Montana State held Portland to nine field goals in the second half Saturday to beat the Pilots 66-63, overcoming an eight-point Portland halftime lead. The Pilots have now dropped six straight games.

Casey Frandsen led Portland (4-10) with 19 points, while Coky Rochin added 16 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth straight double-double. Adam Quick added 13 points. Jason Erickson had 19 points to lead MSU, while Aaron Rich had 12 points and James Clark 10.

The Pilots had a chance with 13 seconds left to tie the game when Frandsen stepped to the line for three free throws after getting fouled. Frandsen, who had made 19 straight free throws, missed the first shot but made the next two, bringing the Pilots within 64-63.

After Jason Erickson hit only 1-of-2 free throws for a two-point MSU lead, Ross Jorgusen’s jumper lipped out, and MSU’s Casey Reynolds hit 1-of-2 free throws to end the game.

Montana State (8-6) scored just three points in the final 2:44, but Portland missed its final six shots from the field in that same time span.

The Pilots were nursing a 46-38 lead midway through the second half, but the Bobcats clawed within three points on a Rich layup, and three Clark free throws. Pete Conway then scored six straight MSU points on a 3-pointer and a 3-point play, putting the Bobcats ahead.

Portland had built its halftime lead behind Frandsen’s 15 points, at one point leading 31-21 with 5:26 left to play in the half after the sophomore guard hit a 3-point play. A pair of Erickson 3-pointers closed the Pilot lead to 31-27, but jumpers from Rochin and Frandsen provided the eight-point halftime edge.