Box Score
GREELEY, Colo. --- Portland shot 58 percent from the field, but it was Northern Colorado that made big shots down the stretch to hold on for a 76-73 victory Tuesday evening at the Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion. Portland sophomore Jared Stohl’s contested three-pointer with two seconds left rimmed out as the Bears (3-5) used a big first half to build a cushion.
The game was the seventh already this season decided by six points or less as the Pilots (5-4) fall to 4-3 in those contests. Coupled with Portland’s loss at BYU on Saturday, it marks the first time this year that the Pilots have lost in back-to-back games.
UNC shot 50 percent from the field for the game, but led by as much as 13 points in the first half after making 12-of-22 shots. The Bears also made 10-of-16 three-pointers for the game and 20-of-26 free throws. Portland shot 58 percent from the field, including 8-for-15 on threes, but made just 5-of-8 free throws for the game.
Junior Robin Smeulders led five Portland players in double figures with 18 points and eight rebounds. Nik Raivio contributed 16 points, T.J. Campbell had 13 and Stohl had 12, all in the first half. Sophomore forward Luke Sikma reached double figures for the first time this year with 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including four crucial baskets in the second half.
Neal Kingman had 18 points to pace UNC, including 15 in the first half. Kingman made 5-of-6 three-pointers.
Portland tied the game for the first time at 60-60 with 6:22 left on a Sikma post move in the paint. The Bears answered with a Devon Beitzel three-pointer. Campbell tied it again with a trey, but Beitzel one-upped him with a four-point play at the other end.
Smeulders made back-to-back baskets to tie the game at 69-69 with 2:15 remaining, but Banks came back with a three-point play at the other end and followed with one more free throw for a 73-69 lead with 49 seconds remaining.
After Smeulders made two free throws to cut the deficit to two points, Will Figures made two free throws with 33 seconds remaining to put UNC up 75-71 and Smeulders answered with a lay-up and 17 seconds remaining. Figures was again fouled on the ensuing possession but made just one of two. The Pilots pushed the rebound up the court and Jared Stohl had a game-tying three-pointer rim off with two ticks on the clock. T.J. Campbell corralled the rebound, but the buzzer sounded before he got off the tying shot.
Stohl caught fire from long range early with four three-pointers in the first 10 minutes of action. His effort was countered by Kingman, who made all four of his three-point attempts and finished with 15 points in the first half. The Bears led by as much as 13 points in the half, but Smeulders made a tough runner right before the buzzer to make it 42-33 at the break.
Portland will conclude its three-game road trip with a tough game at the University of Oregon on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. and the game will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet Northwest. Live radio coverage will be available on 970 AM (KCMD) with an audio simulcast on portlandpilots.com.
