Box Score
Radio Highlights
Video Highlights
Sharp Shoots Pilots Past LMU, 71-57
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Junior guard Bobby Sharp drilled three-consecutive second half three-pointers to ignite a decisive run as the Portland Pilots dealt the Loyola Marymount Lions a 71-57 loss Thursday night in West Coast Conference action at Gersten Pavilion. It marked the first loss at home for the Lions this season.
Sharp finished with 14 points, including 4-of-5 from three-point range, to lead four Pilots in double figures. Senior forward Ryan Nicholas added 12 points and 10 rebounds for his league-leading seventh double-double of the season. Kevin Bailey finished with 13 points and Thomas van der Mars added 10 points and eight rebounds for the Pilots (11-7, 3-3 WCC).
Portland jumped out to a 36-29 halftime lead but had to pull out the win without the services of starting sophomore guard Bryce Pressley after halftime.
Pressley did not come out of the locker room after halftime as he dealt with a stomach ailment and LMU took advantage with an 11-2 run to take a 40-38 lead. Portland responded with a 17-3 run which included four three-pointers, three by Sharp. The Pilots would maintain a double-digit lead until the final buzzer.
LMU leading scorer Anthony Ireland finished with 14 points, but struggled to a 3-for-17 shooting night from the field. Freshman guard Evan Payne also finished with 14 points, but was 5-for-15 from the field.
The Pilots shot 47 percent from the field and held the Lions (10-9, 2-5) to 32 percent shooting overall.
Portland will continue the road swing with a Saturday matchup against the Pepperdine Waves. Tip-off is at 5 p.m. and coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. on Sports 910 AM. A live video stream will be available courtesy of PepperdineSports.com.
GIF Highlights:
Bobby Sharp led Portland with 14 points, and got things started with this deep three from NBA range.
Kevin Bailey had 13 points, none more exciting than this huge alley-oop in the first half on the assist from Bryce Pressley.
Ryan Nicholas beat the buzzer to end the first half with this acrobatic put-back. He finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
After LMU started the second half on an 11-2 run to take a 42-40 lead, but this big bucket from Thomas van der Mars stemmed the tide and began a 6-0 run to give Portland a lead they would not relinquish en route to the big win.
Portland caught fire from outside midway through the second half, hitting five three pointers – three from Sharp, one from Nicholas, and one from Bailey – in five minutes.
