Game at a Glance
USF Dons (7-1, 0-0 WCC) vs. Portland State Vikings (4-4, 0-0 Big Sky)
Friday,  Dec. 16, 2016 • 7:00 p.m.
War Memorial at the Sobrato Center • San Francisco, Calif.
Series Record: USF 1-0
Last Regular Season Meeting: Dec. 18, 2014 (USF 77-40)
Audio & Video Stream: TheW.tv (Pat Olson, Play-by-Play; Jim Brovelli, Analyst)
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Television: None

Complete USF Game Notes (PDF)

Opening Tip
USF (7-1, 0-0 WCC) returns to action on Friday night to play host to the Portland State Vikings (4-4, 0-0 Big Sky) in War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. The Dons have won three straight after posting a 91-59 victory over San Francisco State last Tuesday night at Kezar Pavilion, while the Vikings evened their record at 4-4 with a 110-79 home win over New Hope Christian on Tuesday. All fans who bring a non-perishable food item or an unwrapped toy will be admitted free.

The Dandy Dons

• Improved to 7-1 on the season after last Tuesday night's, 91-59 win over San Francisco State at Kezar Pavilion...win was the Dons third in a row.
• At 7-1, are off to its best seven-game start since the 1999-2000 team was also 7-1 on the way to a 12-1 start.
• Dons' record under Kyle Smith also marks the best start by a USF first-year coach since Pete Barry's 1980-81 USF team got off to a 10-1 start.
• In a stretch of five-consecutive home games, including the San Francisco State game which will be played at nearby Kezar Pavlion...are 4-0 at at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center this season.
• Play Portland State after a nine-day break for final exams...have played the Vikings just once, posting a 77-40 win on Dec. 18, 2014 on the Hilltop.
• Lead the WCC and rank eighth nationally in field goal percentage at 51.1...have shot better than 50 percent from the field in six consecutive games against Troy (51.9), Sacramento State (54.7), Eastern Washington (54.7), Alcorn State (51.7), Lamar (50.0) and San Francisco State (51.1)...shot 50 percent or better in six games last season.
• Lead the WCC and rank 19th nationally in three-point field goal percentage (41.0)...also lead the WCC and are t-8th nationally in three-pointers made per game (10.5)...made a school-record 18 three-pointers against Eastern Washington...Marquill Smith leads the WCC in three-point field goal percentage at 56.3 (9-of-16).
• Have not been outrebounded in the last seven games and are +56 on the boards during that stretch...sophomore Matt McCarthy has led the Dons in rebounding the last three games against Alcorn State (career high 11), Lamar (9) and San Francisco State (9)...three Dons are averaging 5.0 rebounds per game.
• Averaging 81.8 points a game this season -- third-highest in WCC...have scored no fewer than 75 points this season.
• Junior Chase Foster has bettered his career high three time this season against Sacramento State (18), Lamar (20) and San Francisco State (22)...now averaging 13.4 ppg this season -- second best on the team.
• Senior Ronnie Boyce ranks eighth among WCC scoring leaders with a 18.4 points per game average...he has scored 20 or more points in four of eight games this season, including a career-high 31 at UCSB...Boyce has 10, 20-point scoring games for his career.
• Two other Dons - Chase Foster (13.4) and Charles Minlend (10.5) are also averaging in double figures after eight games.
• USF's reserves have outscored the opponents 224-148 (+76) over the last seven games.
• Have not trailed at halftime in a game this season...were tied at UC Santa Barbara (33-33).
• Play six of its 13 non-conference games at home, two on the road and five on neutral courts...lone road tests come at UC Santa Barbara (Nov. 16) and Eastern Washington (Nov. 27). 
• Play host to Abilene Christian on Dec. 19 before traveling to Honolulu to take part in the Diamond Head Classic during Christmas week...face Utah in opening round action on Dec. 22.

Scouting Report

About Portland State
Are 4-4 on the season after Tuesday night's 110-79 victory over New Hope Christian…Traylin Farris led all Viking scorers with 26 points on 12-of-13 shooting from the field…lead the Big Sky Conference in shooting percentage (49.7) and scoring (89.0)…also rank first in the conference in assists (18.0) and steals (9.7)…forcing 16.9 turnovers a game…however, are allowing 84.0 points per game while opponents are shooting 48 percent from the field…five players are scoring in double figures, led by Braxton Tucker, who is averaging 16.8 points a game…have played two WCC schools this season…dropped a 78-62 decision at Loyola Marymount on Nov. 25 but bounced back two nights later to stun Pepperdine in Malibu, 91-85…also gave Cal State-Fullerton all it could handle before falling in double overtime, 106-100 on Nov. 13…finished 13-18 overall and 8-10 in the Big Sky Conference last season.

Series History with Portland State
Friday night's game marks the second-ever meeting between USF and Portland State. In the only other match up between the two schools two years ago, USF claimed a 77-40 victory on Dec. 18, 2014 on the Hilltop (see below). Portland State marks the third Big Sky team the Dons have faced this season (Sacramento State; Eastern Washington).

Last Meeting With Portland State
In the only other meeting between USF and Portland State, the Dons downed the Vikings, 77-40 on Dec. 18, 2014 in Memorial Gymnasium. The Dons limited the Vikings to just 20 percent shooting from the floor, including 10 percent in the second half, in the 37-point victory. Kruize Pinkins and Mark Tollefsen each scored 23 points for USF, while Tim Derksen added 10. Tollefsen also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

Last Time Out

USF 91, San Francisco State 59 
USF celebrated its first game at Kezar Pavilion in nearly 60 years with a 91-59 victory over San Francisco State last Wednesday night. Junior Chase Foster scored a career-high 22 points while Matt McCarthy, Marquill Smith and Charles Minlend each added 12. After leading 36-30 at halftime, the Dons broke the game open early in the second half with a 11-0 run that gave USF a 61-42 lead with 13:18 remaining. USF shot 51.1 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Gators, 44-24.

Fan Guide
 
Game Promotions
In the spirit of the holiday season and Hollywood, USF Basketball will be offering fans a night of fun-filled excitement when the Dons take on the Portland State Vikings on Friday night on the Hilltop. In partnership with the SF-Marin Food Bank and the San Francisco Fire Department, all fans who donate a non-perishable food item or a toy will be admitted free to Friday night's game against the Vikings. This offer will also be honored for Monday night's game against Abilene Christian.
 
Non-perishable food items include but are not limited to canned fruits and vegetables, canned tuna or meat, soup, chili, beans, cereal and granola bars. No glass or perishable items, please. All donations will be distributed to over 450 community partners of the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and will be used to prepare meals for those in need or to supplement larger deliveries.
 
USF Athletics will accept donations of new, unwrapped toys in exchange for a free ticket to its games against Portland State (Dec. 16) and Abilene Christian (Dec. 19). The toys will then be donated to 30 participating Walgreens stores for distribution to San Francisco children.
 
USF Basketball will also celebrate the opening of the much-anticipated Rogue One: A Star Wars Story at Friday night's game. All fans who wear a Star Wars outfit will be admitted free. Kids are invited to attend a "Wookie Cookie" pre-game decorating party in the north mezzanine level beginning at 5:30 p.m. Please note families must RSVP for this event with Mae Cichelli by Dec. 15. Fans will also have a chance to win two tickets to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story by participating in the Chewbacca Yell and costume contests at halftime.

Ticket Information
Individual game tickets for all USF home games this season are available on line at USFDons.com or by calling (415) 422-2USF. General admission tickets are available for as low as $10.
 
Parking Information
Parking is available free of charge two hours prior to tip-off until one hour after the conclusion of the game in any campus lot, with the exception of designated green parking spots and the top of Hayes-Healy garage on Golden Gate Avenue adjacent to the gymnasium.
 
The Hilltop Club Level
Fans 21 and older can enjoy beverages and catered food options before and during designated games during the season in the Hilltop Club Level. Located in the upper mezzanine level on the south side of War Memorial at The Sobrato Center, The Hilltop Club Level will open one hour before tipoff and will remain accessible throughout the game. Beer, wine, soft drinks and catered food options will be available to all fans 21 years of age and older. Admission to the The Hilltop Club is priced at $10 per game. Food and drink options are extra. The cost does not include a game ticket.