Tuesday, March 10th, 7:00 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Dee Events Center (11,500) -- Ogden, Utah. Television: Altitude 2. Home Record: ISU 11-4, PSU 12-1. Away Record: ISU 2-14, PSU 7-7. Neutral Record: ISU 0-0, PSU 2-1. Conference Record: ISU 9-7, PSU 11-5. Series Record: Portland State leads, 22-13.

GAME NOTES: The Portland State Vikings begin defense of their Big Sky Conference Tournament title tonight as they challenge the Idaho State Bengals in the semifinals of the 34th annual event at the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah. The second-seeded Vikings, who defeating Northern Arizona in the championship bout a year ago in a 67-51 final, closed out the 2008-09 regular season with four straight wins, the most recent of those coming on February 28th versus Eastern Washington in overtime, 66-62. PSU finished 11-5 in league play, compared to fourth-seeded Idaho State which posted a 9-7 conference mark. The Bengals, who have won this event twice previously, but not since 1987 when Nevada was a part of the league, hosted Northern Colorado in the quarterfinals of the tournament on Saturday and grabbed a 67-60 win to advance. During the regular season the teams split a pair of meetings, with each winning at home. With the split the all-time series now stands at 22-13 in favor of the Vikings. The winners of tonight's matchup will be back in action tomorrow night to challenge the survivor of the Montana State/Weber State clash for the tournament title and a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Matt Stucki converted all six of his free-throw attempts and 6-of-11 from the field over the weekend to come up with 20 points in the win against Northern Colorado at home. Also scoring in double figures for the squad were Amorrow Morgan and Austin Kilpatrick with 12 and 10 points, respectively, the latter adding seven rebounds and four assists as well. The defense held the Bears to a mere 35.8 percent shooting from the field. Morgan and Stucki have been the most consistent players this season for the Bengals, both of them starting all 30 games and averaging double-digits in points. Morgan is responsible for 13.6 ppg and Stucki 12.3 ppg, the latter being the more accurate perimeter shooter at 41.6 percent. The duo also split the passing duties, having combined for 225 assists. Because of their efforts to put teammates in scoring position, ISU players are shooting an impressive 50.9 percent from the field in league outings.

While the Bengals have two players that they rely heavily upon from one game to the next, Portland State seems to have an abundance of scoring options that keeps it fresh and opponents guessing. Jeremiah Dominguez is one of four players scoring in double figures at the moment with his team-best 12.6 ppg, thanks in large part to his 43.2 percent shooting behind the three-point line. Dominguez, who is shooting only 39.8 percent from the floor at the moment, is also first on the team with his 88 assists and 49 steals. Dominic Waters, a specialist coming off the bench, accounts for 11.9 ppg and is another guy who makes sure to get his teammates involved with 87 dishes, while he himself converts 46 percent from beyond the arc. Phil Nelson and Andre Murray chip in 11.2 and 10.7 ppg, respectively. The team as a whole is coming up with 74.1 ppg this season, while giving up only 68.5 ppg.

With all the extra time to rest and prepare, this is a meeting that should easily land in favor of the Vikings as they spread the wealth and get everyone involved in the offense.

Predicted Outcome

Portland State 74, Idaho State 65