Complete Game Notes for Portland State vs. Portland

Portland State and the University of Portland will meet this Wednesday in a rivalry that dates back to the 1946-47 season (PSU’s first year of existence as Vanport Extension Center). The Vikings will cross the Willamette River to play the 25th-ranked Pilots at the Chiles Center in a 7 p.m. mid-week contest.

For the Vikings, it will be a chance to get their first road win this season and extend a winning streak over the Pilots to four seasons. PSU is 1-4 this year, including 0-4 in road games.

For the Pilots, it will be a chance to end a losing streak to the Vikings and continue one of its hottest starts to a season in school history. Portland stands at 5-1 on the year following an 84-66 loss to eighth-ranked West Virginia in the championship game of the 76 Classic in Anaheim on Sunday. That loss does not dampen a brilliant start that includes two wins over Pac-10 teams (Oregon, UCLA) and a victory over 22nd-ranked Minnesota.

The non-conference meeting between the Vikings (Big Sky Conference) and the Pilots (West Coast Conference) will be the 48th in history. It will be the 11th season in a row that the Rose City’s two Division I schools will face one another. That is the longest stretch of annual meetings in the all-time series.
   
BIG SKY CONFERENCE PLAY COMING THIS SATURDAY
Portland State makes an early start to its Big Sky Conference season this Saturday when the Vikings host Eastern Washington at the Stott Center. The 7:05 p.m. game will open PSU’s 14th season as a member of the Big Sky. This will be the earliest start to a Big Sky season in PSU history. Last year, the Vikings opened the Big Sky slate with a win over Montana on Dec. 20.

PSU won the regular season title in 2007-08 and the Big Sky Tournament title in 2007-08 and 2008-09, advancing to the NCAA Tournament both seasons. PSU has a 25-7 Big Sky record over the last two years, 29-7 including Big Sky Tournament games.

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (1-4) vs. #25 PORTLAND PILOTS (5-1)
Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 7 p.m., Chiles Center (4,852), Portland, OR

Television: None
Radio: 800 AM KPDQ, www.kpdq-am.com
Pre-game Show: 6:30 p.m. • Tip-off: 7 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt
Live Stats: www.GoViks.com

STORYLINES
• All-time series: The University of Portland leads the all-time series 31-16. But, since the teams have played at different levels of competition over the past 63 years - and PSU did not play for 15 seasons - a better representation of the matchup comes since PSU reinstated basketball and joined the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97. Since that time, the Pilots lead the series, 7-6... PSU has won the last three meetings, including an 81-76 decision on Nov. 18, 2008 at the soldout Stott Center... the Vikings also won 78-73 in the last meeting on the Bluff, Nov. 28, 2007... the Pilots are 5-1 against the Vikings at the Chiles Center since 1996-97.
• Last season: Jeremiah Dominguez scored 19 of his game-high 23 points in the second half as the Vikings overcame a halftime deficit to defeat the Pilots, Dominguez’ former team. Another former Pilot, Jamie Jones, scored 14 points on 6-8 field goals for the Vikings... PSU shot .509 from the field and Portland shot .528, but the Pilots commited 17 turnovers... Nik Raivio scored 19 to lead Portland. Jared Stohl and Robin Smeulders each scored 16 points.
• Vikings vs. the West Coast Conference: Portland State is 29-60 all-time against current members of the West Coast Conference. The Vikings will play three WCC teams this year - all on the road. Other opponents include Pepperdine on Dec. 13 and Saint Mary’s on Dec. 15... Portland State was 2-0 against the West Coast Conference last year, beating Portland (81-76) and Gonzaga (77-75).
• Been There, Done That: Viking SR F Jamie Jones will play his first game in the Chiles Center since being a member of the Pilot program from 2005 to 2007. Jones played in 52 games for Portland. As a sophomore, he averaged 10.3 points and 7.2 rebounds while starting 29 of 32 games.
• Portland State is 0-4 on the road this season after going 11-9 on the road last year.
• Portland is 2-0 at home this season, beating Oregon (88-81) and Seattle (98-81). The Pilots are 5-1 at home against the Vikings since PSU joined the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97.
• Pilot Head Coach Eric Reveno is in his fourth season at the University of Portland. He has a 42-59 record. Reveno is 0-3 all-time against Portland State.
• The Pilots were 19-13 last year. They finished 9-5 and in third place in the West Coast Conference. All five starters and 12 letterwinners return from that team.
• SR G TJ Campbell is leading the Pilots with 17.0 points and 5.8 assists per game. He is shooting .536 from three-point range. SR G Nik Raivio is averaging 15.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. JR F Luke Sikma leads the Pilots with 8.1 rebounds per game.

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (1-4) vs. EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES (2-4)
Saturday, December 5, 2009, 7:05 p.m., Peter W. Stott Center (1,500), Portland, OR

Television: None
Radio: 800 AM KPDQ, www.kpdq-am.com
Pre-game Show: 6:30 p.m. • Tip-off: 7:05 p.m. • Play-by-play: Tom Hewitt
Live Webcast and Live Stats: www.GoViks.com

STORYLINES
• All-time series: Eastern Washington leads the all-time series 17-15, and the Big Sky Conference series, 16-12... PSU leads the Big Sky series 7-6 in games played in Portland... the Vikings have won three straight in the series... prior to PSU’s winning streak against Eastern, the Eagles had won 14 of 18 in the series.
• Last season: Portland State’s 83-61 win over Eastern Washington last season in the Stott Center marked the Vikings’ largest margin of victory in the all-time series. Phil Nelson scored 22 points in that game to lead the Vikings. However, the Vikings needed overtime to win in Cheney, 66-62, in the season finale. It was a key win for the Vikings as they moved into second place in the conference standings, earning a first-round bye in the Big Sky Tournament.
• Something In Common: After the Vikings face Portland on Wednesday, they and the Eagles will have each faced the Pilots - their only common opponent. EWU lost to Portland in Cheney, 64-58 on Nov. 14.
• Back To The Big Sky: Portland State begins its 14th season in the Big Sky Conference. It has won regular season titles in 2004-05 and 2007-08, and Big Sky Tournament titles in 2007-08 and 2008-09... Portland State is 108-102 all-time in Big Sky games (including a 6-6 mark in Big Sky Tournament games). The Vikings are 73-29 at home, 32-69 on the road and 4-4 at neutral sites.
• Portland State will be playing only its second home game of the season when it hosts Eastern Washington. PSU is 1-0 at home this year and 26-2 at home since the start of the 2007-08 season... the Vikings are 15-1 at home against Big Sky opponents, 17-1 including Big Sky tournament games the past two years.
• Eastern Washington is 1-2 on the road this year with a win at Texas-Arlington.
• The Eagles, 2-4 overall this year, will host Walla Walla on Tuesday prior to facing the Vikings.
• Head Coach Kirk Earlywine is in his third season at Eastern Washington. He has a 25-31 record overall and is 1-3 against Portland State... Earlywine’s career coaching record is 46-49.
• The Eagles were 12-18 last season. They finished 6-10 and in seventh place in the Big Sky Conference. Returning from that team are three starters and five letterwinners including second team All-Big Sky selection Benny Valentine.
• SR G Benny Valentine is averaging 12.7 points to lead the Eagles. SR C Brandon Moore averages 11.2 points and a Big Sky-leading 10.2 rebounds per game.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
VIKINGS ON RADIO: All Portland State basketball games can be heard on 800 AM KPDQ and www.kpdq-am.com.The Viking Pregame Show begins one-half hour prior to tipoff with Tom Hewitt calling all the action.
VIKINGS ON TV: Portland State has four regular season games scheduled to be televised in the Portland area: Nov. 15 @ Washington, Dec. 19 vs. Washington State (FSN-channel 34 in Portland); Jan. 17 vs. Northern Arizona, Feb. 28 vs. Weber State (CSN-channel 37 in Portland).
INTERNET STREAMING: Live streaming video of all Portland State home and Big Sky Conference games can be seen free at www.BigSkyTV.org. Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.GoViks.com.
TYLER GEVING ON WHEELS AT WORK WEEKLY: Portland State Basketball Coach Tyler Geving will be a weekly guest on The Wheels at Work Show on 95.5 FM The Game in Portland. Geving will talk Viking basketball and more with hosts Brian Wheeler, Kenny Vance and Jay Allen every Tuesday at 1:35 p.m. beginning on November 10.
TICKETS: Tickets for all home games can be purchased in prices ranging from $10 to $15, with youth prices as low as $7. To purchase tickets by phone, call 1.888.VIK.TIKS or 503.725.3307. Special group ticket pricing and season tickets are available by calling Scott Boyd at 503.725.5627. Tickets are on sale at the PSU Ticket Office, located in Smith Memorial Student Union, 1825 SW Broadway. You can also purchase tickets on-line at www.GoViks.com, www.TicketMaster.com or at all TicketMaster outlets. 
VIKINGS BASKETBALL BREAKFAST SERIES: The Viking Basketball Breakfast Series takes place on four dates during the course of the basketball season. Head Coach Tyler Geving will speak about Viking basketball at each breakfast event. Dates are Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Feb. 10 and Feb. 24 from 7:30-8:45 a.m. at the Multnomah Athletic Club. Cost is $20. RSVP with Scott Boyd (boyds@pdx.edu).

VIKING FAST BREAKS
WINNING LINES
• Portland State has won three straight against the Pilots heading into Wednesday’s game, but Portland leads the series, 31-16 all-time, and 7-6 since PSU joined the Big Sky Conference in 1996-97.
• Portland State is 1-0 at home and has won eight straight home games at the Stott Center. Since the start of the 2007-08 season, PSU is 26-2 at home.
• PSU has gone 94-29 in 123 games at the Stott Center since the 1996-97 season. Including home games at Memorial Coliseum (12-6) and the Rose Garden (19-9), the Vikings are 125-44 at home over the past 14 seasons.
• The Vikings are 0-4 in road games this year, with two of those being neutral site games... PSU was 11-9 away from home, 7-7 in road games, 4-2 in neutral site games last season... PSU went 4-4 in Big Sky road games.
• Portland State is 22-20 all-time in overtime games, including 2-1 last year.
• Portland State is coming off back-to-back 23-10 seasons. Those tie for the most wins in a season in school history... with 65 wins over the past three seasons (19, 23, 23), the Vikings have their best three-season win total in school history.

SHOOTING IS WHERE ITS AT...: Portland State is having a good shooting season through five games, hitting .474 from the field, .396 from three-point range and .732 at the line. Problem is, opponents are shooting even better. PSU has allowed its five opponents to shoot .522 from the field and .409 from three-point range (they are .709 at the line). That has equated to an 85.2 opponent scoring average... the team to shoot the higher percentage has won all five games this season... on Nov. 21 PSU hit 31-46 from the field against Cal Poly, setting a new school record with a .674 field goal percentage (old mark, 32-54 .654 vs. Idaho State, Feb. 23, 2002).

...BUT REBOUNDING WOULD HELP: Portland State’s major weakness in the early season has been obvious; rebounding. The Vikings gave up 20 offensive rebounds to Cal Poly on Nov. 21, which allowed the Mustangs to stay in a game that the Vikings otherwise dominated. Cal Poly scored 20 second-chance points... the Vikings were better against Stanford, getting outrebounded only 26-25, but still have a -9.6 rebounding deficit per game this year... PSU has been outrebounded in all five games.

A PRESEASON SCHEDULE TO BE WARY OF: Portland State knew its preseason schedule would be challenging, but a breakdown shows just how tough. Of the 12 non-conference games against Division I opponents, nine come against teams with at least 19 wins last year (Belmont, 20; Wright State, 20; Washington, 26; Stanford, 20; Portland, 19; Saint Mary’s, 28; Boise State, 19; Seattle, 21 (twice)). Washington State was 17-16 last year, while Cal Poly and Pepperdine won seven and nine games, respectively... including Big Sky Conference opponents, PSU will play seven 20-win teams this season (and two 19-win teams).

COOL RUNNING WATERS: SR G Dominic Waters scored 32 points in leading the Vikings to a 92-83 win over Cal Poly on Nov. 21. Remarkably, he did it on just 15 field goal attempts. Waters hit 10-15 from the field, 2-4 from three-point range and 10-11 at the line. He also had five assists.
• The 32 points is just the second-best total of his career. Last season, Waters scored 41 in a four-overtime win at Northern Arizona.
• Waters leads the Vikings in scoring (16.6) and assists (4.4) this season while shooting .571 from three-point range (12-21). He is also shooting .510 from the field and .905 at the line.
• Waters ranks second in the Big Sky in assists, sixth in scoring and third in three-point field goal percentage.

MORE WATER WORKS: With 72-155 three-point field goals made in his career, SR G Dominic Waters is shooting .465 from long range - the best of any Viking in school history. His .448 mark (60-134) last season led the team.

BASKETBALL JONES: SR F Jamie Jones averages 12.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He has also blocked a team-high eight shots. Jones is shooting .636 from the field after going 13-17 over the last two games. Jomes made his last five field goals against Cal Poly, then his first seven against Stanford. With 12 consecutive field goals made, he tied a PSU mark held by Seamus Boxley.
• With 38 blocked shots in his career, Jones now ranks ninth in PSU history.

THE SHARP SHOOTER(S) RETURN: SR F Julius Thomas holds Portland State records for field goal percentage in a season (.643) and a career (.652). He entered the season having missed just 103 shots in 90 games played. So far this year, Thomas is 13-22 from the field (.591)... while Thomas stands as Portland State’s all-time best percentage shooter, teammate Jamie Jones rates as second-best all-time at PSU. Jones is 154-258 for a .597 mark.

JULIUS THOMAS CAREER SHOOTING MARKS
2006-07: 62-97, .639 (set school record)
2007-08: 45-63, .714 (not enough attempts to qualify for school record)
2008-09: 90-140, .643 (broke his own school record)
2009-10: 13-22, .692
Career: 210-322, .652 (school record)

KEEPING UP WITH MELVIN JONES: Fast? Yes. Fastest on the team? Probably. So, it’s not easy to keep up with JR G Melvin Jones. He has proven that through five games of his PSU career. Jones is averaging 11.4 points, having hit 14-31 from three-point range (.452)
• Jones had 16 points in the win over Cal Poly. He rang up 23 points against Wright State on Nov. 14, hitting 7-11 three point field goals.
• Jones’ 14 three-pointers ranks second in the Big Sky Conference.

ONE GAME AT A TIME: Since beginning his career at Portland State last year, JR F Phil Nelson has played in all 38 games, starting all 38. He has averaged 11.3 points and hit 66 three-point field goals over that span... SR F Julius Thomas has competed in the most games of any Viking having played in 95 during his career. If he remains healthy, Thomas has a chance to break PSU’s games played record of 119.

BIG SKY LEADERS: Portland State is tied for the league lead in both three-point field goals made per game (8.0) and blocked shots per game (3.2).