GAME NOTES: Aiming for their first official road win of the season, the Portland State Vikings give it a go tonight in Missoula against the Montana Grizzlies in the Big Sky Conference opener for both programs.
Portland State, which is winless in six true road games this season, has dropped two straight and four of the last five outings overall. Save for a narrow 91-87 victory over Cal State Bakersfield on December 15, much of this month has been a disappointment against Division I foes for the Vikings. Six days ago, the team was taken down by Cal State Fullerton on the road in a 92-86 final.
As for the Grizzlies, they've won two in a row and three of the last four outings in order to move two games over .500 at 7-5. However, many of the victories have come against inferior competition and that goes for the latest victim as Montana defeated Utah Valley last week in a 65-52 final.
With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, Montana leads by a count of 27-20, taking all but five of the 23 games played in Missoula over the years. The Vikings are set to host the rematch of this series at the end of January.
Portland State led for a good portion of the game versus the Titans, but then Fullerton knocked down 8-of-10 shots behind the three-point line in the second half and drained 60.0 percent from the floor overall to claim the six-point decision. The Vikings had a total of six players score in double figures, led by Charles Odum who delivered 19 points, followed by Lateef McMullan with 14 points, while Chehales Tapscott and Renado Parker both tallied a dozen, the former adding seven rebounds and six assists to lead the team in both of those categories. Martin Whitmore and Michael Harthun checked in with 10 points apiece as the team made good on a solid 53.1 percent from the floor. Even though Odum might be the leading scorer for the Vikings with his 16.7 ppg, Tapscott tends to be the one who fills up his stat line with 13.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.5 spg. Throw Nate Lozeau (11.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg) into the mix and you see why the team is beating opponents on the glass by almost six rebounds per game at the moment.
Montana shot only 32.1 percent from the field in the first half against Utah Valley, but the Grizzlies turned it around by converting 60.0 percent in the second half, including 5-of-11 behind the three-point line. Kareem Jamar and Mathias Ward led the way on offense for the hosts with 15 points apiece, while Derek Selvig did a little bit of everything with his 13 points, seven rebounds, six assists and four blocks at Dahlberg Arena. Jamar is one of two double-digit scorers for Montana with his 13.5 ppg, thanks in large part to his 44.4 percent accuracy from three-point range. Will Cherry (14.0 ppg) has tried to also become a three-point threat, but so far his 31.9 percent accuracy isn't scaring anyone. Between Jamar and Cherry they've also accounted for 82 of the group's 156 assists, which means they can score and get teammates involved in the action.
Portland State's inability to win on the road is certainly one reason to pick against the Vikings tonight, but still Montana has to figure out a way to shut down Odum and Chehales.
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