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August 2, 2013: Men's Hoops Prepares for Foreign Tour in Spain
August 11, 2013: A Busy First Day in Madrid

Pilots Battle Angola Senior National Team to Final Buzzer

Coach Wolf Postgame Video I Video Highlights

MADRID, Spain --- The Portland Pilots opened their five-game foreign tour in Spain with a narrow 83-78 loss to the Angola Senior National Team Monday evening at Torrejon de Ardoz. Senior guard Tanner Riley scored a team-high 16 points, while junior guard Bobby Sharp and junior center Thomas van der Mars added 12 and 10 points for the Pilots, respectively.

Angola, the top-ranked nation from Africa and No. 15 in the FIBA World Rankings, is concluding its training for the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Angola jumped out to 26-18 lead after the first quarter, but Portland was able to cut the deficit to 35-31 at the half.

A 12-0 run in the third quarter led to an 18-point lead before the Pilots chipped away and trailed 57-49 at the end of three quarters.

The Pilots continued to reduce the margin throughout the fourth quarter, sparked by 12 points in the period by Santa Rosa Junior College transfer, Bobby Sharp. His second three-pointer made it a 77-75 game with less than a minute to play. Portland appeared to force a 24-second shot clock violation on Angola's ensuing possession, but a raucous crowd (which included some loud vuvuzelas among the Angola fan contingent) drowned out the sound of the buzzer and Joaquim Gomes then hit a three-pointer to make it a five point game.

Sharp answered with another three with five seconds remaining to make it 81-78, but Gomes made two more free throws for the final score.

Portland shot just 33 percent from the field for the game, but was 21-for-29 at the free throw line. The Pilots committed 19 turnovers, but forced Angola into 31 turnovers. Portland also was able to gain a 43-34 rebounding margin, including 20 offensive rebounds.
All 11 active UP players saw the court and ten different Pilots scored. David Carr (knee) and Aitor Zubizarreta (hip) did not suit up and are not expected to play in any games on the tour.

Player Stats...
Kevin Bailey (Jr., G): 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 2 steals (1-8 FGs, 4-4 FTs)
Bryce Pressley (So, G): 3 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 4 turnovers (1-6 FGs)
Alec Wintering (Fr, G): 3 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers (1-5 FGs)
Tanner Riley (Sr., G): 16 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, 0 turnovers (7-10 FGs, 2-4 3-ptrs)
John Bailey (Sr., F): 0 points, 4 rebounds, (0-1 FGs)
Bobby Sharp (Jr., G): 12 points, 1 assist, 0 turnovers (3-8 FGs, 3-7 3-ptrs)
Thomas van der Mars (Jr., C): 10 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover (2-8 FGs, 6-6 FTs)
Riley Barker (Jr., C): 6 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 turnover (2-2 FGs, 2-4 FTs)
Korey Thieleke (Sr., G): 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 turnover (2-11 FGs)
Ryan Nicholas (Sr., F): 9 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 4 turnovers (3-10 FGs, 3-4 FTs)
Volydymyr Gerun (Jr., F): 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 turnovers (3-8 FGs)

Other Notes…
- Aitor Zubizarreta wasn't able to play, but a group of about 15 of his family and friends still made the four hour drive to cheer on the Pilots
- Ryan Nicholas, who needed stitches after splitting his chin during the team's last practice in Portland, had the wound open up again and made a quick hospital visit with athletic trainer Rich Bennett after the game (they both met up with the team in time for dinner on the way home)
- Venezuela, who is ranked No. 24 in the world and is Portland's opponent on Tuesday, defeated UNC-Greensboro on Sunday night (60-53), but lost to the Ivory Coast on Monday (68-60)