MORAGA, Calif.- Portland got off to a fast start but Saint Mary’s rebounded behind Tyler Herr’s seven three-pointers to beat the Pilots 82-63 at McKeon Pavilion. Portland (10-13, 4-6 WCC) was led by Pooh Jeter’s 13 points, but the Gaels (15-9, 6-3 WCC) maintained their hold on second place in the WCC with their ninth win in 10 home contests this season.

A very sloppy started benefited the Pilots, as the Gaels committed six turnovers in the first five minutes. Portland ran to a 10-2 lead after a Dreshawn Vance lay-up at the 14:15 mark of the first half, but Herr made three consecutive three-pointers over the next three minutes to tie the game at 12-12. Saint Mary’s gradually kept increasing the lead as the half progressed.

Jonathan Sanders gave SMC a 10-point edge at 31-21 with a pair of free throws, but the Pilots answered with Quick setting up Vance for an uncontested dunk with 4:20 remaining.

Herr hit his fourth three of the half two possessions later, putting the Gaels on top 37-25. E.J. Rowland drained yet another three the next time down, then hit a runner in the lane giving Saint Mary’s a 17-point lead at 42-25.

The Gaels ability to penetrate and create open perimeter shots allowed Saint Mary’s to stay on top all night.

“When they found an answer to our zone defense, they knocked down shots and became very confident,” said Pilot head coach Michael Holton. “That put us on the ropes early and from there we scrambled without much success.”

Pooh Jeter led the Pilots with eight first half points, including two free throws in the final 40 seconds to make it 42-27 going into the locker room at halftime. Vance had six points and six rebounds, but was forced to sit after picking up his third foul with under two minutes left in the period. The Pilots shot 42 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, but made just 1-of-5 three-pointers and 4-of-7 from the free throw line.

Herr tallied 14 first half points, going 4-of-6 from downtown. Daniel Kickert and Frederic Adjiwanou added seven points each for the home Gaels. Saint Mary’s shot a blistering 64 percent (14-of-22), including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc.

It started out much of the same in the second half as Saint Mary’s extended their lead to 49-29, off a steal and three-point play by Paul Marigney. The play was even more significant as Vance picked up his fourth foul on the play, after having just converted a put-back for his eighth point and seventh rebound.

Unhappy with the way things were going, Holton went to a small lineup that played some inspired minutes and cut the lead down to 14 points at 51-37 with 13:30 remaining. Sophomore Brant Minor, freshman Sean Smith, junior Karl Aaker, Jeter and Dustin Geddis spearheaded the run, that concluded with a Smith three-pointer.

It was déjà vu as Herr knocked down two more open threes to extend the lead back to 64-44. Vance fouled out with a little less than eight minutes remaining after playing only 18 minutes.

Patrick Galos’ three-point play off of a put-back made it 70-54 with 5:47 left. Then Casey Frandsen nailed a three and got fouled, but missed the free throw. After a Chase Poole putback, Frandsen converted two from the stripe to make it 73-59 with 3:36 remaining.

Saint Mary’s used the shot clock wisely from that point on to cruise to the victory. Herr finished the night with 23 points on seven three-pointers, tying a career-high set against Portland on Feb. 9, 2001. Adjiwanou tallied a double-double with 14 points, 11 boards and four blocked shots. Marigney and Kickert tallied 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Jeter led the Pilots with 13 points, but committed seven turnovers. Vance nearly registered a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds in just 18 minutes of action.

Portland shot 42 percent (24-for-57) from the floor, 35 percent (6-of-17) from beyond the arc, and 69 percent (9-of-13) from the free throw line. Saint Mary’s made 49 percent (25-for-51) from the field, 40 percent (10-for-25) from three-point range and 61 percent (22-for-36) from the charity stripe.

The Gaels turned 18 Pilot turnovers into 26 points, while Portland scored just 11 points off turnovers. Saint Mary’s outrebounded Portland 42-33 and handed out 17 assists compared to the Pilots’ eight.

“Our on ball defense broke down, allowing them to spread the floor and create good spacing and uncontested shots,” Holton noted. “We have to move on and play again in 48 hours.”

The Pilots next travel to San Francisco and take on the Dons this Saturday at War Memorial Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m.