Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. --- The Portland Pilots stayed in the game with solid defense, but struggled offensively in a 67-50 loss to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams Saturday night at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
The 67 points scored was the third lowest of the season for the Bulldogs, but Portland had its second worst shooting night of the year and finished at just 33 percent. The Pilots also had 16 turnovers which led to a 14-6 scoring margin in points off turnovers for the Zags. The Pilots made it seven consecutive games with a positive rebounding margin, gaining a 36-35 edge on the glass.
Sophomore guard Jared Stohl was the only Pilot in double figures and finished with 10 points. Junior guard Nik Raivio added nine points and six boards, while sophomore forward Luke Sikma grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Junior guard Matt Bouldin and senior center Josh Heytvelt scored 14 apiece, while Steven Gray and Jeremy Pargo added 13 and 12, respectively.
Trailing by eight at the half, Portland (9-7, 0-1 WCC) went back and forth with the host Bulldogs for most of the second period, flirting with single and double digit deficits.
The Bulldogs (10-4, 1-0 WCC) would take control on back-to-back layups by Matt Bouldin, followed by a free throw, which gave Gonzaga a 56-41 lead with 4:36 remaining. 58-42. A Heytvelt dunk extended it to 58-42 with 3:52 left and the Bulldogs would make free throws down the stretch for the final margin.
Gonzaga was efficient from the free throw line and finished 17-for-20 from the stripe, while Portland struggled to 11-of-19 at the line. Neither team shot well from the floor as the Bulldogs finished at 43 percent.
Portland led 13-12 early in the first period before foul trouble forced Sikma and Robin Smeulders to the bench. Gonzaga led by as much as 13 points before the Pilots closed the half with a Jared Stohl three-pointer and T.J. Campbell fastbreak layup to cut the margin to 34-26.
The Pilots will now return to the Chiles Center for a two-game homestand beginning on Thursday against the San Francisco Dons. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Portland will then host Santa Clara on Saturday at 7 p.m. Both games will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet Northwest.
