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Pilots Rout Vandals Behind van der Mars' Double-Double

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland junior center Thomas van der Mars scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Pilots to an 88-74 win over the Idaho Vandals Thursday in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at the Chiles Center.  Five players reached double figures for the Pilots, who led by as much as 20 in the first half and 24 late in regulation.

Freshman point guard Alec Wintering added 14 points, while senior forward Ryan Nicholas finished with 12 points and nine rebounds. Bryce Pressley and Riley Barker chipped in 10 points each.

The Pilots (2-2) raced to a 23-6 lead following a pair of Barker baskets. The margin grew to 30-10 on a Nicholas jumper with 8:10 left in the period, but the Vandals (2-2) would close the gap to 41-31 at the break.

A pair of Idaho free throws by Portland native Stephen Madison cut the margin to 44-35, but the Pilots answered with a 15-4 run to make it a 20-point margin and the Vandals would get no closer than the final score of 88-74.

It was a balanced effort for the Pilots, who welcomed back point guard David Carr to the court. Carr suffered a season-ending knee injury on Jan. 5, 2013 and then missed the first three games of this season with a concussion. He came off the bench and promptly hit a transition runner on his first offensive possession in the opening half.

Ten Pilots registered in the score column on the night and Portland was an efficient 31-for-38 (.816) from the free throw line.

Madison led the Vandals with 19 points, but was the only Idaho player to reach double figures. IU shot 38 percent from the field for the game, while Portland finished at 47 percent overall.

Portland will have a quick turnaround as the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic continues on Friday and then concludes on Saturday. Idaho takes on North Texas at 4:30 p.m. Friday, followed by Portland versus Columbia at 7 p.m. Saturday features Columbia and Idaho at 4:30 p.m. and the tournament closes with Portland against North Texas at 7 p.m.

GIF HIGHLIGHTS...

















David Carr made his first appearance - and scored his first points - since January 5 on this nice lay-in in the first half.

















Thomas van der Mars took over in the second half, hitting shot after shot en route to his team-leading 15 points.

















Riley Barker's big dunk off the nice assist from Aitor Zubizarreta put an exclamation point on the win, as the Pilots remain undefeated in the Chiles Center on the season.

For more GIF's from the game, follow the Pilots on Twitter, @PortlandPilots.