PORTLAND- The University of Portland men’s basketball team snapped a 12-game losing streak with the Pepperdine Waves in an 81-71 win in their WCC home opener tonight at the Chiles Center. Portland (12-6, 1-2 WCC) saw five players reach double figures, while Pepperdine’s (12-6, 2-1 WCC) Glen McGowan led all players with 24 points in the game.

“Obviously we are pleased with the victory, but also with our effort,” said Head Coach Michael Holton. “We played 40 minutes of defense tonight which was the difference in the game. I couldn’t be more proud of our resiliency, effort and intensity, but I am most impressed with the fan support we received tonight. I hope there support continues throughout the rest of the season and I am impressed with the turnout.”

Portland’s intensity and defensive pressure on the ball sparked its offensive game tonight. The Pilots trailed only once in the game and that was with 19:10 on the clock in the first half. The second half saw Portland score early and easy. Right out of the gates, Ben Sullivan made a reverse lay in, followed by a 6-0 run by the Pilots. A Dreshawn Vance dunk with 14:54 left in the game ignited the crowd, but also gave Portland a 13 point lead. Portland twice had a 15 point lead, their largest of the night, at the nine minute mark and at the three minute mark. With 2:46 left, Pooh Jeter converted a three-point play to record his 15th point of the game and his 1,000th point of his career. Back-to-back dunks by Donald Wilson took the Waves out of the game for good. The first was an alley-oop from Marcus Lewis and the second was on a cross court pass from Sullivan. Lewis’ reverse lay-up from Jeremiah Dominguez sealed the deal for Portland as the Pilots went on to win big, 81-71.

For the game, Pooh Jeter led Portland with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the stripe. He became the 28th player in Pilot men's basketball history to record 1,000 career points. Wilson came up big with 14 points, while Sullivan added a career-best 13 points and eight rebounds, hitting 5-of-6 freebies in the game. Darren Cooper and Lewis chipped in 12 points each in the effort.

Portland shot an efficient 57 percent (30-53) from the floor and went 18-of-26 from the free-throw line. Neither team shot well from long range as the Waves held the advantage 39 percent (5-13) to 25 percent (3-12). Pepperdine had 10 more free-throw attempts and shot 67 percent from the stripe, while connecting on 21-of-50 (42 percent ) from the field in the game. The biggest factor came on points in the paint. Portland dominated the Waves down low, outscoring Pepperdine 48-24. Portland also had significant help from its bench, outscoring the Waves, 23-14. Another key element to Portland’s victory came in points scored off turnovers. The Pilots managed a 24-17 advantage in Pepperdine mistakes.

For the Waves, McGowan shot 8-of-14 from the floor, while tacking on four rebounds for the game. Alex Acker also scored big for Pepperdine, recording 23 points and tied a Chiles Center free-throw percentage record (P. McKelvey, 13-for-13, vs. USF, 2-6-92), connecting on 13-of-13 from the stripe.

Portland got the tip and jumped out to an early 12-6 lead through the first four minutes of play. Back to back scores by Portland’s Cooper and Lewis at the 14 minute mark gave the Pilots an eight point lead. Portland’s largest lead of the half came at the 10-minute mark when Dominguez flashed a no look pass to Sullivan for an easy two, giving the Pilots a 25-16 advantage. The Waves then made a 7-0 run of their own in a one-minute stretch, but a Cooper freebie, followed by a Cooper steal and lay in, along with a Jeter free-throw gave the Pilots a 33-27 lead with just over five minutes to go in the half. The Pilots held the momentum throughout the half and went into the lockerroom with a 40-36 lead.

Cooper led Portland with 12 first half points, while Sullivan added eight points. Pepperdine’s Glen McGowan led all players with 16 points in the first half. Although the Waves held the advantage on the boards in the first half, Portland outscored Pepperdine in the paint and from its bench. The Pilots shot 54 percent (13-24) from the floor, while the Waves went 12-of-29 (41 percent) from the field in the first half.

The Pilots will host Loyola Marymount on Jan. 16 at 5:00 p.m. The game will air live on FSN NW.