Nik Raivio |
Nik Raivio scores 14 points in debut for Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Travis Kuhns hit a pair of free throws with 13 seconds remaining to give the Western Oregon a one-point lead and the Wolves held on for a 66-64 victory over the Portland Pilots in an exhibition game Wednesday night at the Chiles Center.
The game featured 16 ties and 14 lead changes. Portland held the largest lead of the night at 45-38 with 13:09 left in regulation, but the Wolves went on a 7-0 run to tie the game over the next three minutes.
It would be back-and-forth down the stretch with WOU taking a 63-62 lead on a layup by Adonal Arrington with 41 seconds remaining. A pair of free throws by Pilots’ freshman center Kramer Knutson gave UP a one-point lead with 23 ticks left, but Kuhns answered with a pair from the stripe and Portland turned the ball over on the ensuing possession with two seconds left. Brad Krichevsky made one of two free throws and UP point guard Taishi Ito’s half-court prayer at the buzzer missed short.
“We had an opportunity to play a well-coached team tonight,” Portland head coach Eric Reveno said. “It is critical that we take full advantage of this learning opportunity. We had a few bright spots, but we are obviously not where we want to be yet. That is what can happen when you play in October.”
A lot of new faces took the court for the Pilots, including sophomore transfer Nik Raivio, who led all scorers with 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Freshmen Luke Sikma and Knutson combined for 18 points and 15 rebounds as the starting frontcourt duo for Portland.
Freshman center Jasonn Hannibal scored six points and grabbed four rebounds off the bench in 16 minutes, while sophomore Robin Smeulders and freshman Jared Stohl also got their first taste of college basketball.
“We got a lot of young guys some good experience tonight,” Reveno added.
Kuhns led WOU with 13 points, while Arrington added 10.
The Pilots shot 37 percent from the field compared to 44 percent by the Wolves.
Portland will have one more exhibition tune-up on Saturday against the Concordia Cavaliers in a student and season-ticket holder only contest at the Chiles Center. The game will be available via video streaming at www.pilotsvideo.com and online audio will be free at portlandpilots.com.
The regular season begins on Friday, Nov. 9 at the World Vision Classic hosted by Fresno State. The Pilots will play the host Bulldogs at 8 p.m. Portland will face San Diego State on Nov. 10 and Liberty on Nov. 11.
