SAN DIEGO, Calif.- Head coach Michael Holton wanted an up-tempo game against WCC rival San Diego and the Portland Pilots answered with an 84-72 win at the Jenny Craig Pavilion Saturday night. The Pilots (9-11, 3-4 WCC) used transition offense to wear down the Torero big-men and pulled away down the stretch. Pooh Jeter recorded his ninth 20-point game of the season, but it was a team effort as nine players logged 12 or more minutes en route to victory. San Diego (3-18, 0-6 WCC) lost their 10th straight contest and fell to the Pilots for the first time in three years.

“San Diego is a talented team and Brad (Holland) does a nice job with them,” said Holton. “We had to keep them out of the paint offensively at the expense of giving up open perimeter shots, but that plan is not without risk. We were fortunate to come away with the win.”

The fast and furious pace was exactly what Pilots head coach Michael Holton was hoping for against the Toreros. Sophomore swingman Donald Wilson, playing through a sprained neck suffered against Santa Clara Thursday, scored five quick points to jump-start Portland in a game that was much more about transition offense than set pieces.

San Diego junior Brett Melton answered with consecutive threes to tie the game at 20-20 with 11:22 on the clock. Melton would continue his hot shooting and ended the half with 13 points, including 3-of-6 from downtown. Brandon Gay had seven points and 11 rebounds before limping off the court with 14.5 seconds on the clock, he would return to action in the second half.

Jeter matched Melton almost basket for basket and led the Pilots with 11 first half points. Dreshawn Vance set the tone in the paint with eight points and four rebounds early, but played just 12 minutes after picking up two fouls.

The Toreros maintained their lead most of the half as a result of free throws, as the Pilots were in the penalty very early in the period. USD made 10-of-14 from the stripe in the first half, the Pilots went just 1-of-3. Portland started 4-of-6 from three-point land, but made just one of their next eleven attempts, yet still went into the break with a 40-38 lead.

Portland forced 13 turnovers in the up-tempo game, which translated to 12 more shot attempts than San Diego (39-27). Both teams shot 44 percent from the field.

Jeter and the Pilots continued to control the tempo and ran out to a 52-40 lead three minutes into the second half. Jeter hit a trey and lay-up to cap the run. Backcourt mate Adam Quick drained a three and dished out two assists right off the bat, the latter tying him for second place on the UP career assists list with former Pilot great Erik Spoelstra (1989-93). He passed Spoelstra two minutes later on a nice feed to Dustin Geddis for a lay-up and a 54-45 lead.

USD forward Brice Vounang kept the Toreros close with eight points in the first eight minutes of the second period, his jumper at the 12:00 mark made it 56-51. Portland answered with a steal and lay-up from Casey Frandsen and Quick connecting with Wilson on an alley-oop dunk pushing the lead back to 60-51.

The Toreros got it down to five again on consecutive baskets from Nick Lewis, but the Pilots answered with a Wilson three-pointer and lay-up to maintain a 10-point lead, 67-57. After a Vounang lay-in and two free throws from Gay, Portland caught a break as Quick found Patrick Galos for a backdoor lob. Jeter then stole the inbounds pass and Vance finished at the rim on a nice assist from Wilson.

Portland all but sealed the game on a fast break dunk from Wilson, giving UP a 76-65 lead with 1:40 remaining. The Pilots hit their free throws and walked away with an 84-72 victory.

The Pilots finished the night 49 percent (33-of-68) from the floor, 32 percent (9-of-28) from three-point land and 75 percent (9-of-12) from the free throw line. The Toreros also shot 49 percent (26-of-53) from the field, 42 percent (5-of-12) from three-point range and 65 percent (15-of-23) from the stripe.

Jeter notched his ninth 20-point game of the season, scoring an even 20 on 7-of-15 shooting. Wilson scored 18 points and added four assists in a gutsy effort, and Quick had nine points and nine dimes. Vance and Dustin Geddis had 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Vounang led the Toreros with 19 points and eight boards. Brandon Gay and Brett Melton scored 16 each for USD.

The Pilots return home to take on Loyola Marymount on Feb. 5 and Pepperdine on Feb. 7 next week.