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Portland (15-6, 3-3 WCC) vs. #24 Saint Mary’s (18-3, 6-0)
January 29, 2011 • 4:00 PM • Portland, Ore. (Chiles Center - 4,852)
TV: ESPNU
Radio: 800 AM (KPDQ)
Live Audio/Stats: PortlandPilots.com
Series: SMC leads 51-28
Last Meeting: SMC 69, POR 55 (2010 WCC Tournament)
This Week in Pilots Hoops…
The Portland Pilots (15-6, 2-3 WCC) continue West Coast Conference play by hosting the league-leading and 24th-ranked Saint Mary’s Gaels (18-3, 6-0) on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Chiles Center and tickets are going for $5 as part of ‘Nacho Night.’ A deluxe nacho bar will be available from 3-4 p.m. for $4.
Game Coverage
Saturday’s game will be nationally televised on ESPNU with Mark Neely and Tim Welsh on the call. All Portland games will be aired live on the radio on 800 AM (KPDQ) with Bill Johnson providing the play-by-play, including a 30-minute pregame show.
Ticket Information
Tickets for all Portland home games are available through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com, over the phone at (800) 745-3000 or in-person at the Pilot Box Office. The Box Office will also be open one hour before tip-off for walk-up sales.
Portland Briefly...
• The Pilots improved to 11-0 at the Chiles Center this year with a 79-64 win over San Diego on Thursday.
• Jared Stohl scored a game-high 16 points, while Luke Sikma added 13 points and 11 rebounds for his league-leading 10th double-double of the season.
• Freshman PG Tim Douglas made his first career start against San Diego and delivered 14 points and a season-high six assists.
• Previously, the Pilots dropped a pair of WCC road games at San Francisco (81-74) and Santa Clara (72-59). Sikma averaged 23.5 ppg and 12.0 rpg in the two games including a career-high 29 points against the Broncos.
• The Pilots are 36-4 at the Chiles Center since the start of the 2008-09 season.
• The Pilots are rated No. 56 nationally according to the NCAA RPI as of Jan. 24.
• Portland is ranked No. 16 in this week’s CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25.
• Portland ranks seventh nationally in team three-point percentage (.411).
• Jared Stohl (61) and Nemanja Mitrovic (59) have made the second most 3-pointers of any teammates in the nation. Mitrovic is No. 6 nationally in 3-point pct (.480).
• Luke Sikma is leading the WCC and is 11th in the nation in rebounding (10.8).
• Stohl led the nation in three-point percentage last season (.478) and is No. 2 all-time in the WCC in career three-pointers. He currently has 306 career threes and trails only Jeff Fryer (LMU, 363).
About #24 Saint Mary’s
• The Gaels knocked off Gonzaga on Thursday in Spokane (73-71) as senior PG Mickey McConnell hit a leaner in the final seconds to lift Saint Mary’s to a perfect 6-0 in WCC play and 18-3 overall. McConnell finished with a game-high 27 points in the win.
• Saint Mary’s is ranked No. 24 in the Coaches Poll this week and No. 1 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25.
• SMC had its 11-game winning streak was snapped on Saturday at Vanderbilt (89-70).
• The Gaels’ only other losses this season came against No. 4 San Diego State (69-55) and No. 9 BYU (74-73). Saint Mary’s best win came against St. John’s (76-71).
• The Gaels are ranked No. 10 nationally in scoring (82.5) and third in the nation in field goal percentage (.505).
• Head coach Randy Bennett returns All-WCC honorees Mickey McConnell and Matthew Dellavedova from a squad that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last season.
• Bennett is in his 10th year overall and has led SMC to three NCAA Tournaments.
Douglas Impresses in First Start
Freshman PG Tim Douglas made his first career start on Thursday against San Diego and delivered with 14 points and a season high six assists. It was only the second change in the starting lineup this season by Portland. Junior Eric Waterford also excelled off the bench, finishing with 12 points in 14 minutes of action.
Pilots No. 7 Nationally in Three-Point Percentage
Portland is seventh in the nation in team three-point percentage (.411). Last year Portland finished fifth nationally as a team in three-point percentage (.407), while the Pilots finished second nationally in 2008-09 (.418).
Chiles Center Dominance
The Chiles Center has become quite comfortable for the Pilots over the last three seasons as Portland has rattled off a 36-4 home record. Signature home wins have come against Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Saint Mary’s twice. Portland is off to an 11-0 start at the Chiles Center already this year and have had at least 10-point leads in each of the 11 victories.
Stohl/Mitrovic No. 2 Three-Point Combo in the Nation
Jared Stohl and Nemanja Mitrovic have combined to make 120 three-pointers, the second most of any duo in the nation behind BYU’s Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery (125). Stohl (61) is tied for 15th in three-pointers made, while Mitrovic is tied for 20th (59). Already the Portland leader in career three-pointers made (306), Stohl moved into second place in the WCC record books after drilling five treys against Utah on Dec. 31. He is now chasing the WCC record of 363 held by Jeff Fryer of LMU (1987-90).
Sikma 11th Nationally in Rebounds
Senior F Luke Sikma is leading the WCC and ranks No. 11 nationally in rebounding average (10.8). Sikma has corralled double-digit rebounds in 13 games already has 10 double-doubles this season to lead the WCC. He matched his career-high with 19 rebounds versus Florida Atlantic on Nov. 14 and grabbed 18 at Idaho on Nov. 20.
