SANTA CLARA, Calif.- The University of Portland men’s basketball team struggled offensively and dropped a 76-63 decision to the Santa Clara Broncos today at the Leavey Center. Travis Neisen led all players with a game-high 35 points for Santa Clara (8-9, 1-1 WCC). Portland (11-6, 0-2 WCC) was led by Darren Cooper’s career-best 16 points.

Santa Clara utilized 12 players, spreading its offense throughout as 11 players scored in the game. Portland’s Pooh Jeter entered the game averaging 16.4 points, but was held to just seven for the game. As a team, the Pilots were held to 10 field goals in the second half.

Portland cut the lead to 11 points with just over four minutes remaining after a three-pointer by Cooper and fast break lay-up by Donald Wilson, but the Pilots would get no closer. Free-throws became the key for Santa Clara in maintaining a double-digit lead as the Broncos connected on 26-of-33 attempts for the game. Neisen made all nine of his free-throw attempts and was joined in double figures by Doron Perkins with 12.

"We got out-played and out-worked today," said Portland head coach Michael Holton. "We didn't match their energy at the start and Santa Clara came out hard to defend their home court. They always play with high intensity and we played fragile when the going got tough. This was a real eye-opener for our team in terms of how good the conference is this season."

Portland shot 39 percent (18-46) for the game from the floor, but had 10 less attempts than the Broncos. SCU claimed its dominance down low, outscoring Portland 30-18 in the paint. Second chance points became a factor as the Broncos held the advantage, 17-7. Portland was also out-rebounded by 19 for the game.

Cooper shot 5-of-10 from the floor, connecting on 4-of-7 from long range, while senior Karl Aaker tacked on a season-best 11 points for the game, all in the first half. Marcus Lewis, who left the game with a shoulder injury late in the second half, led all players with 10 rebounds.

Assisting Neisen offensively for the Broncos was Doron Perkin with 12 points.

Santa Clara jumped to an early 9-0 lead, while the Pilots were unable to score until Cooper drove the lane and was fouled, converting two freebies at 16:31 in the first half. In the next four minutes of play, the Broncos then extended their lead to 19, as their defense allowed virtually no second chance shots.

Portland’s poor shot selection had them shooting 2-of-10 through the first 10 minutes of play. The Pilots slowly got the offense going over the next six minutes, cutting the SCU lead back to 15 points after a long trey by Cooper. Portland made a 7-0 run in the last two minutes of the half, cutting the lead back to 11 points, but the Broncos scored a pair of free-throws with 53 seconds to go for a 42-29 halftime lead.

Niesen scored 16 first-half points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor. Aaker tallied 11, connecting on 3-of-4 three-pointers in the period. The Broncos shot 41 percent from the field in the half, compared to Portland’s marginal 28 percent, while owning the boards 23-17.

The Pilots will next host Pepperdine on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 7:00 p.m. and Loyola Marymount on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 5:00 p.m.