Box Score I Video Highlights

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Five players scored in double figures as the Portland Pilots held on for a 73-65 win over the Loyola Marymount Lions in West Coast Conference men’s basketball action Saturday night at the Chiles Center. Portland maintained its hold on second-place in the WCC standings to the delight of 2,195 fans in the team’s regular season home finale.

 

Portland (18-9, 9-3) improved to 12-2 at the Chiles Center with the win, marking the most home victories since finishing 13-1 during the 1995 season. The nine league wins are also tied for the second most in program history, a feat accomplished three times during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The 1995 Pilots posted the best finish in school history at 10-4 and tied for second place.

 

With two remaining road games at San Diego and Santa Clara next week, the Pilots control their own destiny for a second-place league finish and double-bye to the WCC Tournament semifinals.

 

The Lions (2-26, 1-11) gave the hosts all they could handle until the closing minutes on Saturday. Portland led by seven at the half, but was trailing 54-49 with 10:59 remaining. The Pilots re-took the lead for good on a dunk by sophomore center Kramer Knutson with 5:27 left. Sophomore guard Jared Stohl drilled a clutch corner three-pointer with 2:57 remaining to give the Pilots a 63-58 edge and free throws determined the final tally.

 

Knutson finished with a career-high 19 points in 27 minutes of action. Junior guard Nik Raivio posted his second double-double of the year with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Stohl chipped in 13 off the bench, while Robin Smeulders and T.J. Campbell added 11 and 10 apiece. Campbell also finished with a game-high seven assists.

 

The Pilots shot a blistering 56 percent from the field and made 6-of-12 from three-point range. LMU shot 40 percent from the floor and 4-of-16 from downtown. Turnovers were costly as Portland committed 15 which led to a 19-10 advantage for the Lions in points off turnovers.

 

Portland controlled the boards with a 39-24 rebounding margin and owned a 34-20 advantage in points in the paint.

 

The Pilots will conclude the regular season with a pair of road games next weekend. Portland will face San Diego on Thursday at 7 p.m. and then travel to Santa Clara on Saturday at 3 p.m. Both games will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet Northwest.