LOS ANGELES – Junior Pooh Jeter converted two clutch free-throws with just 17 seconds left giving the University of Portland Pilots its first WCC road victory and a season sweep of the series over the Loyola Marymount Lions tonight at Gersten Pavilion. With the win, Portland improves to 15-10 overall, 4-6 in WCC action. LMU falls to 11-12 on the season, 3-7 in the WCC.
“There is so much to feel good about in getting this win,” said head coach Michael Holton. “We shot well from the floor at 51 percent, we outrebounded our opponents and we got over the hump and won on the road. At the same time, there were several things that happened that were uncharacteristic of our team and we were very fortunate to win this basketball game.”
LMU went on a 10-0 run late in the second half as the Pilots were held scoreless for five minutes of play. It was during that span that the Lions managed to tie the game at 48, but a Marcus Lewis lay in with 1:52 left in the game gave Portland a two point edge. On the next possession, Pooh Jeter was fouled and knocked down both free-throws for a 52-48 Portland lead. LMU’s Brandon Worthy drained a 15 footer with 36 seconds left, making it a one-possession game, but the Pilots got the ball and were trying to run out the clock when Jeter was fouled again. Jeter’s two freebies sealed Portland’s fate as the Pilot’s went on to win, 54-50.
“LMU is a well coached team and they play hard,” said Holton. “Winning on the road in this league is very difficult and our defense saved the day. Without it we would not have won this ballgame.”
For the game, Portland shot an impressive 51 percent (21-41) from the floor and outrebounded the Lions, 37-30, while tacking on 32 points down low. The Pilots held the Lions to just 29 percent (16-55) shooting from the field and just six percent (1-16) shooting from three-point range. The Lions recorded 31 points off Pilot turnovers as Portland recorded a season-high 25 miscues.
Leading all scorers was Portland’s Ben Sullivan. Sullivan recorded 12 points and eight rebounds, along with one blocked shot and two steals in the game. Lewis tacked on 11 points, while Darren Cooper added eight.
Worthy led the Lions with 11 points, while teammate Dustin Brown added 10 points.
Portland opened the game holding the Lions scoreless through their first four possessions. Portland jumped out to a 7-1 early lead on made shots by Cooper and Sullivan. A 10-0 run by the Pilots with just over 11 minute left in the half gave Portland a 17-5 lead. The Lions made a run of their own in a two minute span through the six minute mark, closing Portland’s lead to six points. The Pilots maintained its defensive pressure, which led to scoring opportunities. Portland went on to score 10 more points down the stretch, highlighted by a set play in which Cooper inbounded the ball to Donald Wilson for the alley oop at the buzzer. Portland went into the lockerroom with a 30-19 halftime lead.
Portland outscored the Lions, 20-6 down low in the paint and had twice as many rebounds as LMU (20-10) in the first half. The Pilots shot an efficient 57 percent from the floor, while holding the Lions to just 23 percent. Cooper and Sullivan led the Pilots with eight first half points, while Worthy tacked on seven points for the Lions.
On Feb. 12 at 7:00 p.m., the Pilots will meet the Waves in Malibu, Calif.
