Statement from Alec Wintering:
I would like to thank the University of Portland, the faculty and staff, and the great student body. A special thank you to the University sports staff and trainers, and the coaches I have had the opportunity to learn and play under. I would like to mention Coach Porter personally. I valued every opportunity to take the court with him as my coach and the future is bright for UP basketball. To my brothers, the teammates who have shared this journey, thank you! All these people have worked to make my life easier as a student athlete. With that being said my collegiate basketball career has come to an end. I appreciate the UP community for embracing me, and what a special four years it was on The Bluff. I was given an opportunity here, made the most of it, and played every game as if it were my one and only! I will continue to be a part of the team and cheer on my brothers every night, doing all I can to be a leader and continuing to build the basketball program. While my college career is over, the future is bright. Thank you all!

1, 2, 3 Pilots! 4, 5, 6 Family!

Wintering Highlight Video

PORTLAND, Ore. – University of Portland senior point guard Alec Wintering suffered a season-ending knee injury in Thursday's game at San Francisco. A Saturday MRI confirmed a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) that will end Wintering's collegiate career.

The Charlotte, N.C. native will go down as one of Portland's all-time greats. A four-year starter for the Pilots, Wintering is among the school's career leaders in a variety of statistical categories and has been a team captain each of the last three seasons.

"This is really unfortunate for Alec," Portland head coach Terry Porter said. "He has been the heart and soul of this team and done so much for this program over the last four years. Alec is undoubtedly one of the best players to wear a Pilot uniform and has also been a great representative of the University.

"I have no doubt that he will come back from this as strong as ever. Alec has an unmatched work ethic and undeniable passion that will guide him through this recovery and rehabilitation process. This is a minor bump in the road on his career path and I expect him to go on to do great things in the future. We will do whatever we can to help him reach his long-term goals."

Wintering finishes his career with 568 total assists, five shy of the school record held by Pilot Hall of Famer and former NBA standout Darwin Cook. He also ranks second all-time in steals (177), fifth in points (1,548) and games started (110), sixth in three-point percentage (.401) and is the school's career leader in free throws made (499). He also holds the school single season records for assists (187, 2014-15) and minutes played (1,064, 2014-15).

His scoring average increased every year on The Bluff as he averaged 7.7 points as a freshman, 12.3 points as a sophomore, 18.3 points last year and 19.5 points this season. He started and appeared in 110 career games and averaged 14.1 points and 5.2 assists overall.

Wintering was among the national leaders in scoring, assists, steals and minutes per game this season. He ranked in the top three of each of those categories in the West Coast Conference. He also currently ranks No. 3 nationally among active players in career assists, No. 12 in steals and 31st in scoring.

Career highlights for Wintering include All-WCC first team honors as a junior, three WCC Player of the Week awards, two buzzer-beater game-winning shots his junior season, and becoming the first Pilot in school history with consecutive 30-point games, which he accomplished on two separate occasions.

"This is tough, not only for Alec, but his teammates as well," Porter noted. "We have to rally around each other, re-group, and stay focused. Other players are going to have step up and make a difference."

Portland continues the WCC season with back-to-back games against undefeated and No. 4-ranked Gonzaga. The Pilots visit the Bulldogs in Spokane, Wash. on Saturday for a 5 p.m. tip-off, and then return to Portland to host Gonzaga on Monday at 5 p.m.