Box Score I Photos I Video Replay
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Senior forward Luke Sikma was named the Most Valuable Player of the Athletes in Action Classic after filling the stat sheet in an 89-75 Portland win over Florida Atlantic Sunday at the Chiles Center. Sikma finished with 15 points, 19 rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots as Portland led from start-to-finish for the third straight game to open the season.
Senior guard Jared Stohl and freshman guard Tanner Riley joined Sikma on the All-Tournament Team. Stohl finished Sunday with a game-high 24 points.
Sikma and fellow frontcourt senior Kramer Knutson set the tone early by dominating the paint at both ends of the court. Sikma had a double-double at the half with 11 points and 14 rebounds, individually outrebounding the Owls (2-1) who had 13 as a team in the period. Knutson scored 13 of his 16 total points in the first half and made 5-of-6 field goal attempts.
A half court buzzer-beater by Owls guard Raymond Taylor made it a 42-34 halftime lead for the Pilots. Portland wasted little time in jumping out to a double-digit lead after intermission. Consecutive baskets by Sikma were followed by a Stohl jumper and Knutson dunk. Stohl then hit back-to-back threes to push Portland’s lead to 56-37 and the margin remained in double digits all the way to the final horn.
Sikma matched his career-high of 19 rebounds, which was established last season against Army. Junior point guard Eric Waterford finished with a career-high 13 points and did not commit a turnover in 22 minutes of action.
Portland finished with a 45-24 edge in rebounds, shot 52 percent from the field and made 24-of-26 free throws. After a slow start from beyond the arch, the Pilots finished 9-for-20 from three-point range. FAU shot 42 percent from the field and was 11-for-29 from the three-point line.
Greg Gantt led the Owls with 20 points, while Raymond Taylor contributed 18 off the bench.
The Pilots will now prepare for a much-anticipated home game against the No. 10 Kentucky Wildcats on Friday at the Rose Garden. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and tickets are still available through ComcastTix.com or at the Rose Quarter Box Office. The game will be televised live on ESPNU and on the radio through 800 AM (KPDQ).
Athletes in Action Classic All-Tournament Team
Luke Sikma, Portland (MVP)
Jared Stohl, Portland
Tanner Riley, Portland
Alex Tucker, Florida Atlantic
Greg Gantt, Florida Atlantic
Anthony Hill, UW-Milwaukee
