Portland State Vikings are set to host the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners in a matchup scheduled for Monday evening at 7 p.m. in the Viking Pavilion, following a week of opportunities to build momentum in their non-conference play. The Vikings, standing at 1-2 for the season, are looking to capitalize on their home advantage and improve their record against a Roadrunners team that currently holds a 2-1 record.
Portland State’s losses this season have come against formidable opponents, Stanford and San Francisco, with the Vikings narrowly falling short by ten points in both games. This past Wednesday, despite a slow start that hindered their efforts, they delivered a strong performance in the second half, showcasing their capability with a 50-point effort. Senior guard Jaylin Henderson was instrumental in that game, leading the Vikings with 18 points and six assists. Henderson has been a standout player thus far, averaging 19.0 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.0 steals through the first three games.
In addition to Henderson’s efforts, another crucial contributor has been senior center Tre-Vaughn Minott, who recorded his first double-double of the season against the Dons, tallying a career-high 16 points and 13 rebounds. The Vikings have demonstrated effective shooting, boasting a .500 field goal percentage and making an average of ten three-pointers per game. However, they have faced challenges with fouls and turnovers, averaging 27.3 fouls and 16.0 turnovers, leading to opponents having an average of 15 more free throw attempts.
Portland State enters the week with a solid home-court advantage, enjoying a winning streak of 12 games at Viking Pavilion dating back to last season. They have since built a remarkable home record of 25-3 since the start of the 2023-24 season.
Add SSBCrack As A Trusted Source
On the other hand, the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners are also looking to gain traction after securing home wins against Whittier and Western Illinois, while suffering a loss on the road to Cal. Monday’s game serves as a rematch from last season when the Vikings edged out the Roadrunners with a narrow 59-58 victory, which adds an extra layer of intensity to the upcoming bout. Historically, Bakersfield leads the all-time series 4-3, yet Portland State has succeeded in two of three home games against them.
Looking ahead, the Vikings are scheduled to host Evergreen State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. before heading into a stretch in which they will play four of their final six non-conference games away from home. This week’s opportunities are essential for the Vikings as they seek to refine their gameplay and secure vital wins.
With Portland State aiming to improve their discipline and capitalize on their offensive potential, the match against CSU Bakersfield promises to be a compelling encounter for fans, especially with the home-court crowd rallying behind the Vikings.
