Box Score
BOISE, Idaho --- The Portland Pilots ran into a red-hot Boise State team and came up short in a 92-70 defeat Wednesday night at Taco Bell Arena before an announced crowd of 2,460. The Pilots were within one early in the second half, but the high-scoring Broncos erupted late to improve to a perfect 8-0 at home on the year. Sophomore guard Tim Douglas led the Pilots with 17 points as Portland falls to 3-6 on the season.
The Broncos entered the game as one of the top scoring and three-point shooting teams in the nation, having outscored opponents by nearly 25 points per game. Portland was right with the Broncos (8-1) and trailed by just five at halftime. The Pilots would cut the lead to one after the break, but a 13-2 BSU run turned it into a double digit deficit and the lead would continue to grow down the stretch.
Sophomore forward Ryan Nicholas added 14 points for the visiting Pilots. Portland shot 44 percent from the field and committed only eight turnovers, but were outrebounded 39-29 and made just 11-of-21 free throws.
Ryan Watkins led four Broncos in double figures with a game-high 19 points, while freshman Anthony Drmic contributed 17 points, six rebounds and six assists. BSU shot an efficient 55 percent from the field, despite struggling from three-point range (6-19), and was 26-for-33 at the free throw line.
“Boise State is one of the top teams in the nation in three-point shooting and creating turnovers,” Portland head coach Eric Reveno said. “We did a good job of not letting them hurt us in those areas, but their Plan B was more effective than our Plan B.”
A layup by senior Eric Waterford and two free throws from sophomore Tanner Riley pulled Portland within one at 53-52 with 14:21 remaining. The Pilots then went cold from the field as the Broncos used a 13-2 spurt capped by a Drew Wiley jumper over the next 3:39 to create separation.
“Our non-conference schedule does not have many breaks and is teaching us some harsh lessons,” Reveno added. “I asked the team in the locker room if this is the low point of our season or not? We’ve got to dig in and compete. We are a good basketball team and now we have to go out and prove it.”
Portland will return to the Chiles Center for a two-game home stand beginning on Saturday against the Ohio Bobcats (6-1). It will be Mascot Night and fans are being offered 2-for-1 tickets for the 7 p.m. tip-off. The Pilots will get a weeklong break before hosting the Montana Grizzlies (5-4) on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.
