BOISE, Idaho- The University of Portland men’s basketball team won another close road match-up, this time bettering Boise State 77-72 behind hot shooting and solid defense. Portland (6-5) snapped a four-game losing skid with the victory, while putting the Broncos (8-2) five-game winning streak to rest. Sophomore guard Pooh Jeter led the Pilots with 24 points, including 16 in the second half.

“Our defensive effort was solid for 40 minutes and that was the difference in the game,” said Pilot head coach Michael Holton. “Defense creates fast break opportunities. Although we didn’t score a lot on the break, we flattened their defense and created an offensive rhythm which gave us confidence.”

The Pilots started with great energy, forcing early Boise State turnovers and getting out on the break. Senior forward Dustin Geddis had the hot hand with nine quick points. Geddis’ jumper and a Donald Wilson lay-in off of an out-of-bounds play gave Portland a 17-11 edge.

Guards Pooh Jeter and Casey Frandsen continued the hot shooting with five straight baskets, the last a lay-in by Jeter giving the Pilots a 26-19 lead with under 10 minutes remaining in the half.

Adam Quick penetrated and scored at the hoop putting Portland up 30-19. After three consecutive defensive stops, Karl Aaker hit a pull-up trey on the break giving UP their largest lead, 33-19 at the 3:54 mark.

Boise State regrouped and came out of the media timeout with eight straight points, highlighted by consecutive threes from Booker Nabors and Franco Harris. With the lead cut to six, Frandsen drained another three-pointer pushing the Pilot advantage to 36-27. Harris answered with a three of his own, but Frandsen fed Geddis on the other end for an easy lay-up and a 38-30 lead.

After a Jason Ellis lay-up, the Broncos caught a break as Geddis was called for a foul on desperation three-pointer from over 30 feet at the halftime buzzer. The controversial call cost the Pilots as Harris hit two-of-three from the stripe. Portland led by a 38-34 margin at the break.

For the half, Portland put on a shooting display reminiscent of the Pilots that at one time led the nation in three-point shooting. UP shot 58 percent (15-26) from the field and knocked down 4-of-10 attempts from behind the arc. More impressive was the Pilot defense, which limited a potent BSU offense to 33 percent (11-33) shooting and 34 points.

The second half momentum was with the home Broncos as they scored six easy points to take their first lead, 40-38 at the 18:07 mark. Jermaine Blackburn’s uncontested dunk off the turnover ignited the crowd, but Portland responded with a Frandsen three and two free throws from Patrick Galos cut the lead to 46-45.

Another Pilot foul on a BSU three-pointer (this time Frandsen fouling Coby Karl) hurt as Karl nailed all three attempts.

Portland found the range again though, as Frandsen and Jeter each hit NBA-range treys to keep it close at 53-51 with 11:36 left to play. The Pilots tied it at 56-56 on an old-fashioned three-point play by Quick.

Portland retook the lead on a Jeter baseline jumper on the next possession. After another defensive stop, Jeter hit two free throws, giving UP a 60-56 edge with 8:00 minutes remaining.

The teams traded hoops before Galos finished two lay-ups pushing the advantage to 66-61. Nabors put BSU on his shoulders though, scoring 10 consecutive Bronco points to tie the game at 66-66.

Jeter answered with a three of his own as the shot clock wound down, putting Portland back on top. Later, with the game tied at 69-69, Wilson hit two free throws and Geddis finished a nice pass from Jeter as the shot clock expired. BSU cut the lead to 73-70 with 51 ticks remaining on a Jason Ellis free throw.

Portland turned the ball over on the ensuing possession, giving BSU the rock with 15.9 seconds left. Brian Defares went coast-to-coast for an uncontested lay-up with 10 seconds remaining. Jeter was fouled immediately on the ensuing inbounds and knocked down both free throws, making it 75-72.

The Broncos looked for Defares again, but his three-pointer from the right sideline clanged off the front rim as Jeter grabbed the rebound and iced it with two more free throws for a 77-72 final.

Jeter finished with a game-high 24 points, including 10-of-10 from the free throw line. He once again was the creator offensively late, scoring 16 points in the final 20 minutes.

“His (Jeter) ability to create on offense down the stretch in games gives us life,” said Holton. “He has great offensive balance, and at his size to get opportunities at the basket is a valuable skill.”

Jeter was joined in double-figures by three other Pilots. Frandsen finished with 14 points after hitting 4-of-8 from long-range. Geddis had 13 points, while Galos chipped in 10 points in another solid effort.

Nabors led the Broncos with 15 points, while Ellis tallied a double-double with 13 points and 15 boards.

The Pilots finished the night shooting 48 percent (25-52) from the floor, 47 percent (8-17) from the three-point line and 83 percent (19-23) at the charity stripe. Portland held BSU to 37 percent (23-63) shooting for the game.

“It was encouraging to get contributions from everyone,” noted Holton. “Karl Aaker played solid minutes, Dreshawn Vance grabbed some big rebounds and Patrick Galos had another solid effort. It feels good to get back on the winning track.”

Portland is back in action at San Diego State on Dec. 31 for a 1:05 p.m. tip-off before concluding their non-conference schedule at Northern Arizona on Jan. 3.