POCATELLO, Idaho – Portland scored a season-high 50 first-half points in route to a 82-73 road win against Idaho State at Reed Gym Monday night. Pooh Jeter reached double figures for the sixth straight game and led all scorers with 24 points for Portland (6-2), while Idaho State (2-3) was led by Jeff Gardner’s 16 points. Portland’s 6-2 start matches the 1997-98 team for the best start since a 9-2 opening mark by the 1991-92 Pilots.

The Bengals battled back from a 20-point halftime deficit to cut the margin to seven at 75-68 with less than a minute left, but that would be as close as the home team would get. The Pilots made 9-of-10 free-throws in the final minute to seal the win.

Junior guard Darren Cooper added 13 points for Portland, 10 in the first half, and Ben Sullivan came off the bench with 13 points and nine rebounds. Donald Wilson chipped in 12 points for the Pilots.

Arzelle Lewis and Logan Kinghorn both scored 15 points for the Bengals. Lewis kept the game within reach with four first-half three-pointers, while 14 of Kinghorn’s points came after the half.

“This was a very tough road win,” said Portland head coach Michael Holton. “Idaho State is a well-coached team that doesn’t quit. It took a 40-minute effort tonight and a 20-point halftime lead wasn’t safe. I am very proud of our guys, this was the fifth game in 10 days and second consecutive on the road that we came away with a victory. Definitely something to build on.”

After starting the game 1-for-12 from the field, Portland went unconscious and hit 15 of their final 21 attempts, including six three-pointers to gain a 20-point halftime edge at 50-30. Jeter did not make his first field goal until the 3:20 mark of the half, but then rattled off three consecutive treys and finished with 15 points in the period. Darren Cooper gathered a rebound and raced up the court for a 15-foot buzzer beater to cap an 11-4 run to close the half.

Portland had an answer for every second-half run that the Bengals made. After Slim Millien’s put-back dunk brought the crowd to life with just over 17 minutes remaining, the Pilots put the clamps down and held the Bengals scoreless over the next five minutes. Pilot freshman Jeremiah Dominguez forced a turnover and assisted on a Jeter fast-break lay-in to push the lead back to 20.

Two free-throws by Gardner brought the lead down to 14 with 7:25 left. Portland’s offense stalled and the ball was knocked out of bounds with four ticks on the shot clock. Holton called a timeout and set up a play that led to Jeter making an uncontested lay-up just before the shot clock expired. Although ISU chipped away late, the game was never in question as Portland knocked down thier freebies.

The Pilots held a 30-16 edge in points in the paint and an 18-8 margin in scoring off turnovers. Portland led almost the entirety of regulation, taking the lead and holding it 3-minutes and 30 seconds into play.

Portland next travels to Long Beach State on Saturday, Dec. 11 for a 7 p.m. tip-off.