Portland Pilots (0-0, 0-0 WCC) vs. Portland State Vikings (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Portland, Ore. (Chiles Center)
TV: NBC Sports NW
Radio: 910 ESPN-Portland
Live Video: TheW.tv
Live Stats: PortlandPilots.com
Tickets: PortlandPilots.com/Tickets

Series Information
Overall: UP leads 36-18
Last 5/10: 4-1/5-5
Home: 23-10
Away: 11-7
Neutral: 2-1
Last Meeting: PSU 77, @POR 76 (12/20/16)

The University of Portland men's basketball team officially opens the 2017-18 season against crosstown rival Portland State on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Chiles Center. Portland head coach and former Trail Blazer Terry Porter begins his second season at the helm, while the Vikings turn to first-year head coach Barret Perry.

Ticket Information
Single-game tickets for Saturday's game start at $5 for kids and $10 for adults. Season tickets, mini-packs and flex packs are on sale now for the complete 15-game Pilot home schedule. Season ticket holders get to purchase WCC Tournament tickets directly from the UP Box Office, can secure additional tickets to all home games before they go on sale to the public (Gonzaga), and receive many other benefits. Season tickets start at just $126. Five game mini-packs are available starting at $125 for sideline seats and include games vs. Gonzaga, Saint Mary's and BYU. Visit PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or call the Pilots Box Office at (503) 943-GOUP for more information.

Game Coverage
Saturday's game will be televised live on NBC Sports Northwest with Travis Demers and Darren Cooper calling the action. Radio coverage for all Pilot games will once again be carried on 910 ESPN-Portland (KMTT) with pregame programming starting 30 minutes prior to tip-off with play-by-play voice Jason Swygard. Fans can also listen online, track real-time live stats and get updates through Twitter by following @PortlandPilots.

About Portland State
First year head coach Barret Peery comes to the Vikings after serving as an assistant last year at Santa Clara. Portland State was picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches Poll. The Vikings return two starters, eight lettermen and welcome seven newcomers to the roster. Four returners averaged double figures last season: Braxton Tucker (16.8), Deontae North (13.7), Traylin Farris (10.8) and Bryce Canda (10.2). Portland State finished last season 15-16 overall and 7-11 in conference. The Pilots own a 36-18 all-time record against the Vikings, but PSU won last year's meeting, 77-75, at the Chiles Center.

Exhibition Recaps
Eastern Wash. 76, Pilots 70 (Oct. 29): The Pilots raised more than $2,700 to benefit the American Red Cross Hurricane Maria disaster relief efforts at the game. Philipp Hartwich led the Pilots with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Franklin Porter and Malcolm Porter added 13 and 12 points, respectively. The Pilots shot 43 percent overall and held EWU to 39 percent, but struggled to capitalize at the foul line and finished just 14-for-28 overall.
Pilots 103, Lewis & Clark 61 (Nov. 4): Portland never trailed as all 13 active players scored in the win. Malcolm Porter led five Pilots in double figures with 14 points, JoJo Walker finished with 13, while Josh McSwiggan and Franklin Porter added 12 apiece. Hartwich grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds in 24 minutes. Portland shot 74 percent in the second half to outscore the Pioneers 66-33 after the break.

Pilot Recruiting Class Ranked No. 10
Terry Porter has put together a nine-player incoming class that one publication has been ranked as the No. 10 recruiting class in the country. In his first full recruiting cycle, Porter and his staff were recognized by HoopScoop.com to have the top class in the WCC and No. 2 class nationally among mid-major schools.

PK80 Highlights UP Schedule
The Pilots will play a total of 15 regular season home games at the Chiles Center, and will also take part in the prestigious PK80 Invitational hosted at the Rose Quarter over Thanksgiving Weekend. Portland will open the tournament against defending NCAA champion North Carolina at 11:30 a.m. Thanksgiving morning on ESPN. Portland's regular season opens on Saturday, Nov. 11 versus Portland State at the Chiles Center. Visit PortlandPilots.com for the complete schedule, game times, and television coverage.

England Foreign Tour
Portland went on a foreign tour to England in August and finished with a 3-1 record against quality competition. The Pilots defeated 2017 British Basketball League runner-up Newcastle on a buzzer-beater by Franklin Porter, dropped a buzzer beater to BBL Champions Leicester, and comfortable defeated a pair of academy teams during the trip. In addition to the games and tours in London, the team was able to get 10 extra days of practice on campus.

2017-18 WCC Preseason Poll
Saint Mary's garnered the maximum nine first place votes and is the preseason favorite to dethrone NCAA runner-up Gonzaga for the 2018 WCC title, as voted on by the league's head coaches.

Team (First Place Vote)	Pts.
1. Saint Mary's (9)	81
2. Gonzaga (1)	73
3. BYU	62
4. San Francisco	59
5. Santa Clara	44
6. San Diego	37
7. Pepperdine	30
8. Pacific	24
9. Portland	21
10. Loyola Marymount	19

Pilots on Radio and TV
Portland will have an extensive TV package with a minimum of 18 games aired nationally or regionally. Games will primarily be seen on ESPN, ROOT Sports NW, and NBC Sports NW. Visit PortlandPilots.com for complete schedule details and full TV listings. All Pilot games will once again have live radio coverage on 910 ESPN-Portland with Jason Swygard calling the action. Each broadcast will feature a 30-minute pregame show and complete post-game coverage. The Terry Porter Show will air on 1080 The Fan each Tuesday night (barring travel/game/Holiday conflicts) throughout the season from 7-8 PM beginning on Nov. 7 and will be simulcast live on the Portland Pilots Facebook Page.