GAME NOTES: The Portland Pilots will host their first postseason game in their program's history when they challenge the Sacramento State Hornets on Wednesday at the Chiles Center in the first round of the 2015 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.

The Hornets won in the opening round of the 2015 Big Sky Tournament, but fell to Eastern Washington, 91-83, in the semifinal round on Friday. Sacramento State's overall record now sits at 20-11.

Portland also tallied a victory in the quarterfinal round of its conference tourney, but was defeated by Brigham Young University, 84-70, in the West Coast Conference semifinals last Monday.

This will be the sixth all-time meeting between these two squads on the hardwood, with Portland leading the series 4-1. The Pilots won at Sacramento State, 81-75, on Dec. 14 of this season.

Although Sacramento State netted 48.3 percent of its field-goal attempts against Eastern Washington, including 9-of-22 from 3-point range, the Hornets allowed the Eagles to convert 58.2 percent of its tries from the field, which included an impressive 15-of-25 from beyond the arc. Eastern Washington outscored the Hornets 45-27 on 3-point field-goals and 39-8 on bench points. Mikh McKinney was one of four Hornets to finish in double-figures as he led Sacramento State with 24 points and seven assists.

McKinney is the top scorer for Sacramento State with 19.3 ppg and was named the 2014-15 Big Sky Conference MVP. The Hornets score 70.8 ppg and convert an impressive 48.6 percent from the field, including 40.8 percent from 3-point distance. Defensively, the Hornets allow opponents to net 67.9 ppg and connect on 46.5 percent of their field-goal attempts, including 34.6 percent from beyond the arc. Sacramento State has a turnover margin in the black (+1.81) and a rebounding margin in the red (-1.9).

Portland did convert 45.1 percent of its field-goal tries against BYU and knocked down 22-of-26 from the free-throw line, but its field-goal percentage included just 2-of-11 from 3-point distance. The Pilots also struggled defensively, as they allowed the Cougars to connect on 55.4 percent of their field-goal attempts, including 10-of-21 from beyond the arc. BYU outscored Portland 30-6 on 3-point field-goals and 22-13 on points off of turnovers. The Pilots were led by Thomas Van Der Mars, who finished with 16 points and nine rebounds in the loss.

Kevin Bailey is the Pilots' top scorer with 14.8 ppg, while Van Der Mars is Portland's top rebounder with 8.0 rpg. The team scores 70.3 ppg and connects on 44.4 percent of their field-goal attempts, including 38.2 percent from beyond the arc. The Pilots also connect on 71.6 percent of their free-throw tries. On the defensive side of the ball, Portland allows its opponents to score 68.1 ppg and net 43 percent of their tries from the field. Portland is in the black for rebounding margin (+3.8) and is in the red for turnover margin (-0.8).

This game should see both teams score plenty of points, as each squad averages 70 points per game and allows just under 70. The difference maker should Sacramento State's Mikh McKinney who averaged 24 ppg in the Big Sky Conference Tourney. Expect a big game from McKinney to lift the Hornets to a victory.