events Center.
 
It's still an exhibition, so nothing too much should be made of it. But for a fanbase still thrilled with last season's run to the Big Sky regular season title, it means basketball is finally back.
 
Portland State fans will have essentially a whole new roster to fall in love with this season. The Vikings returned only three letterwinners between forwards Brayden Barron and Charles Chukwu, as well as guard Colt Ness. Barron suffered a season-ending injury at the start of summer camp, so Chukwu and Ness will be the only returners playing this season.
 
The Vikings brought in 13 newcomers to help fill out the roster. Among that group, four came via transfers from NCAA Division I institutions, five came from NCAA Division II institutions and four came from international clubs.
 
Out of that group, redshirt senior point guard Koren Johnson brings high-major experience having played at Washington, Louisville and Ole Miss before joining the Vikings. Johnson was the Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year following the 2023-24 season when he averaged 11.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 31 games for the Huskies. He only played in two games at Louisville during the 2024-25 season due to injury, but played in 25 games last season for Ole Miss.
 
Johnson was named to the preseason All-Big Sky team before the start of this season.
 
Fifth-year center KC Ibekwe also brings experience at major schools between stops at Oregon State (2022-24), Washington (2024-25) and University of the Pacific (2025-26). Ibekwe shot 59.6 percent (56-for-94) from the field over 32 games for Pacific last season. At OSU, he averaged 5.1 points and 4.0 rebounds over 32 games (22 starts) as a sophomore, while also leading the Beavers with 38 blocks.
 
The Vikings' other two Division I transfers – Emil Skyttä and Luke Kearney – both got to March Madness last season with their previous schools. Skyttä won a Summit League title with North Dakota State while Kearney won the Mountain West with Utah State. Both previously played at other schools. Skyttä played against the Vikings at Sacramento State from 2023-25, while Kearney spent two years at Air Force.
 
Jaquay Randolph headlines the Vikings' NCAA Division II transfers after leading the division in rebounding (15.4 per game) and double-doubles (25) while at Southern Wesleyan last season. Randolph had two 40-point games, including a school-record 49 points against Chowan on Feb. 7 last season.
 
Antonio Pusateri ranked second to Randolph with 22 double-doubles at the NCAA Division II level last season while competing at Lubbock Christian. Nehemiah Pollard and Dennis Johnson III played together at Western Washington, earning All-GNAC honorable mention and GNAC Freshman of the Year honors, respectively. Trevor Frank joins the Vikings after three years at NCAA Division II Dallas Baptist where he was a second-team All-Lone Star Conference selection last season after back-to-back years as the Lone Star Sixth Man of the Year (2023-24, 2024-25).
 
The international signees all bring their own high-level experience to the Vikings. Together with Skyttä and Ibekwe, the four signees from international clubs give the Vikings their most players born outside of the United States (6) in program history. The six internationals span six different countries between Finland (Skyttä), Canada (Ibekwe), Russia (Yaroslav Nikonov), Lithuania (Gantas Križanauskas), Greece (Alexandros Skliros) and Italy (Francesco Corato).
 
Nikonov averaged 17.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while playing for CSKA-2, the second-level team within the CSKA club that competes in the Russian Superleague. Križanauskas played for Rytas Vilnius within Lithuania's top basketball league. Skliros represented Greece this past summer at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket tournament where he totaled 12 blocks in seven games at the tournament. Corato, meanwhile, played for professional club Umana Reyer Venice in Italy.
 
Nevada figures to give the Vikings' newcomers a tough challenge out of the gates. Sunday's exhibition pits the Vikings against a Wolf Pack team that received votes in the Associated Press (AP) Preseason Top 25 poll this past Monday.
 
The Wolf Pack are coming off a 24-13 campaign in 2025-26 when they made the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Nevada returned four letterwinners off that time while adding 10 newcomers. Two of the returners – Elijah Price and Vaughn Weems – earned preseason All-Mountain West honors after they averaged 12.8 and 10.1 points per game, respectively, last season.
 
The Wolf Pack already played one exhibition game this season, beating Utah 71-61 on Oct. 17. TJ Coulter led the Wolf Pack with 19 points in the game while Keyon Kensie Jr. – who played for the Vikings last season – added 18 points and a team-high six rebounds. The Wolf Pack ran away from the Utes in the second half, outscoring Utah 47-33 after halftime.
 
Sunday's exhibition between the Vikings and Wolf Pack won't count for anything in either team's record, regardless of the result. But for a Viking fanbase eager for the return of basketball, it feels like the biggest little game in the world.
 
GAME DETAILS
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (0-0) VS. (RV) NEVADA WOLF PACK (0-0)
INFO: Sunday, Oct. 25, 1:30 p.m. PT, Reno, Nev. (Lawlor Events Center)
TV: MW+
LIVE STATS: GoViks.com/LiveStats
SCOUTING NEVADA:

• The Wolf Pack enter the year – their eighth under head coach Steve Alford – picked to finish third in a new-look Mountain West Conference this season. New Mexico and Grand Canyon topped the poll. Elijah Price and Vaughn Weems were two of 11 preseason all-conference honorees within the Mountain West.
• The Wolf Pack are coming off a 24-13 overall record last season when they went 12-8 and finished tied for fifth in the Mountain West Conference. They beat Air Force (80-45) and Grand Canyon (84-80) to advance to the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference Tournament where they lost 79-66 to top-seeded Utah State.
• The Wolf Pack won two games at the NIT, beating Murray State, 89-75, and Liberty, 73-63, before losing to top-seeded Auburn, 75-69.
• The Wolf Pack return four letterwinners off last year's team, including Price and Weems. They brought in 10 newcomers to supplement the roster, including former Viking Keyon Kensie Jr.
• Statistically, the Wolf Pack were strong on the ball last season. They led the Mountain West with only 10.0 turnovers per game, while they ranked second in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.44). They also pushed pace and got to the free-throw line well. They led the Mountain West and ranked ninth in the NCAA with 19.2 free throws made per game. They also ranked third in the Mountain West with 11.95 fastbreak points per game.
• Price led a strong inside presence for the Wolf Pack last season. He ranked second in the Mountain West with 1.68 blocks per game, earning him a spot on the All-Mountain West Defensive Team. Price also ranked second in the conference with 12 double-doubles, while he ranked third with 8.5 rebounds per game.
• The Wolf Pack lost leading scorer Corey Camper Jr., who ranked sixth in the Mountain West with 16.6 points per game. Price represents the team's top returning scorer with 12.8 points per game.

SERIES NOTES:

• Sunday's exhibition won't count towards the all-time series between the two teams, but for reference, the teams are tied, 4-4. The Wolf Pack have won the last three in the series. They beat the Vikings, 76-73, in Reno during the 2015-16 season in what represents the programs' most recent counting game.
• The Vikings last beat Nevada in a counting game, 61-56, at home during the 2000-01 season.

 
Head Coach Jase Coburn

• GENERAL: Head coach Jase Coburn, the 2025-26 Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year, begins his sixth season leading the Vikings program. He was named Portland State's Head Coach on April 16, 2021. Coburn is the 14th men's basketball coach in PSU history and the seventh in the Big Sky era (1996-97 to present).
• THAT WINNING FEELING: Head coach Jase Coburn is sixth in career wins as a head coach at PSU. Coburn is currently 82-75... Coburn has a 31-27 record in non-conference games in his six years at the helm of the Viking Ship. That includes a respectable 13-18 road record in those games... PSU is 23-14 in non-conference play since the start of the 2023-24 season... among Big Sky schools, he has had the most success against Northern Arizona (9-1), Idaho (9-2) and Idaho State (9-3) and the least success against Eastern Washington (2-8) and Montana (2-9).
• THE CENTURY MARK: Head coach Jase Coburn needs 18 wins this season to become just the third Portland State head coach to reach 100 career wins for the Vikings. He'll join Sharkey Nelson (162 wins from 1953-65) and Tyler Geving (112 wins from 2009-17) in the 100-win club when he does. Coburn would become the second-fastest out of the three to 100 wins if he were to accomplish it this season. Nelson needed 168 games to reach 100 wins, while Geving needed 220 games. Coburn has coached 157 games entering the season.

 
PRESEASON NOTES

• LAST SEASON RECAP: The Vikings were 20-11 in 2025-26, winning the Big Sky Conference regular season title for the first time in 18 seasons. It was the best record by a Viking team since a 23-10 finish in 2008-09… the Viking program has won three Big Sky Championships in 2004-05, 2007-08 and 2025-26. PSU won Big Sky Tournament titles in 2007-08 and 2008-09… Portland State's 20 wins tied for third-most in the Big Sky Conference era and were the most in eight years by a Viking team... the Vikings' 13 Big Sky wins ranked as second-most in school history (PSU was 14-2 in 2007-08)... PSU's six straight road wins (Jan. 1-Feb. 12) established a new school record. It broke a mark of five set between Jan. 21 and Feb. 15, 1954! (the Vikings' longest Big Sky road winning streak is nine games and stretched over two seasons - 2008 and 2009)... the six Big Sky road wins ties for most in a season (6-2 in 2007-08)... Portland State reached 7-0 in league play for the first time in its Big Sky. The Vikings had gotten to 4-0 twice previously (1997-98, 2004-05)... Portland State had a stretch for 15 consecutive Big Sky home wins (2/15/2024 to Jan. 17, 2026), tying a school record.
• RETURNERS: In 2026-27, Portland State will have one of its smallest returning classes in program history. Three players return to the program… two of the returning players are forwards: SR Charles Chukwu (6-9, 4.2 mpg, 1.4 ppg, 0.8 rpg) and SO Brayden Barron (6-6, 4.3 mpg, 0.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg); and one is a guard: SO Colt Ness (6-0, 5.6 mpg, 0.8 ppg, 1.1 apg)… unfortunately, an off-season injury will prevent Barron from playing in 2026-27.
• NEWCOMERS: Among Portland State's newcomers are six post players and seven guards. Four are Division I transfers, five are Division II transfers and four are foreign club players… senior guard Emil Skyttä (6-5, 3.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg) is a transfer from North Dakota State. He also spent two seasons playing against the Vikings at Sacramento State (8.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.7 apg in 2024-25)… senior guard Trevor Frank (6-1, 10.3 ppg in 106 games) is a transfer from Dallas Baptist. He was a two-time Lone Star Conference Sixth Man of the Year and All-Lone Star Conference as a junior. Frank made 220 three-point field goals in 106 games… Dennis Johnson III (6-3, 12.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.4 spg) and Nehemiah Pollard (6-4, 15.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 38 3-pt FG) are transfer guards from Western Washington… former Pac-12 Freshman of the Year senior Koren Johnson (6-1) brings his point guard bonafides to the Vikings via Louisville and Ole Miss… freshman guard Gantas Križanauskas (6-4) is a Lithuanian player who has played for the Rytas Vilnius Club… another international player is sophomore guard Yaroslav Nikonov (6-5), who has spent the past five years with CSKA Club in Moscow…  fifth-year center KC Ibekwe joins the Vikings after previous stops at Pacific (2025-26), Washington (2024-25) and Oregon State (2022-24). Ibekwe led Oregon State in blocks both years he played for the Beavers, including 38 as a sophomore. He averaged 5.1 points and 4.0 rebounds while starting 22 of his 32 appearances as a sophomore at OSU…the Vikings look forward to the talents of senior forward Jaquay Randolph (6-10, 20.8 ppg, 15.4 rpg, .610 FG%) who led the nation in rebounding and double-doubles (25) at the NCAA II level. He also had a school-record 49 points in one game and grabbed 27 rebounds in another game for Southern Wesleyan… senior forward Antonio Pusateri (6-7, 16.7 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 37 blocks, .593 FG%) brings an inside presence from Lubbock Christian. He ranked second in the nation at the Division II level with 21 double-doubles, earning All-Lone Star Conference, Newcomer of the Year and NABC second team All-District. Pusateri led the Chaps to a 27-6 record and the NCAA playoffs… freshman forward Francesco Corato (6-8) is a native of Venice, Italy where he played for Umana Reyer BC… senior forward Luke Kearney (6-7, 1.7 ppg) is a transfer from Utah State. He played two prior seasons at Air Force. As a sophomore, Kearney averaged 8.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and hit a team-high 52 three-point field goals… also signing with the Vikings is freshman forward Alexandros Skliros (6-8), a member of the Greece U18 International team this past year.
• HOME RECORD: As they enter their season playing in Viking Pavilion, Portland State can look back at a remarkable run at home. The Vikings were 11-3 at home last season and are 35-6 at home since the start of the 2023-24 season… Portland State had a stretch for 15 consecutive Big Sky home wins (Feb. 15, 2024 to Jan. 17, 2026), tying a school record… Portland State has lost only 17 non-conference home games in the last 17 seasons (76-17). PSU is 33-16 against Division I schools, and 43-1 against lower division schools over that span.
• DEFENSIVE PRESENCE: In 2025-26, Portland State led the Big Sky Conference in four defensive categories: scoring defense (70.3), field goal percentage defense (.417), steals (7.6) and turnovers forced (12.8).
• STOLEN MOMENTS: Portland State led the Big Sky Conference in steals (7.6) for the second year in a row and the 10th time in the last 11 seasons.

 
FUN FACTS, MEANINGLESS TRIVIA

• WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATRONAGE: The Feb. 19, 2026, home game against Idaho had an attendance of 2,180, which was a new record for the eight-year-old Viking Pavilion. It marked the sixth time that a game had 2,000+ fans, and broke the old mark of 2,077, set in 2019 in a win over Montana State. Four of the top 10 attendances in Viking Pavilion history came during the 2025-26 season... it is worth noting that PSU has had larger home crowds when hosting games at Memorial Coliseum and the Rose Garden/Moda Center. The 2,180 fans marked the largest crowd since PSU drew 4,113 at the Rose Garden on Mar. 12, 2008, for the Big Sky Tournament Championship game win over Northern Arizona, 67-51.
• 2-0 ON ESPNU AT THE U: Portland State's Feb. 19, 2026, game against Idaho was televised on ESPNU (a 77-67 win). PSU games have been live streamed on ESPN+ in past seasons, but that was the first nationally televised basketball game at Viking Pavilion since it opened in 2018. PSU basketball had one previous home game televised on ESPNU – a Feb. 21, 2009, contest with Boise State (and 93-81 Viking win). That game aired from the old Stott Center gymnasium.
• BB, B2B: Freshman forward Brayden Barron can claim championships in back-to-back seasons. Barron was an All-State player on the Oregon 6A state champion Sam Barlow Bruins in 2025. He was a Big Sky Conference champion in 2026.
• UNITING NATIONS: Portland State has added six international players to its roster for 2026-27 – which is the most in one season in school history. Freshman forward Francesco Corato is from Italy, senior guard Emil Skyttä is from Finland, freshman guard Gantas Križanauskas is from Lithuania, freshman guard Yaroslav Nikonov is from Russia, fifth-year center KC Ibekwe is from Canada, and freshman forward Alexandros Skliros is from Greece. Ten others hail from the good ole' US of A.

 
2025-26 SEASON REVIEW

• The Vikings were 20-11 in 2025-26, winning the Big Sky Conference regular season title for the first time in 18 seasons. It was the best record by a Viking team since a 23-10 finish in 2008-09… the Viking program has won three Big Sky Championships in 2004-05, 2007-08 and 2025-26. PSU won Big Sky Tournament titles in 2007-08 and 2008-09… Portland State's 20 wins tied for third-most in the Big Sky Conference era and were the most in eight years by a Viking team... the Vikings' 13 Big Sky wins ranked as second-most in school history (PSU was 14-2 in 2007-08)... PSU's six straight road wins (Jan. 1-Feb. 12) established a new school record. It broke a mark of five set between Jan. 21 and Feb. 15, 1954! (the Vikings' longest Big Sky road winning streak is nine games and stretched over two seasons - 2008 and 2009)... the six Big Sky road wins ties for most in a season (6-2 in 2007-08)... Portland State reached 7-0 in league play for the first time in its Big Sky. The Vikings had gotten to 4-0 twice previously (1997-98, 2004-05)... Portland State had a stretch for 15 consecutive Big Sky home wins (2/15/2024 to Jan. 17, 2026), tying a school record.
• The Vikings dominated post-season awards, winning three major Big Sky Conference Awards... SR F Terri Miller Jr. was named Big Sky Most Valuable Player, SR C Tre-Vaughn Minott was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row and Head Coach Jase Coburn earned Big Sky Coach of the Year... Miller and Jaylin Henderson were named first team All-Big Sky Conference... Minott was named second team All-Big Sky and to the All-Defensive team.
• Portland State had four different players earn Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors during the course of the season: SR G Jaylin Henderson, SR C Tre-Vaughn Minott, JR G Keyon Kensie Jr. and SR F Terri Miller Jr.
• SR F Terri Miller Jr. led the Vikings in scoring (19.1) and was in the top 10 in six statistical categories in the Big Sky including scoring, assists (3.4), rebounding (5.6), field goal percentage (.503), steals (1.4) and blocked shots (0.7)... Miller had five double-doubles and a triple-double during the season. He is the only Viking in history with two career triple-doubles... Miller was also named NABC second team All-Pacific District at the conclusion of the season and was a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, honoring the mid-major Player of the Year.
• SR G Jaylin Henderson averaged 18.2 points, 5.8 assists, 1.6 steals and shot .787 from the free throw line to rank in the top 10 in the Big Sky in each category. He led the Big Sky in minutes played (37.3) and ranked eighth in the nation. Henderson had 12 "complete" games, including a string of eight in a row during the season... a noted dunker, he will participate in the State Farm College Slam Dunk Championship during Final Four weekend.
• SR C Tre-Vaughn Minott averaged 9.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, shot .656 from the field and blocked 34 shots during the season. He led the Big Sky in rebounding and double-doubles (8), and in league games averaged 10.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and shot .730 from the field... Minott set a new school record for dunks in a season (60) and a career (107)... Minott also had a 20-20 game. His 20 rebounds tied a school record for boards in a Big Sky contest.
• Head Coach Jase Coburn, who just completed his fifth season (13 overall at PSU), led the steady progression of the Viking program to its first Big Sky title in nearly two decades. The Vikings have gone from 7th to 6th to 3rd to 1st over the past four seasons, winning 6, 8, 11 and now 13 Big Sky games. The Vikings have gone from 12 wins to 17 to 19 to 20 over the past four years. He has an 82-75 record overall at PSU...Coburn was the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year, the Asian Coaches Association Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award for achieving success on the basketball court and displaying moral integrity on and off it as well.
• Portland State led the Big Sky Conference in scoring defense (70.3), field goal percentage defense (.417), steals (7.6) and turnovers forced (12.8)... PSU led the Big Sky in steals for the second year in a row, and remarkably for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons... Portland State set a new school record for dunks in a season (131).
• Three different Vikings passed 1,000 points in their collegiate careers: SR G Jaylen Henderson passed 1,000 points at Montana State (2/26). Henderson scored 107 points in his one season at Louisiana Tech. He has since scored 978 points at Portland State in two seasons for a total of 1,085... SR F Terri Miller Jr. passed 1,000 career points against Idaho State (3/8) and finished with 1,014 points (55 at Louisiana Tech, 959 at PSU)... SR G Brycen Long passed 1,000 career points against Weber State (3/2). He scored 81 points this season at PSU and previously had 24 at Arizona State and 908 points at Houston Christian for 1,013 in his career.
• The Portland State program had four of the top 10 home attendances since moving to the Viking Pavilion for the 2018-19 season. Included was a Pavilion-best 2,180 in attendance for a Feb. 19 win over Idaho.
• A program record 10 Vikings earned Academic All-Big Sky Conference honors: Brayden Barron, Charles Chukwu, Alex Dupre, Jaylin Henderson, Keyon Kensie Jr., Brycen Long, Terri Miller Jr., Kelcy Phipps, Mozae Downing-Rivers, Sebastian Tidor.

 
TASTY VIKING HISTORY TIDBITS

• Portland State is competing in its 30th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference and Division I. PSU played basketball from 1946-1981 before discontinuing the program. Basketball was reinstated for the 1996-97 season. Portland State won Big Sky Conference regular season titles in 2004-05 and 2007-08. The Vikings won Big Sky Conference Tournament titles in 2007-08 and 2008-09, advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
• Portland State's biggest star was Freeman Williams (1974-78), who ranks third all-time in scoring in college basketball history behind Pete Maravich (3,667 in 83 games, 44.2 ppg) and Antoine Davis (3,664 in 144 games, 25.4 ppg). Williams, a Division I All-American in 1978, scored 3,249 points in his 106-game career (30.7 ppg).
• Among Vikings in the NBA, Freeman Williams and Ime Udoka each spent seven playing seasons in the league. After several seasons as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, Udoka was named Head Coach of the Boston Celtics in July of 2021. Udoka took the Celtics to the NBA Finals in his first season as Head Coach. He is now the Head Coach of the Houston Rockets.
• Julius Thomas (2006-10), who holds Portland State records for games played (121), field goal percentage in a season and career (.671/.663), and career wins (78), was a two-time Pro Bowler for the NFL's Denver Broncos. Thomas played on two Big Sky Conference Championship/NCAA Tournament teams (2007-08, 2008-09) at PSU. He went on to play one season of football at PSU (2010). Thomas competed in Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014. He later signed a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015 making him the highest paid tight end in the NFL, then moved on to play for the Miami Dolphins before retiring after the 2017 season.