Box Score SEATTLE, Wash. --- The Portland Pilots made big plays late for the second straight day to improve to 2-0 on the young season with a 66-61 victory over the Georgia State Panthers on Sunday. It was the second game for the Pilots at the World Vision Classic hosted at Alaska Airlines Arena. Senior guard Nemanja Mitrovic led three Pilots in double figures with 13 points.

Portland led by as much as 13 points in the first half, but found itself trailing 52-49 with 6:28 remaining. Consecutive lay-ups by freshmen Thomas van der Mars and Dorian Cason sparked an 11-3 run that gave the Pilots the lead back for good. Portland made 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute to secure the win.

Mitrovic, a preseason All-West Coast Conference selection, added six rebounds in another solid all-around performance for the Pilots. Sophomore point guard Tim Douglas chipped in 12 points and five rebounds, while sophomore Ryan Nicholas reached double figures for the second game with 10 points.

Portland shot 52 percent from the field and limited the Panthers (0-2) to 36 percent shooting, but 19 Pilot turnovers kept the game close. Georgia State had a 22-14 edge in points off of turnovers and 19-11 margin in second chance points.

The Pilots ran off a 14-0 run midway through the first half to lead by as much as 13 points before GSU answered with a run to make it 31-23 at the half.

A steal by Tony Kimbro led to a free throw with 6:54 left in the second period to give the Panthers their first lead of the game at 50-49. It was short-lived as the Pilots bounced back with a strong finish for the second game in a row. In the team’s season-opener on Saturday against Florida Atlantic, the Pilots closed the game with a 7-0 run to win 70-65.

The Pilots will conclude the World Vision Classic by facing the host Washington Huskies on Monday at 7 p.m. Washington defeated GSU 91-74 on Saturday and plays FAU on Sunday night. The Portland- Washington game will be aired live on ROOT Sports, while all Pilots games can be heard on the radio on 800 AM (KPDQ).