OGDEN, Utah.- Pooh Jeter led all players tonight with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 4-of-7 made treys, but the University of Portland men’s basketball team dropped a 58-51 decision to Weber State at the Dee Events Center on Tues., Dec. 16. The Pilots had a season-high 22 turnovers in the game and were out-rebounded 40-33 on the night. It was the second-consecutive game that Portland’s shooting went cold. With the loss, Portland moves to 5-3 on the season, while the Wildcats improve to 5-3 overall.

“Tonight was the second game in a row we didn’t shoot well, but I give Weber State credit for a great game plan,” said Head Coach Michael Holton. “They were extremely effective and wore on us as the game went on.”

“We have to take better care of the ball,” said Pooh Jeter. “I have a lot of confidence in our team, but Weber State came out and did what their coach told them to do.”

Weber State controlled the tip, but the Pilots’ Donald Wilson opened the scoring at the 19:20 mark on a lay up in traffic. Portland’s shooting from long range in the first half was frigid as the Pilots made just 2-of-12 from behind the arc. Weber State didn’t do much better, making only 2-of-11 from three-point range. Portland connected on 6-of-24 from the floor and Weber State hit 9-of-27. Portland was perfect from the charity stripe, while the Wildcats made just 3-of-9 from the free-throw line, but what made the difference in the first half was that the Pilots turned the ball over 13 times compared to Weber State’s five turnovers. The Wildcats extended their lead by as much as eight points on a dunk by WSU’s Nic Sparrow at the 2:37 mark, but the Pilots were able to cut it to four on back-to-back shots by Wilson. He led all scorers in the first half with 10 points. The Wildcats went into the lockerroom leading 23-19.

Portland’s Pooh Jeter opened the second half hitting back-to-back shots, the first on a give and go from Wilson, and the second on a three-pointer for a 24-23 Pilot lead. The Wildcats then went on a 14-5 run, but Jeter was relentless on the offensive end for Portland. From the 11 minute mark until the seven minute mark, Jeter hit three-consecutive treys and a five-footer for 11 points.

The difference in the game, outside of Pilot turnovers, was at the free-throw line. Portland sent Weber State to the free-throw line 20 times in the second half and the Wildcats converted 13, but the Pilots went to the line just four more times in what was a very physical game.

“I was displeased with the free-throw disparity in tonight’s game,” said Holton. “I mean no disrespect to Weber State, but I thought that the game was allowed to be very physical for them.”

With two minutes left in the game, Portland trailed by just three points. With 41 seconds left, Jeter took the charge, but was called for a foul and Weber State’s Nic Sparrow converted 1-of-2 at the stripe. The last 30 seconds of the game, Portland failed to score, while the Wildcats picked up two more points. The Pilots put up a fight, but Weber State made the plays down the stretch to pull out the 58-51win.

For the game, Portland shot 37 percent (19-52) from the floor, 28 percent (7-26) from three-point range and 67 percent (6-9) from the stripe. Wilson and Jeter combined for 37 points, with Wilson totaling 17 and seven boards. Dustin Geddis tied a season-best nine rebounds and a season-high three blocked shots for the game.

“Our kids played hard and gave a full effort,” said Holton. “We just need to get home, get some home cooking, sleep in our beds and try to get our snap, crackle ands pop back.”

Without Jeter and Wilson, the rest of the Portland squad went just 5-of-26 from the field for the game.

“We just couldn’t get our composure on offense tonight,” said Dustin Geddis. “We beat ourselves tonight.”

Nic Sparrow led Weber State with 13 points, while Slobodan Ocokoljic and John Hamilton tallied 12 points each. Pat Danley led all players on the boards with 10. The Wildcats made 19-of-49 from the field, 4-of-16 from three-point range and 16-of-29 from the charity stripe.

The Pilots will face Portland State on Fri., Dec. 19 in the second RiverCity Rivalry game for a 7:05 p.m. tip-off at the Stott Center.