Both Portland West Coast Conference victories have come in overtime thrillers

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Senior guards Pooh Jeter and Darren Cooper combined for 48 points and freshman forward Alex Tiefenthaler gave Portland a huge lift with eight points and four rebounds as the Pilots rallied for an 84-82 overtime victory against Pepperdine Monday night. An energized crowd of 1,756 saw the Pilots (8-10, 2-2 West Coast Conference) even their league mark, while the Waves (5-11, 1-3 WCC) surrendered a 13-point first-half lead in dropping their second straight game in the Northwest.

Portland is now 2-0 in overtime games this season after winning a thriller at Saint Mary’s last Monday on a Donald Wilson tip-in at the buzzer.

With sophomore forward and leading rebounder Marcus Lewis serving a one-game suspension for a violation of team academic rules, Tiefenthaler played 27 valuable minutes for the Pilots. He had played a combined total of 20 minutes in four games entering the night.

After trailing for nearly all of regulation, Portland took its fourth lead of the game with 13:29 remaining in regulation at 48-47 on Tiefenthaler’s first career field goal. The 6-foot-9 Spanaway, Wash. native had six points, four rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot in the second half and overtime.

“Alex was ready when his number was called today,” Jeter said. “He came out and did a great job.”

“(Alex) is one of those guys where the game is never bigger than him,” Portland coach Michael Holton said. “He came out and played with confidence.”

There would be six ties and four lead changes in the closing minutes of regulation as neither team could gain better than a three-point lead. Following a layup by Pepperdine forward Chris Oakes, Jeter answered with a three-pointer to give UP a 64-63 lead with 3:39 remaining. Chase Griffin answered with a three and the teams exchanged a pair of free throws before the Pilots would tie the game at 68-68 with 51 seconds left on another pair at the stripe by Jeter.

Pepperdine freshman point guard Michael Gerrity regained the lead with two at the line for a 70-68 advantage and 42 ticks on the clock. Cooper made one of two free throws and Gerrity again knocked down a pair to bring it to 72-69 with 20 seconds remaining. Cooper penetrated and threw a pass out top to junior forward Ben Sullivan at the top of the arc. Sullivan made the extra pass to Jeter who drained a three from well beyond the line to tie it at 72-72 with nine seconds left. Pepperdine was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer.

“Pooh is a primetime player,” Holton said. “He was at his best when his best was needed and that was a big shot to keep us in it.”

In overtime, Oakes and Tiefenthaler exchanged layups before Derick Grubb hit a three-pointer for the Waves. Portland senior Donald Wilson scored the next five points to give UP a 79-77 lead. Gerrity again answered with a jumper, but Cooper came back with two more freebies. Gerrity was unable to convert at the opposite end as Sullivan snagged the rebound and was fouled with five seconds left. He pushed the margin to 83-79 with two more free throws and after a three by Tashaan Forehan-Kelly, Cooper was fouled with 0:00.8 ticks. He made the first and intentionally missed the second so the Waves’ couldn’t get a shot off.

Jeter finished with 25 points on 9 of 15 shooting, increasing his WCC scoring average to 24.0 points per game. Cooper added 23 points and Sullivan finished with a season-high 18. Wilson filled up the stat sheet with 10 points - all after halftime - seven rebounds and six assists. It marked the third straight game he has led the team in rebounds.

Gerrity finished with a team-high 21 points for the Waves. Forehan-Kelly and Grubb added 16 and 13, respectively.

Cooper rallied the Pilots from a 13-point first-half hole with eight points during a 10-2 run to close the half and make it a 36-31 deficit.