Box Score
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PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots led by four at halftime, but the Gonzaga Bulldogs erupted in the second half for a 74-62 win before a sold out crowd of 4,852 Thursday night at the Chiles Center. Sophomore forward Ryan Nicholas recorded his fourth double-double of the season for the Pilots with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while sophomore guard Tim Douglas added 11 points off the bench.
The Bulldogs (17-3, 7-1 WCC) shot 68 percent from the field in the second half, opening the period with an 8-0 run to grab the lead. Consecutive jumpers by Portland sophomore Tanner Riley and a layup by junior Derrick Rodgers gave the Pilots a two-point lead, but a 15-5 Gonzaga run created some separation. Trailing by nine, the Pilots made one more run to cut the margin to 55-52 on consecutive three-pointers by Riley and Douglas with 5:26 remaining, but the Bulldogs ran off nine straight points to seal the win.
The Pilots (5-16, 2-6) were in control most of the first half, leading by as much as seven on two occasions. A three-pointer by senior guard Nemanja Mitrovic with 28 seconds remaining gave Portland a 29-25 lead at the break.
Portland shot 46 percent from the field in the first period, while holding the Bulldogs to 31 percent, including 0-of-7 on three-pointers. The Pilots also gained a 19-17 rebounding edge in the period as Nicholas led the way with 13 points and eight rebounds.
The tables turned in Gonzaga’s favor after the break as Nicholas was held scoreless and the Pilots struggled to 41 percent shooting. The Bulldogs held a 19-11 rebounding margin in the second stanza en route to the win.
For the game the Bulldogs had four players reach double figures led by freshman guard Gary Bell, Jr. with 18 points. Junior forward Elias Harris recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while senior center Robert Sacre added 16 points as Gonzaga gained a 44-22 points in the paint advantage on the night.
The Pilots will make a quick turnaround and travel to Los Angeles for a Saturday night game against the Loyola Marymount Lions (12-9, 5-3). Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet Northwest and Fox Sports West.
