Ross Jorgusen’s career-high 25 points Saturday, leading Portland to a 75-67 season-opening win over UC Riverside. The win was also the first in Portland head coach Michael Holton’s career.

Coky Rochin added 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, as Rochin and Jorgusen combined for 29 second-half points. Casey Frandsen chipped in 15 points and four assists for the Pilots, which won a season opening game for the seventh straight year.

“This was an important win for us, because it showed our team that hard work will pay off when things aren’t completely going our way,” said Holton after the game. “We weren’t shooting all that well, but our effort never changed in terms of how we played. This reinforces what we’ve been teaching about getting 40-minute efforts from everyone.”

The Pilots shot just 39.1% from the field (37.5% in the second half), but committed only 16 turnovers and outrebounded the Highlanders 39-37.

Vili Morton led UC Riverside with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while John Galbreath and Zadkiel Elder scored 10 points each.

Portland reversed a 27-18 deficit over the final 6:07 of the first half, outscoring the Highlanders 19-5 with five points each by Jorgusen, Karl Aaker and Frandsen.

The Pilots opened the second half with a 19-8 run for a 56-40 lead with 12:50 left in the second half. The Highlanders pecked away at the Pilot lead, getting within six at 68-62 with 3:18 remaining, but Portland responded by knocking down 5-of-7 free throws in the last 2:30 to seal the win.

Jorgusen was 9-of-12 from the field and 5-of-6 at the free throw line, had five assists and two steals. Rochin, a victim of foul trouble most of last season, played 37 minutes and was 7-of-15 from the field.

Portland hosts Idaho State Wednesday, Nov. 21 in a volleyball-basketball doubleheader as the Pilot volleyball team takes on Colorado State at 5:15 p.m. The Portland basketball game will follow at approximately 8 p.m.