The Sports Network

DATE & TIME: Wednesday, February 15th, 10:05 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Stott Center (1,500) -- Portland, Oregon. Television: None. Home Record: Sacramento 6-7, Portland St. 6-3. Away Record: Sacramento 3-8, Portland St. 4-9. Neutral Record: Sacramento 0-0, Portland St. 2-1. Conference Record: Portland St. 6-6, Sacramento 4-9. Series Record: Portland State leads, 22-10.

GAME NOTES: The Portland State Vikings try to win their third straight game this evening when they host the Sacramento State Hornets in Big Sky Conference action at the Stott Center.

Sacramento State has been one of the worst teams in the Big Sky this season, recording a 9-15 record overall and a 4-9 mark in conference play. However, the Hornets caught fire recently by following up a nine-game losing streak with a positive four-game run, but fell back into the loss column recently by dropping a 67-58 decision to Montana on Saturday.

Portland State has been average on the season, sporting a .500 record both overall (12-12) and in conference (6-6). The Vikings have followed up a three- game losing streak by winning back-to-back games on the road against Northern Arizona and Idaho State.

Sacramento State halted an eight-game losing streak to Portland State by winning the last matchup between the two teams, 63-55, on February 3, 2011. The Vikings however, still lead the all-time series, 22-10.

During Sacramento State's recent four-game win streak, it averaged 77.8 ppg, which is well above the 66 ppg it puts up on the season. The Hornets went back to their old ways in Saturday's game however, netting a mere 58 points on just 32.8 percent shooting. Joe Eberhard and Jackson Carbarjal were the only two Vikings to score in double digits, tallying 11 points apiece. On the season, John Dickson paces the squad with 12.1 ppg, while Eberhard nets 11.1 ppg and leads the team in three-pointers (38), three-point FG percentage (.458) and rebounding (6.2 rpg). Dylan Garrity scores just 7.9 ppg, but is the conference's top assist man with 6.8 apg (fifth nationally). Despite its offensive struggles at times, Sacramento State has one of the better defenses in the conference, ranking second in points per game allowed (67.1), third in field goal percentage defense (.436) and third in three-point percentage defense (.350).

Portland State's high-octane attack yields some big-time results at the offensive end as it ranks second in the conference in scoring (76.1 ppg) and first in field goal percentage (.482). Unfortunately, it also leaves holes in the defense, an aspect of the game that ranks the squad next-to-last in points allowed (73.3 ppg). Both units were strong in the win on Saturday, with the defense holding Idaho State to just 37 percent shooting while the offense connected on 46 percent of its field goal attempts, despite missing 13 of 14 three-point tries. Charles Odum continued his stellar season by netting 18 points and he has now reached double digits in all but two games this year. Odum is second in the conference in scoring (18.6 ppg) while draining an impressive 53.4 percent of his total shots. Chehales Tapscott has been a force in the paint, netting 13.8 ppg and ripping down 9.2 rpg, best in the Big Sky. Portland State coughs the ball way more than it would like, owning a turnover margin of -2.04.

Portland State's offensive effort has been potent all season long, but with the defense showing up lately, it could mean bad things for Sacramento State as it enters hostile territory.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Portland State 76, Sacramento State 64

02/15 10:52:15 ET