Portland State (4-1) at Oregon (4-3)
By Sports Network
GAME NOTES: The Portland State Vikings are streaking into McArthur Court, and will try to continue their winning ways against the Oregon Ducks this evening in a non-league affair.
Since losing their first (and only) game of the season, the Vikings have put their best foot forward, claiming a victory in their following three matchups. The most recent win for Portland State was a hard fought, 83-76 decision over Seattle. After this contest the Vikings will return home for two games against George Fox and Cal State Fullerton.
As for the Ducks, they won their first three games on the season, but since then the team has stumbled, losing three of its last four contests, including two in a row. The last time Oregon was in action, the team rallied back from a large deficit against Missouri before eventually falling by a three-point margin. The Ducks will host two more home games, but then will leave the state of Oregon for the first time this season when they travel to Charlottesville to battle Virginia.
This will be the 10th meeting between the two schools on the hardwood, and out of the previous nine matchups, the Ducks have won seven.
The Vikings were not at their best in their last matchups, but they played well enough to slip past Seattle by a seven-point margin. Portland State only shot 40.6 percent from the floor in the matchup, but used a 26-of-32 showing from the foul line to earn the win. Melvin Jones, who is producing 15.2 ppg on the season, led the way in the win with 23 points, while Chris Harriel added 15 points and seven rebounds. Harriel has been a tad more dangerous than Jones on the season and comes into this matchup netting 15.4 ppg, to go along with 5.0 rpg. Chehales Tapscott registered a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds in the win, while Charles Odum also posted 12 points. Tapscott, who is pacing the team with 7.8 rpg on the season, is also contributing 11.6 ppg, while Odum is helping out with 10.8 ppg.
The Ducks tried their best against the ninth ranked Missouri Tigers, but eventually fell just short. Oregon shot a woeful 23.3 percent from the field in the first half and went into the break down 20 points, and that deficit was too much to overcome in the long run, even though the team responded with a 62.1 percent effort in the second stanza. The Ducks, who connected on 10 free throws and 20-of-25 foul shots, were man-handled in the paint, as the Tigers outscored Oregon by a 42-24 margin. E.J. Singler, who is producing 13.0 ppg on the year, led the way with 19 points in the loss and also grabbed nine boards. Joevan Catron, Jay-R Strowbridge and Johnathan Loyd each tallied 15 points for Oregon. Out of those three players, Catron has been the top scoring option on the roster, and comes into this contest leading the team with 18.3 ppg, to go along with 6.3 rpg.
The Vikings have played well heading into this matchup, but the Ducks proved a lot to themselves in their recent loss. Oregon showed against the Tigers that this team can play with any opponent and should bounce back into the win column this evening.
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/12/05/2498536/portland-state-4-1-at-oregon-4.html#ixzz17GYTvnh4
