Grizzlies and Bobcats come to town

The Portland State men’s basketball team has an opportunity this weekend to reclaim some of its former glory and move up in the Big Sky Conference standings. Hosting third-place Montana and then fourth-place Montana State, the Vikings will play two teams situated between them and a playoff game at home.

Having already taken on both teams once on the road this season, the Vikings (10–13, 5–5 Big Sky) should be prepared for whatever the Bobcats and Grizzlies throw at them. At home in the Stott, they should also be more comfortable and should get better results than the two losses they already received.

Beginning the weekend tonight with the Montana Grizzlies (17–7, 8–4 Big Sky), Portland State will have an opportunity to exact revenge for the 90–58 beat down they were handed in Missoula. The Vikings won the last two games at home against the Griz, and should possess the mental edge needed to beat a team that is just average on the road (5–6 this season).

Allowing an average of just 59.8 points per game, Montana will provide another tough test for a Vikings offense that shot only .396 the last time they met. Led by senior guard Anthony Johnson, who scored 20 points last time these two teams met, the Grizzlies have been on a tear lately. Montana has won four games in a row and seven of its last eight.

With less than 24 hours between contests, Portland State will then host the Montana State Bobcats (12–11, 7–5 Big Sky) on Saturday. This is a win the Vikings need if they want to move up to the fourth spot in the rankings and guarantee themselves a home game in the first round of the conference playoffs.

Similar to Portland State’s key players, the Bobcats are led on the inside by the strong play of forward Bobby Howard, and on the outside by guards Erik Rush and Marquis Navarre. With each averaging double figures in scoring, the Vikings will have to split their defensive focus between each of them in order to have success.

Portland State outshot, outrebounded and kept it close for most of the game, but narrowly lost to the Bobcats 77–71 earlier this season in Bozeman. With plenty of motivation to even the series—and prove the first game was just a fluke—the Vikings have to limit their turnovers and not commit the 20 they did the first time.

With great opportunities abound and the chance to even their series against both teams, Portland State can go a long way towards gaining some ground in the standings while reasserting themselves and possibly becoming a dark-horse favorite to win it all again in the conference tourney.

Tip-offs for both games are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Stott Center, and the games can be heard live on 800 AM, KPDQ.