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PORTLAND, Ore. --- Senior forward Luke Sikma scored a career-high 26 points as the Portland Pilots improved to 5-0 this season at the Chiles Center with a 69-60 win over the Saint Louis Billikens Tuesday night. Senior reserve center Jasonn Hannibal added a career-best 12 points as the Pilot frontcourt dominated from start-to-finish.
Senior center Kramer Knutson added 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists as Portland’s three primary big men combined for 48 points on 21-for-33 (.636) shooting from the field. The Pilots also outrebounded the Billikens (3-3) by a 31-23 margin and gained a 44-22 edge in points in the paint.
The Pilots (6-2) have yet to trail on their home court this season and have posted double-digit wins in four of five games at the Chiles Center.
Junior guard Nemanja Mitrovic was the fourth Pilot to reach double figures, finishing with 10 points for his sixth double-digit scoring game of the season.
Saint Louis and head coach Rick Majerus made a concerted effort to prevent Portland guard Jared Stohl and the rest of the Pilot perimeter players from getting going in the game. The Billikens played one-on-one and behind the Pilot post players, challenging the Portland big men to score over the top. It was not a problem for Sikma, who scored nine early points as the Pilots jumped out to a 14-2 lead. Hannibal added to the first half offense with eight points before intermission as Portland built a 16-point lead with less than three minutes remaining. The Billikens finished the period with a 10-2 run to make it 36-28 at the half. Sikma finished with 17 points in the first half.
Saint Louis would cut the deficit to seven at 51-44 with 11:36 remaining on a layup by Jordair Jett. The Pilots would score the next five points and then used a crucial 8-2 run capped by two Derrick Rodgers free throws to take a 14-point lead with 2:40 remaining. A Kyle Cassity three-pointer made it 65-60 with 42 seconds remaining, but the Pilots would make two defensive stops and convert four free throws in the closing seconds to put the game away.
Portland shot 60 percent from the field (28-47) and made 11-of-15 free throws, while Saint Louis shot 46 percent from the floor (24-52), but struggled at the foul line (6-17).
Portland entered the game ranked No. 8 nationally in three-point percentage (.443), while Stohl was the national leader in three-pointers made (28). Stohl went 2-for-4 from three-point range on Tuesday, while no other Pilot attempted a three-pointer. The four team attempts were the lowest since the Pilots attempted three on Feb. 12, 2007 versus Saint Mary’s.
Mike McCall led three Billiken players in double figures with 14 points. Jett added 13, Dwayne Evans had 11 and Eugene, Ore. native Brian Conklin chipped in eight points.
Portland will now begin a four-game road trip starting on Friday at Montana (3-2). Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST) and the game will be aired live on 800 AM (KPDQ) and simulcast on portlandpilots.com.
NOTES: Stohl moved into fourth place in WCC history for career three-pointers made (275) and trails Gonzaga’s Richie Frahm (1997-00, 280) by five for third place … Mitrovic reached double figures for the fourth straight game and sixth time this season … Portland has outrebounded six of eight opponents this season … this marks the third time this year the Pilots shot above .500 as a team.
