SANTA CLARA, Calif.- The Portland Pilots were out-rebounded 44-33 and struggled shooting for most of the game in a very physical, 75-64 loss to Santa Clara Thursday night at the Leavey Center. The Broncos (12-9, 4-2 WCC) led by as much as 20 points in the second half before the Pilots made their best run of the game, but the lead was too much to overcome as Portland (8-11, 2-4 WCC) was without sophomore Donald Wilson after halftime. Wilson collided at mid-court with a Bronco and was taken to a local hospital for precautionary X-Rays on his neck, he did not return to the lineup.

Santa Clara dominated the boards from the beginning, and finished the night with 19 offensive rebounds and a 16-4 edge in second chance points. That, combined with 37 percent shooting for the Pilots, translated to a one-sided affair most of the way.

“Santa Clara’s exceeded our level of intensity from the tip,” Pilot head coach Michael Holton said. “It was disappointing, they came out ready and we didn’t match them.”

SCU corralled all the loose balls and long rebounds early on, to set the stage for the rest of the contest. The Broncos went up 11-4 before the Pilots got going. Doron Perkins scored eight early points, his first a three-pointer off the glass, to pace the Broncos.

Adam Quick and Casey Frandsen drained consecutive threes to get the Pilots on track and make it 11-10, but Santa Clara held a 21-12 edge with 7:51 left in the half on a pair of free throws by Jordan Legge.

Dreshawn Vance scored the next five Pilot points, all on free throws to narrow the lead, but J.R. Patrick made the Broncos’ fourth trey of the half to make it 24-17. Quick’s shot-clock beating fade away three was answered by another Patrick three-pointer, making it 28-20.

The Pilots were dealt their biggest blow as swingman Donald Wilson was leveled at mid-court, as he took a shoulder to the head from an on-ball screen. SCU went 5-on-4, and got a put-back from Patrick to close the half with a 32-21 advantage. Wilson said he was OK, but was taken to the hospital for safety concerns.

The Broncos out-rebounded the Pilots 23-15 in the first half, which was the difference as neither team could find the shooting touch. Portland shot 27 percent (6-of-22) compared to Santa Clara’s 32 percent (11-of-34). The Broncos jacked up 18 three-pointers, making only five. The Pilots had at least five good looks at the rim that were not converted.

Perkins led the Broncos with 12 first half points, while Dreshawn Vance’s seven points was tops for the Pilots. Pilot leading scorer Pooh Jeter was held scoreless in the period after picking up two early fouls and playing just eight minutes.

Santa Clara took advantage of the hurting Pilots by jumping out to a 14-point lead with 13:30 left on the clock. Again, the Broncos dominated the boards, getting second and third chances.

SCU’s Legge’s three-point play after picking up a loose ball in the paint, gave the Broncos a 20-point edge at 52-32. Portland continued to struggle offensively without Wilson, but had one more run left in the tank.

The Pilot offense came to life as freshman Sean Smith came off the bench and scored eight quick points. Smith immediately made a fast break lay-in then consecutive threes within five minutes of first entering the contest. Jeter and Frandsen also hit three-pointers and a Dustin Geddis lay-up made it 65-55 with a little less than four minutes to play.

“It was good that lots of players were able to get some minutes tonight,” noted Holton. “We hung in there, played hard, scrapped and did it all without Donald.”

After a Pilot steal, Jeter went the length of the floor and laid the ball in but had it blocked off the backboard by Jim Howell in what appeared to be a goaltending violation. Nothing was called and Perkins made 1-of-2 free throws at the other end after being intentionally fouled by Geddis.

Portland cut the lead to as little as eight with 1:05 remaining, but the Kyle Bailey made 8-of-10 free throws in the final minute to seal the win.

The Pilots finished the night 20-of-54 from the field (.370), 9-of-21 from three-point range (.429) and 15-of-23 (.652) from the free throw line. The Broncos went 23-of-59 (.390) from the floor and made 20-of-30 (.667) from the charity stripe. Half of Portland’s 64 total points came in the final 10 minutes.

Dreshawn Vance led the Pilots with 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Adam Quick had 13 points, Casey Frandsen 12 and Pooh Jeter scored 10. Sean Smith netted eight points in 10 second half minutes.

Doron Perkins led all scorers with 18 points. Kyle Bailey finished with 11, despite going 1-for-10 from the field.

“It makes it tough when you’re forced to play catch-up all night,” said Holton. “Santa Clara was a very confident team tonight and they played well tonight.”

The Pilots now travel south to face the San Diego Toreros this Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. The game tips at 7:00 p.m.