TIPOFF
The Portland State men's basketball team played 28 minutes of recognizable Viking basketball under head coach Jase Coburn last Saturday against Seattle U. They battled with a quality Seattle U team in a defensive rock fight as Coburn would call it later. Both teams only managed 28 points in the first half against the other's stout defense while shooting 33.3 percent from the field or worse.
 
But the Vikings went away from that identity over the final 12 minutes as the Redhawks pulled away for a 79-60 victory. Some careless live-ball turnovers by the Vikings helped spark a 20-2 Seattle U run midway through the second half, and the Vikings never recovered from there.
 
The road doesn't get any easier for the Vikings Wednesday, as they head to Colorado State for a 6 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. MT tipoff. But the Vikings can make it easier on themselves by returning to the identity that won them a Big Sky regular-season title last season.
 
There are understandable growing pains for the Vikings as they seek to return to that core identity. The Vikings are still incorporating 13 newcomers to this year's team, including a brand new starting five. That's an advantage Seattle U had on the Vikings last Saturday, as the Redhawks returned three starters off an NIT team last season, including the reigning WCC Defensive Player of the year in Will Heimbrodt.
 
Even still, the Vikings would like to shore up their ball control. That's been an area that the Vikings have consistently led the Big Sky Conference under Coburn. They've topped the conference in steals in four of their first five years under Coburn while they've led the league in turnover margin in three of those five years. So far this season, the Vikings have lost the turnover battle in their first two games and rank ninth in the conference in steals per game (4.0) and turnover margin (-3.00).
 
The Vikings also led the Big Sky in field goal percentage defense last year while allowing opponents to shoot just .417 against them. That's a strength that has carried over despite the roster changes. The Vikings rank second in the Big Sky so far this season while allowing opponents to shoot just .383. Three of the four halves they've played, the Vikings held their opponent to 33.3 percent from the field or lower. The one exception was the second half against Seattle U when the Redhawks made 16-of-19 shots (.842), including their last 12 straight.
 
Another traditional strength that has carried over into this season has been rebounding. The Vikings opened the year with 67 rebounds against Lewis & Clark, setting a Viking Pavilion facility record. Seattle won the rebounding battle last Saturday, but the Vikings still held an advantage on the offensive end (12-to-11). The Vikings head into Wednesday's game ranked second in the Big Sky and in the top 50 in the nation for total rebounds (48.5), offensive rebounds (16.5) and rebounding margin (+17.0) per game.
 
Multiple people contributed to the strong rebounding against Lewis & Clark. Ten of the 13 Vikings who played in the game recorded at least four rebounds while nobody had more than 10. Against Seattle U, senior forward Jaquay Randolph led the way with 10 rebounds while recording his first double-double as a Viking with 10 points alongside his 10 rebounds. It was a fitting debut for Randolph – who didn't play against Lewis & Clark – after he led NCAA Division II with 25 double-doubles last season at Southern Wesleyan.
 
Sophomore guard Yaroslav Nikonov joined Randolph in double figures with 16 points against Seattle U. Nikonov also scored in double figures against Lewis & Clark when he poured in 12 of his 14 points after halftime. He now heads into Wednesday's meeting with the Rams among the Big Sky leaders in points (15.0, T-8th), assists (3.00, T-14th), free throw percentage (.727, T-11th), three-pointers per game (2.00, T-14th), blocks per game (1.00, T-6th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.20, T-14th).
 
More than just two Vikings will need to score in double figures to keep pace with a talented Colorado State team Wednesday, however. The Rams will bring familiarity with the Big Sky Conference into that game. They've already played two Big Sky teams in Montana State and Idaho, and they beat both by double digits. The Rams topped Montana State 84-74 to open their season on Nov. 2, then followed with a 78-67 victory over the Vandals on Nov. 6.
 
Junior guard Jase Butler – one of two Pac-12 Preseason Impact List selections for the Rams along with junior forward Kyle Jorgensen – has led the Rams in nearly every statistical category through the early season. He's first or tied for first on the team in points (15.5), rebounds (8.0) assists (6.0) and steals (2.0) per game. He had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to go with six assists against Montana State, then followed with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists against Idaho.
 
Carey Booth ranks second on the team with 14.5 points per game. He had a double-double of his own with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Idaho while also finishing with three blocks. He ranks third in the Pac-12 and 72nd nationally with 2.0 blocks per game through two games this season.
 
Jorgensen, meanwhile, ranks third on the Rams' team with 13.5 points per game.
 
The Rams will be the second straight NIT team the Vikings will face, after Seattle U also made the NIT last season. The Rams exited to Saint Joseph's in the first round last season, while the Redhawks made the third round. Both were 20-win teams last season.
 
The Vikings were also a 20-win team last season, of course. And while it's a new cast of characters, Coburn and his staff remain confident that they'll find the right combination of players to produce a similar identity this season.
 
Wednesday's game against the Rams is the next step in that discovery.
 
GAME DETAILS
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (1-1) VS. COLORADO STATE (2-0)
INFO: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 6 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. MT, Fort Collins, Colo. (Mobby Arena)
TV: YouTube.com/@Pac12
LIVE STATS: GoViks.com/LiveStats
SCOUTING COLORADO STATE:

• The Colorado State Rams have already made themselves more than familiar with the Big Sky Conference this season. They played two Big Sky opponents in their first two games of the season in Montana State and Idaho, while the Vikings will be their third. The Rams beat both Montana State and Idaho, topping the Bobcats 84-74 on Nov. 2 and then the Vandals 78-67 on Nov. 6.
• The Rams came into the season – their first in the newly reconstructed Pac-12 Conference – picked to finish fourth in the league by conference media members. Junior forward Kyle Jorgensen and junior guard Jase Butler were both named to the Preseason Impact List. Jorgensen and Butler averaged 11.5 and 9.3 points per game, respectively, for the Rams last season.
• The Rams are coming off a 21-13 overall record last season when they tied for seventh at 11-9 in Mountain West Conference play. The Rams earned a bid to the NIT where they lost 69-64 to Saint Joseph's in the opening round. They'll be the second straight opponent for the Vikings that made the NIT last season, after Seattle U made the third round of the NIT.
• Through two games, Butler is leading the Rams in nearly every major statistical category between points (15.5), rebounds (8.0) assists (6.0) and steals (2.0) per game. He had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to go with six assists against Montana State. He then followed with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists against Idaho.
• Jorgensen and Carey Booth also average in double figures for the Rams through two games. Booth is averaging 14.5 points per game while Jorgensen is at 13.5. Booth had a double-double of his own with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Idaho, when he also led the Rams with three blocks. He ranks third in the Pac-12 and 72nd nationally with 2.0 blocks per game during the early season.
• Freshman forward Jaden Ghoreishi nearly had a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds in the Rams' season opener against Montana State.
• As a team, the Rams rank seventh in the new Pac-12 in scoring offense (81.0 points per game) and sixth in scoring defense (70.5 points allowed per game). They rank sixth in the conference and 58th nationally in field goal percentage (.518).

SERIES NOTES:

• The Rams are 5-0 all-time against the Vikings. Only one of those five games came after 1979, however.
• The last time the Vikings and Rams played each other was Nov. 18, 2007, at the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Rams won that game 64-63.
• The Vikings haven't played the Rams in Fort Collins, Colo., since the 1976-77 season, which was an 87-66 victory for the Rams.

 
TIP-INS:

• LAST TIME OUT: The Vikings were even with Seattle U through 28 minutes this past Saturday, but a 20-2 run for the Redhawks put the game away as they beat the Vikings, 79-60. Three PSU turnovers that led directly to Seattle U fast-break baskets helped spark the run.
• TALE OF TWO HALVES: The Vikings held Seattle U to 33.3 percent (11-for-33) from the floor in the first half last Saturday. But after some PSU turnovers helped the Redhawks get some easy buckets in the second half, they made their last 12 shots from the field while shooting 16-for-19 (.842) in the second half.
• TURNOVER MARGIN: The Vikings have lost the turnover battle in their first two games of the season. They head into Wednesday's game with a minus-3.00 turnover margin, ranking them ninth out of 11 teams in the Big Sky Conference. That's against how the Vikings have typically been under head coach Jase Coburn. The Vikings have led the Big Sky Conference in turnover margin in three of their previous five seasons under Coburn, while they ranked third last season.
• THE REAL SLIM SHADY: The real Vikings have yet to stand up. Through two games, the Vikings have seen opposite extremes in many statistical categories including points (111 vs. Lewis & Clark, 60 at Seattle U), field goal percentage (.587 vs. Lewis & Clark, .351 at Seattle U), assists (24 vs. Lewis & Clark, 7 at Seattle U) and rebound margin (+43 vs. Lewis & Clark, -9 at Seattle U).
• TOUGH ON THE BLOCK: One thing consistent between both games has been the Vikings' interior defense. They had seven blocks against Lewis & Clark, then followed that with five against Seattle U. They now rank tied for second in the Big Sky with 6.0 blocks per game. Three different Vikings rank tied for sixth in the conference with 1.0 blocks per game individually between KC Ibekwe, Yaroslav Nikonov and Luke Kearney.
• FREE POINTS: The Vikings have been able to get to the free throw line in both games so far. They lead the Big Sky in both free throws made (20.5) and attempted (33.5) per game. But at the same time, the Vikings rank last in the Big Sky in free throw percentage (.612). They were 26-for-43 (.605) from the line against Lewis & Clark and 15-for-24 (.625) against Seattle U.
• THREE-POINT SHOOTING: The Vikings believe they have bolstered their shooting capabilities over the offseason. That proved true in their season opener against Lewis & Clark when they went 11-for-28 (.393) from deep. Seattle U made it tougher on the Vikings as they finished 5-for-20 (.250) from deep against the Redhawks. They're still averaging more makes (8.0 vs. 6.7) per game and converting at a higher percentage (.333 vs. .325) than last season.
• RING NIGHT VICTORY: The Vikings opened their season with a 111-59 victory over Lewis & Clark Tuesday. Six different Vikings scored in double figures between KC Ibekwe (17), Luke Kearney (17), Yaroslav Nikonov (14), Trevor Frank (13), Antonio Pusateri (10) and Nehemiah Pollard (10).
• UNSELFISH BASKETBALL: The Vikings assisted on 24 of their 37 field goals against Lewis & Clark. Freshman guard Gantas Križanauskas led the team with eight assists, five of which came during an extended 35-9 PSU run in the second half. Sophomore guard Yaroslav Nikonov added five assists while senior guard Emil Skyttä had four. The Vikings assisted on only seven of 20 field goals against Seattle U, however.
• CONTROLLING THE GLASS: The Vikings set a Viking Pavilion facility record with 67 rebounds against Lewis & Clark while out-rebounding the River Otters by 43 (67-to-24). Ten of the 13 Vikings who played in the game recorded at least four rebounds while no one had more than eight. The Vikings rank second in the Big Sky in total rebounds (48.5), offensive rebounds (16.5) and rebound margin (+17.0) per game.
• TRADEMARK DEFENSE: If there's one thing the Vikings have been known for under head coach Jase Coburn, it's their high-energy defense. They have led the Big Sky Conference in steals in four of their previous five years under Coburn, while they have led in turnover margin in three of those five years. Last year, they not only led the conference in steals (at 7.6 per game) but also scoring defense (70.3 points allowed per game), field goal percentage defense (.417) and turnovers forced per game (12.8). They're slower to claim that mantle through two games this season, however, as they rank ninth in the Big Sky in steals per game (4.00) and turnover margin (-3.00) so far.
• DEEP BENCH: No Viking is averaging more than 30 minutes per game while only four are averaging more than 20 minutes a game. Jaquay Randolph leads the team with 29.9 minutes per game, though that's partially because he's only played in one game. Out of people who have played in both games, Yaroslav Nikonov leads that group with 23.9 minutes per game.
• ROAD WARRIORS: After their season-opening win, the Vikings entered a tough stretch of four straight road games over 10 days. That stretch started last Saturday at Seattle U. The Redhawks were the first of four straight opponents who were picked to finish in the top four of either the West Coast Conference (Seattle U, San Francisco and Saint Mary's) or the Pac-12 (Colorado State). The Vikings were strong on the road last season, setting a new program record with six straight road wins between Jan. 1 and Feb. 12. The Vikings finished with six Big Sky road wins, tying another program record.
• NOTHING WRONG WITH A SECOND CHANCE: The Vikings outscored Lewis & Clark 25-0 in second-chance points on Nov. 3. That was a result of a 21-to-10 PSU advantage in offensive rebounds. The Vikings also outscored Seattle U 13-11 in second-chance points while out-rebounding them 12-to-11 on the offensive glass.
• MIKE LUND DUNK TRACKER: Thirty-seven-year SID Mike Lund, who retired over the summer, started tracking dunks when the Vikings joined the Big Sky Conference during the 1996-97 season. In his honor, this year's dunk tracker looks like…1 for Dennis Johnson III…1 for KC Ibekwe…1 for Antonio Pusateri.

 
PLAYER NOTES

• FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: Sophomore guard Yaroslav Nikonov has scored in double figures in both games this season. He led the Vikings with 16 points against Seattle U last Saturday, after scoring 12 of his 14 points against Lewis & Clark in the second half…Through two games, Nikonov ranks in the top 15 of the Big Sky for points (15.0, T-8th), assists (3.00, T-14th), free throw percentage (.727, T-11th), three-pointers per game (2.00, T-14th), blocks per game (1.00, T-6th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.20, T-14th)…Nikonov played in the Russian Superleague for the CSKA-2 team, the second-level team in the CSKA club, where he averaged 17.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game this past season.
• DOUBLE-DOUBLE KING: Senior forward Jaquay Randolph led NCAA Division II with 25 double-doubles last season for Southern Wesleyan, so it's fitting that he opened his Portland State career with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds against Seattle U last Saturday. He had six points and six rebounds in his first six minutes on the floor as he got off to a strong start…Randolph averaged 20.8 points and 15.4 rebounds per game while shooting 61.0 percent from the floor last season for Southern Wesleyan…In addition to double-doubles, Randolph also led NCAA Division II in rebounding.
• KING OF THE CITY: Fifth-year center KC Ibekwe – whose nickname "KC" stands for King of the City – nearly had a double-double in only 16:25 of action in the team's season opener against Lewis & Clark. He finished with 17 points and eight rebounds while going 7-for-8 from the field…Ibekwe ranks tied for sixth in the Big Sky in blocks (1.00) and tied for fifth in offensive rebounds (2.50) per game.
• GANTAS HAS GANAS: Freshman guard Gantas Križanauskas came off the bench to record six points, eight assists and four rebounds in the Vikings' season opener against Lewis & Clark…Five of his eight assists came in the second half when the Vikings shot 71.0 percent from the field…While he didn't have an assist against Seattle U, Križanauskas still ranks tied for ninth with 4.00 assists per game…He only has two turnovers this season, meaning he ranks seventh in the conference with a 4.00 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• COOL HAND LUKE: Senior forward Luke Kearney showed a smooth stroke while tying for the team lead with 17 points in the Vikings' season opener against Lewis & Clark. Kearney went 5-for-8 overall and 3-for-5 from three-point range against the River Otters...He now ranks tied for 14th in the Big Sky with 2.00 three-pointers per game…He also ranks tied for sixth in the Big Sky with 1.00 blocks per game…Kearney won a ring with Utah State last season, after playing his first two years at Air Force…He had his most productive year during his second season with Air Force when he averaged 8.9 points per game and made 52 three-pointers.
• SKYTTÄ CAN SCOOT: Senior guard Emil Skyttä filled the stat sheet with seven points, seven rebounds and four assists in the Vikings' season opener against Lewis & Clark…He recorded four points and three rebounds against Seattle U…He won a ring with North Dakota State last season…He also played against the Vikings within the Big Sky Conference at Sacramento State from 2023-25.
• LET'S BE FRANK: Senior guard Trevor Frank made 220 three-pointers over the previous three years at NCAA Division II Dallas Baptist. So, it's only natural that he started his PSU career with four three-pointers in the team's season opener against Lewis & Clark…He went 1-for-4 from deep against Seattle U…Frank ranks ninth in the Big Sky in three-point field goal percentage (.417) while also ranking tied for 12th with 2.50 three-pointers per game.
• MY ANTONIO: Senior forward Antonio Pusateri is averaging 8.0 points per game in just 11.5 minutes per game off the bench. He scored 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting against Lewis & Clark, then followed up with six points on 3-for-3 shooting against Seattle U…Pusateri ranked second in NCAA Division II with 22 double-doubles last season while playing for Lubbock Christian. The person he ranked behind is now his teammate in Jaquay Randolph.
• WESTERN WASHINGTON DUO: Both transfers from NCAA Division II Western Washington – Nehemiah Pollard and Dennis Johnson III – played well in their Portland State debuts against Lewis & Clark…Pollard scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting to go with five rebounds…Johnson III, meanwhile, led the Vikings' defensive effort with two steals and a block.

 
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 83-76... Coburn has a 32-28 record in non-conference games in his six years at the helm of the Viking Ship. That includes a respectable 13-19 road record in those games... PSU is 24-15 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 17 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 159 games at Portland State.

 
PRESEASON NOTES

• POLL PREDICTIONS: The Vikings were picked to finish tied for fourth and fifth in the Big Sky Conference by league coaches and media, respectively. The Vikings were part of a clear top five in the conference. Montana State, Northern Colorado and Eastern Washington finished 1-2-3 in both polls. The Vikings matched Montana for fourth in the coaches poll but finished behind the Grizzlies in the media poll. That was the only difference between both polls, as every other team slotted into the exact same spot across both predictions.
• PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE: Redshirt senior guard Koren Johnson received preseason All-Big Sky honors. Johnson made the team with Northern Colorado's Langston Reynolds, who was named preseason MVP, as well as Montana State's Jed Miller, Utah Tech's Ethan Potter, Eastern Washington's Andrew Cook and Alton Hamilton IV, and Southern Utah's Jaiden Feroah.
• 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.

 
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.