Box Score I Video Highlights I Postgame Interviews
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Jared Stohl scored a game-high 22 points and Nemanja Mitrovic came off the bench for a career-high 20 points as the Portland Pilots fought off the San Francisco Dons 70-59 Thursday night at the Chiles Center. The Pilots locked up third place in the West Coast Conference standings with the win and will receive a bye to the quarterfinals of the WCC Tournament. The Dons lost for just the second time in the last seven games.
The Dons led by 10 early, but it was all Pilots down the stretch as Stohl and Mitrovic put on a three-point clinic for the Pilots. Portland made 6-of-11 from the three-point line in the second half, including five by Mitrovic. His previous career high of 10 points came two games earlier at Pepperdine. The Toronto native also grabbed a career-high six rebounds in 25 minutes of action.
Stohl drilled 6-of-10 three-pointers in the game, marking the third consecutive time he has hit six or more three-pointers against the Dons. Since moving into the starting lineup after leading scorer Nik Raivio was injured, Stohl has made four or more three-pointers in eight of ten games.
Senior forward Robin Smeulders was the third Pilot in double figures with 13 points.
Sophomore guard Rashad Green led the Dons with 16 points, while Kwame Vaughn added 11. Dior Lowhorn, the WCC’s leading scorer each of the last two years, came into the game averaging over 18 points, but was held to seven on the night (all in the first half).
Portland led for the first 10 minutes of the second half before a three-pointer by Angelo Caloiaro and layup by Green tied the score at 47-47. After consecutive Pilot turnovers, USF took their first lead of the period on a layup by Vaughn, but the Pilots answered with back-to-back threes by Stohl and Mitrovic. Every time the Dons inched closer, Mitrovic hit another jumper and Portland held the Dons scoreless over the final 3:21.
The Pilots committed 16 turnovers for the game, including 11 in the second half, but forced 19 from the visiting Dons. UP gained a 27-19 edge in points off of turnovers and 13-2 margin in second chance points.
Portland entered the game ranked eighth nationally in three-point percentage (.404) and increased those numbers by drilling 12-of-26 from downtown. USF was up to the task as well from beyond the arc, converting 9-of-19. The Pilots shot 46 percent from the field, while the Dons finished at 46.9 percent.
USF made 10 of its first 12 field goal attempts to jump out to a 17-7 lead, but Stohl got the Pilots back in it with three consecutive three-pointers over a two minute span. After the Dons pushed the margin to 28-19 with 8:10 left in the period, Portland went on a 15-0 run capped by a steal and dunk by point guard T.J. Campbell. The Pilots took a 36-34 lead into halftime as Stohl contributed 16 first-half points.
Portland will close WCC action on Saturday when they host the Santa Clara Broncos at 8 p.m. live on Comcast SportsNet Northwest. The game will also be aired on the radio on 750 AM (KXL). The regular season concludes with a non-conference meeting with Lewis and Clark on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for both games through all Ticketmaster outlets or at the Pilot Box Office.
