Men's Basketball | 11/27/2024 12:15:00 PM
Game #9
Who | Utah Tech (2-6) at Portland State (3-3)
When | Saturday, Nov. 30 – 6 p.m. MT
Where | Viking Pavilion – Portland, Ore.
Broadcast | ESPN+ / 99.5 The Fan Sports Network
Social Media |
Instagram +
Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers + #WACmbb
Scouting the Vikings
Portand State enters Saturday night's game with a 3-3 overall record coming off a 79-74 win over Wofford on Nov. 24 to close out the Cream City Challenge in Milwaukee.
The Vikings also have wins over San Diego (85-76) on the road on Nov. 12 and at home over Evergreen State (131-84) on Nov. 7. PSU has fallen to Washington State, Milwaukee and St. Thomas.
Picked sixth in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches poll, PSU is coming off a 17-15 overall season in 2023-24 and a 8-10 mark in the Big Sky to finish sixth.
Led by fourth-year head coach Jase Coburn, Portland State is led in scoring by senior guard Jaylin Henderson averaging 14.5 points per game, which ranks ninth in the Big Sky.
Senior guard Qiant Myers leads the Big Sky and ranks 14th nationally in assists per game dishing out 6.5 per game.
As a team, the Vikings are second in the Big Sky in scoring offense averaging 87.7 points per game, but are 10th in scoring defense allowing 86.0 points per contest.
PSU also leads the Big Sky in turnovers forced per game (17.67), free throw attempts per game (21.8), blocks per game (5.2) and bench points per game (33.67).
Series History vs. Portland State & Big Sky Conference
This will be the Trailblazers' first meeting against Portland State.
This will also be the fourth current member of the Big Sky that Utah Tech has played.
The Blazers have squared off against Montana (0-1), Weber State (1-1) and Idaho (1-1).
Utah Tech will host Weber State in its next home contest on Dec. 13.
Last Time Out
The Trailblazers are coming off their second win of the season on Tuesday afternoon defeating Denver, 68-54 to close out the Stew Morrill Classic in Missoula, Mont.
Utah Tech was led by a second consecutive double-double from senior guard Beon Riley, who finished with 18 points and a season-high 11 rebounds.
After holding the Pioneers without a field goal for the final 8:05 of the first half, the Trailblazers led 39-29 at halftime.
A layup from Justin Bieker got the scoring started in the second half for UT, who led by nine or more for the entire half, and extended it to as many as 18 (68-50) going on to win by 14.
Where the Blazers Rank in the WAC/NCAA
Utah Tech leads the WAC in three point defense limiting opponents to 30.8 percent shooting from downtown. The Trailblazers are also second in three point attempts per game (23.4) and turnovers per game (10.6).
Individually, Hakim Byrd leads the WAC in free throw percentage shooting 95.5 percent (21-22). Beon Riley ranks second in the WAC in rebounds per game (8.0) & total rebounds (56).
Samuel Ariyibi checks in fourth in blocks (9) and blocks per game (1.29).
Road Trip Treks On
Saturday's game is the sixth of an eight-game road swing as Utah Tech does not return to Burns Arena until facing Weber State on Dec. 13.
The Trailblazers will be one of 18 Division I teams in 2024-25 who will go at least 30 days in between home games.
Bethune-Cookman leads the country going 63 days (Nov. 16-Jan. 18) between home contests.
Riley & Byrd Earn All-Tournament Honors
Riley notched two double-doubles at the Stew Morrill Classic averaging 14.0 points per game & 8.7 rebounds per game.
Byrd scored a Division I career high 23 points in the tournament opener against CSUN and averaged 12.3 points and three assists per game.
First in the Division I Era
Riley's back-to-back double-doubles are a first for a Trailblazer in the Division I era.
It is also the first time a Trailblazers has accomplished that feat since Quincy Mathews did it at UC San Diego and vs. Cal Poly Pomona on Nov. 11 & Nov. 12, 2016.
Stellar Defense
The 54 points the Trailblazers allowed on Tuesday against Denver were the fewest points an opponent has scored since Dec. 2, 2023 when UT held Utah Valley to 53 points in a 65-53 win in the 2023-24 home opener.
Big Win over DU
UT's 14-point win over Denver is the largest margin of victory over a Division I team for the Trailblazers since a 17-point win at home over UTRGV on Feb. 1, 2024.'
Gonsalves Closing in on Record
After playing in his 100th career game on Sunday (Nov. 24) against CSUN, Gonsalves climbed atop the career three-point field goal attempts (431) mark and is now only six three's shy of breaking the record for career three pointers made (166 - Brandon Simister).
Seasoned Veteran
Head coach Jon Judkins is in his 20th season at Utah Tech this season sporting a 333-209 (.614) overall record and a 313-197 (.614) mark in NCAA play.
Only nine current Division I coaches have been at their schools longer - Greg Kampe (41st season at Oakland), Tom Izzo (30-Michigan St.), Mark Few (26-Gonzaga), James Jones (26-Yale), Randy Bennett (26-Saint Mary's), Leonard Hamilton (23-Florida St.), Scott Drew (22-Baylor), Bill Self (22-Kansas) & Gary Manchel (22-Mercyhurst).
What's Next
Utah Tech is back in action on Tuesday (Dec. 3) at Boise State (5-2) at 7 p.m. at ExtraMile Arena.
