Box Score
SANTA CLARA, Calif. --- The Portland Pilots saw a 10-point second half lead disappear and lost a 67-65 overtime decision against the Santa Clara Broncos in West Coast Conference men’s basketball action at the Leavey Center. The Pilots conclude the regular season with an 18-11 overall record and 9-5 in WCC action. Portland will be the No. 3 seed in the WCC Tournament and will play the winner of the No. 6 vs. No. 7 match-up on Saturday, March 7.
Junior point guard T.J. Campbell led the Pilots with 15 points and five assists, but was plagued by foul trouble throughout the game before fouling out in the closing seconds of overtime. Nik Raivio added 11 points and seven rebounds, but struggled to 4-of-14 shooting.
Santa Clara senior center John Bryant had a big senior night with 22 points and 21 rebounds. Freshman James Rahon added 16 points.
The difference in the ball game came at the free throw line. Santa Clara converted 26-of-30 from the foul line, while Portland made just 12-of-23 attempts. Portland shot 40 percent from the field and limited Santa Clara to 38 percent shooting. The Pilots forced Santa Clara into 21 turnovers, while committing just 13.
The Broncos (15-16, 7-7) will secure a fourth-place finish and first round WCC bye if Gonzaga defeats San Diego today.
Portland held a 28-24 halftime lead and then extended the margin to 45-35 on a Campbell jumper with 14:04 remaining. Campbell then picked up back-to-back fouls on the ensuing possession and was forced to the bench with four fouls and 12:43 remaining.
The Broncos went on an 11-2 run while Campbell was on the bench over the next four minutes and then took a 50-47 lead after a three-pointer by freshman Kevin Foster and a free throw.
Smeulders made a pair of free throws with 2:13 left to cut the lead to 55-54 and then Raivio made 1-of-2 at the stripe with 58 seconds remaining to tie the game. Foster’s desperation three-pointer with five seconds left and Rahon’s follow-up jumper just before the buzzer rimmed out.
Overtime was back-and-forth before Bryant made a layup and Rahon converted a pair of free throws for a 65-61 lead with 37 seconds left. Trailing by three with 23 ticks remaining, Raivio’s 25-footer was blocked to put the game away.
