Box Score
Photos I
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The University of Portland men’s basketball team dropped a hard-fought battle to the Washington State Cougars on Sunday night, falling 83-73 to the regional Pac-12 foe. Freshman Kevin Bailey led the Pilots with 14 points in the loss, while Faisal Aden of the Cougars led all scorers with 21. The Pilots go to 2-2 on the young season, while Washington State improves to 2-1.
It was a physical game throughout, featuring 50 total fouls and 62 free throws. The Pilots battled foul trouble all night, as sophomore forward Ryan Nicholas, freshman forward Dorian Cason, and freshman center Thomas Van der Mars were each whistled for three fouls in the first half.
The Pilots out-rebounded the Cougars 39-28, including 16 offensive rebounds, but shot only 40 percent for the game and 5-21 from three point range. The Cougars shot 56 percent for the game and hit three of nine three pointers. Both teams struggled with turnovers, as Portland committed 20 and Washington State 17.
The Cougars hurt the Pilots inside, as 68 of their 83 points came either in the paint or at the free throw line.
The teams played even in the early going, with the score tied at 19-19 midway through the first half. But a 13-2 run by Washington State gave WSU the advantage. The Cougars extended the lead to as many as 13 before Portland cut it to 10 at halftime.
The Pilots got off to a quick start in the second half after a three pointer by Nicholas and a fast break layup by freshman guard David Carr cut the lead to five, but that was as close as the Pilots would get as WSU then erupted for a 10-0 run to extend its lead to 15. The Pilots cut the lead to eight several times, but could get no closer as the Cougars made free throws down the stretch to seal the game.
For Portland, Bailey made nine of 10 free throws en route to his team-high 14 points, leading five Pilots in double figures. Nicholas and senior guard Nemanja Mitrovic had 11, while van der Mars and junior guard Derrick Rodgers had 10. Nicholas led the way with a game-high seven rebounds.
For Washington State, Aden’s 21 points led all scorers, while Brock Motum added 13 and DaVonte Lacy had 11. Reggie Moore led the Cougars with six rebounds.
Portland now heads out on a challenging road trip, facing defending Big West Conference champion UC-Santa Barbara on Tuesday before traveling to Lexington, Ky. to face the No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats.
