SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The Portland Pilots used a 17-3 run over the final 5:28 to complete a 66-61 comeback road victory over the Cal Poly Mustangs Friday evening at Mott Gym. The Pilots (6-8) earned their first victory away from home, while the Mustangs (2-8) remain winless against Division I opposition. Cal Poly entered the game with a 0-7 record against Division I opponents, while the Pilots had yet to win a game away from the Chiles Center with a combined 0-7 mark on the road and at neutral sites. Portland endured a struggle offensively for most of the game before the defense set the tone down the stretch. The Pilots had trailed for over 35 minutes before taking their second lead of the game with 2:23 left in regulation on a pair of free throws by Ben Sullivan. Cal Poly had led from the 17:37 mark of the first half, with as much as a 13-point lead. The Mustangs held a 58-49 lead with less than six minutes on the clock, but the Pilots used pressure defense to ignite an 11-1 run to take the lead at 60-59. Over the final six minutes of the game, Cal Poly made only one field goal, but it was a big basket. Freshman Chaz Thomas stole the ball and gave the Mustangs a chance to win the game with 28.9 ticks left in regulation. After a timeout, Thomas took the inbounds pass and drove the lane for a contested layup and 61-60 lead with 22 seconds left. Portland senior guard Pooh Jeter went the other way and drained a pull-up jumper from 10 feet with 7.9 seconds remaining. Portland’s full court defense forced Derek Stockalper to throw the ball away and Jeter was immediately fouled. He made both free throws and the Pilots forced another turnover as Trae Brown stepped on the sideline at midcourt. Donald Wilson was fouled with 1.7 seconds remaining and made both at the stripe for the 66-61 final. The Pilots forced 10 turnovers in the second half and limited the Mustangs to 38 percent shooting compared to 50 percent in the first half. “Our defense down the stretch was the difference in the game,” Portland coach Michael Holton said. “We got stops when we needed them most and forced key turnovers late in the game. “It’s good to get a win on the road against a team that played well enough to win.” Darren Cooper led the Pilots with 14 points and Jeter added 13, nine coming in the second half. Sophomore forward Marcus Lewis logged his second consecutive double-double with 12 points and 10 boards, and Wilson finished with 10 points. Derek Stockalper scored 17 points for the Mustangs to lead all scorers, including five three-pointers. Tyler McGinn scored 10 second-half points and finished with 11. Portland will open its WCC schedule in the Bay Area with games at Santa Clara and Saint Mary’s. The Pilots and Broncos meet at the Leavey Center on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. UP and the Gaels tip-off at McKeon Pavilion on Monday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m.