Box Score I Video Highlights
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Junior forward Robin Smeulders scored 22 points as Portland defeated Seattle University 71-67 Sunday afternoon before 1,177 fans at the Chiles Center. With the win the Pilots (9-6) matched last season’s win total before starting the West Coast Conference season, which kicks off at No. 16 Gonzaga on Saturday.
Portland finished with nine wins in each of the first two seasons under third-year head coach Eric Reveno, but the Pilots continued their ways of winning close games this year. Portland is now 7-4 in games decided by six points or less compared to a 2-9 mark last season under the same circumstances.
“I have to think that playing so many close and competitive games already has helped us in these types of situations,” Reveno said. “We were better today down the stretch because we’ve been their before, both as players and coaches.”
The nine victories are the second most non-conference wins for Portland in 13 years and just the fourth time in the last 10 years that Portland has finished non-league play with a winning record. The 2004-05 Pilots posted an 11-4 non-league mark, but finished the year at 15-15.
“To be 9-6 at this point after having been without some key players to injury is pretty good in the big picture,” Reveno said. “Now we enter conference hoping to be hitting on all cylinders.”
Portland led by nine at halftime on Sunday, but the visiting Redhawks (8-6) would rally to take a four point lead midway through the second period. Pilot sophomore guard Jared Stohl drilled a three-pointer and then made two free throws to give Portland a 58-56 lead with 3:15 remaining. The Pilots made 10-of-14 free throws the rest of the way to hold on for the win.
“Give Seattle’s players credit for stepping up and making plays,” Reveno said. “They shot it great in the second half, but our guys showed some poise and were resilient.”
Smeulders finished 7-for-8 from the field and 8-of-9 at the foul line, while also grabbing a game-high seven rebounds. Junior forward Ethan Niedermeyer made four three-pointers and matched a season-high with 14 points. Stohl and junior guard Nik Raivio chipped in 11 apiece.
Austen Powers and Chris Gweth combined for 51 of Seattle’s 67 points. Powers finished with 28 points on 11-of-17 from the field, while Gweth made 6-of-8 three-pointers and scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half.
Seattle made 10-of-18 three-pointers for the game, including 9-for-12 from beyond the arc to spark the second half rally. The Redhawks finished at 46 percent from the field, while Portland shot 55 percent from the floor.
The Pilots outrebounded their sixth straight opponent and finished with a 25-21 edge on the glass, but the Redhawks collected nine steals on 15 Portland turnovers.
Portland played its fourth consecutive game without starting center Kramer Knutson (concussion).
The Pilots and Gonzaga will tip-off on Saturday at 5 p.m. in Spokane, Wash. The game will be televised live on FSN Northwest.
“I think we’re ready and excited for the WCC season to start,” Reveno added. “It will be harder and teams will be better prepared for us because of familiarity, but we embrace and look forward to the challenge.”
