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Game Information

     The University of Portland men’s basketball team concludes the regular season at Santa Clara on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Leavey Center. The game will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet Northwest (Comcast 37) and will also be available on Comcast California (DirecTV 696/Dish Network 419). All Pilot games are on the radio at AM 970 with Tom Kolker calling the action.

About The Pilots

     The Pilots (18-10, 9-4) dropped a 66-60 decision at San Diego on Thursday, falling into a tie for second place in the WCC standings with Saint Mary’s. Portland committed 17 turnovers and got off to a slow start against the Toreros on the road. The Pilots overcame a seven point halftime deficit to tie the game early in the second half, but USD regained the lead for good and made free throws down the stretch to secure the win. Junior G Nik Raivio led the Pilots with 13 points, sophomore G Jared Stohl added 12 and junior F Robin Smeulders had 11 points and nine rebounds.

Portland has won 11 of its last 15 games and has secured the program’s highest season win total since posting a 19-11 record and going to the 1996 NCAA Tournament. The nine league victories are tied for the second most in program history, trailing on the 1995 season (10-4). The Pilots are two wins shy of only their second 20-win season at the Division I level.

Portland ranks third nationally as a team in three-point shooting (.415), while Stohl is fifth in the nation individually (.465, min. 2.5 per game). Stohl leads the WCC in three-pointers made (2.9), while Campbell paces the conference in three-point percentage (.545) and is second in assists (5.0). Raivio leads four Pilots averaging double figures and is fourth in the WCC in scoring at 15.9 points per game. 

The Pilots also lead the league in three-pointers made (8.0) and assists (15.3). The team’s 70.6 points per game is third in the league and 7.5 points higher than last year’s average.

Portland has guaranteed itself at least a third place finish in the league standings and a first round bye at the WCC Tournament, which is to be played at a neutral site (Las Vegas, Nev.) for the first time in history. The top two seeds earn two byes and an automatic semifinals appearance. Portland is currently tied with Saint Mary’s for second place in the league standings but needs a win and Gaels’ loss at LMU to get the No. 2 seed.

Head coach Eric Reveno returns 80 percent of the team’s scoring and 87 percent of its rebounding from last year’s squad. Picked to finish sixth in the WCC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Reveno’s roster features eight underclassmen and no seniors.

One of the main focuses for the program throughout the offseason was improving in the weight room. The results are noticeable, as every player has either added good basketball weight or dropped pounds, if necessary. The Pilots play 11 games this season against teams that advanced to postseason play last year.

About Santa Clara

     The Broncos (14-16, 6-7) have lost three of their last four games after rattling off six straight victories. On Thursday, Santa Clara dropped a heartbreaker to No. 17 Gonzaga by an 81-73 margin. It was a back-and-forth game throughout, but two crucial technical fouls went against the host Broncos after fans threw objects onto the court late in regulation. Freshman G Kevin Foster led Santa Clara with 20 points, while senior C John Bryant added 16 points and 11 rebounds. Bryant has recorded 13 consecutive double-doubles and is averaging 17.9 points and 13.6 rebounds per game. He leads the WCC in both rebounds and blocked shots (2.5). Foster and fellow freshman G James Rahon are also averaging double figures at 14.6 and 11.0 points per game. The Pilots held on for a 53-52 victory over the Broncos earlier this season in Portland. Head coach Kerry Keating is in his second season at the helm of SCU. He finished 15-16 in his first season and fourth place in the WCC. The Broncos were picked to finish fourth again this season and are currently tied with San Diego for the fourth spot in the league standings.

Portland-Santa Clara Series Notes

All-Time: SCU leads 53-24                              

At SCU: SCU leads 29-6                                   

At UP: SCU leads 20-16                                   

At Neutral: Tied 1-1

At Unknown: SCU leads 3-0                            

Current Streak: UP, 2 wins

Last Meeting: Portland 53, Santa Clara 52 (1/17/09, at Portland)