San Francisco held Portland to five points in the final 5:24 Saturday, and went on to a 77-69 West Coast Conference win. The Dons improved to 4-2 in WCC games, 9-10 overall, while Portland’s 11th loss under 10 points dropped the Pilots to 1-5, 5-15 overall.

USF’s Darrell Tucker and Portland’s Coky Rochin went toe-to-toe in the contest, each recording double-doubles. Tucker had a game-high 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Rochin led Portland with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Both players are among the nation’s leaders in double-doubles this season.

The Pilots had taken a 64-63 lead with 5:24 left to play on a Patrick Galos 3-pointer, but Tucker hit a pair of jumpers in a 7-0 Dons run that reversed the score to 69-64 with 3:36 remaining. The Pilots twiced worked the margin to four points over the next 1:06, but four USF free throws pushed the lead back to eight with 33 seconds left.

The Dons made 17-of-34 shots from the field in the second half, 43.9% for the game, while Portland struggled from the field the entire contest, finishing at 36.9% (24-65). Rochin was 10-of-12 from the field , but Casey Frandsen was just 5-of-20 for his 15 points.

There were nine ties and three lead changes in the first half, and the Dons opened the second half with an 8-0 run to take a 37-28 lead just 2:09 into the second period. The Pilots ripped off a 13-4 run to tie the game at 41-41, setting up a tight end to the game.

John Cox added 17 points and seven rebounds for USF, and Tayo Akinsete had 13 points off the bench.