Sophomore guard Walter Thompson led the Pilots with 13 points and a career-high eight rebounds

PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots were clicking on offense Saturday night at the Chiles Center, but Alex Harris and the visiting UC Santa Barbara Gauchos spoiled the quality effort with a 47-point second half outburst and came away with a 75-67 win. UCSB (5-2) improves to 4-0 in road games, while Portland (2-7) lost for the first time in three games on its home floor this season.

Harris led four Gauchos in double figures with an efficient 24 points, eclipsing the 20-point mark for the seventh straight game. He went 9-for-13 from the field and 4-for-6 from three-point range. Chris Devine added 20 points, while James Powell and Tom Garlepp added 17 and 11, respectively.

Sophomore guard Walter Thompson and junior wing Sherrard Watson had 13 each to pace Portland. Thompson added a career-high eight rebounds and four assists. Sophomore point guard Brian McTear scored 11, while senior center Kevin Field came off the bench with a season-high 11 points and seven rebounds.

The difference was perimeter shooting, as UCSB finished 9-for-14 from downtown and shot 52 percent from the field, a Portland opponent season high. Portland was 6-for-19 from long range and shot 50 percent for the game.

“That was the best offensive team we have faced this season,” Portland head coach Eric Reveno said. “From a defensive execution standpoint, I don’t think we had many flaws, they just made great plays and hit tough shots.”

Portland was able to gain a 30-28 halftime lead with solid first-half defense that limited the Gauchos to 40 percent shooting and a stretch of nine minutes without a field goal late in the period.

The Gauchos found their stroke after intermission and used timely three-point shooting and solid post play from Devine to gain a bit of a cushion. Pilot senior Ben Sullivan made it a 42-41 deficit with 12:26 remaining in the game, but UCSB used a 9-2 run over the next 3:09 to take a 51-43 lead on a three by Powell.

The resilient Pilots kept the margin within reach, but Powell drained another clutch trey three minutes later and Devine converted back-to-back plays in the paint to push the margin to 10 points with 1:49 remaining. A three-pointer from Watson made it 68-63 with 1:24 left, but the Gauchos held on for the victory by making five of their next six free throw attempts.

Reveno was pleased with his team’s improvement, especially after enduring a tough three-game road swing which ended in three double-digit losses.

“Of the three games we played this week, today was our best performance,” Reveno said. “We improved each game and I thought our offense was as good as it’s been all season. Having 19 assists and 14 turnovers is encouraging. Our offensive execution was good and we knocked down shots, but we ran into a good team that was playing really well tonight, so you have to give them credit.”

The Pilots will look to snap their current four-game losing streak when they host the Weber State Wildcats at the Chiles Center on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Portland will also be at home against the Eastern Washington Eagles on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.