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Nicholas, Bailey Lift Pilots over CSU Bakersfield
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Ryan Nicholas scored 21 points and Kevin Bailey added 18 as the Portland Pilots defeated the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners 69-51 Monday night in the first game of the Continental Tires Classic. Portland improved to 5-1 at the Chiles Center this season with the win.
The Pilots (5-6) put the clamps down defensively and held the Roadrunners to 31 percent shooting for the game. Bakersfield came into the game forcing teams into more than 17 turnovers per game, but the Pilots managed the pressure defense and committed just 10 turnovers on the night.
Portland also gained a 39-31 rebounding advantage and 28-16 edge in points in the paint.
Nicholas finished 8-for-13 from the field and grabbed nine rebounds, just missing his fourth double-double of the season. Bailey scored 11 second half points and made 10-of-12 free throws for the game. Sophomore center Thomas van der Mars also finished in double figures with 12 points.
The Pilots allowed just four points over the first 6:25 of the game to jump out to an 11-4 lead and would never look back. A van der Mars layup with 20 seconds left in the first period gave Portland its first double digit lead, but Tyrone White drilled a three-pointer before the halftime buzzer to make it a 29-22 deficit.
A Nicholas three-point play gave Portland a 40-28 lead, but the Roadrunners (4-7) would briefly pull within five at 51-46 on a layup by Stephon Carter. The Pilots quickly answered with four straight points from Nicholas, and then Bailey stole the ensuing inbounds pass and found van der Mars for a dunk. Bakersfield would not cut the deficit to single digits the rest of the way.
White, who attended Jefferson High School in Portland, finished with a game-high 23 points for the visitors. Carter added 15 points, while only five Roadrunners scored on the night.
Portland will continue the Continental Tires Classic on Wednesday when North Florida (3-7) visits the Chiles Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and tickets are still available through all Ticketmaster outlets. The bracketed portion of the tournament continues this weekend at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, when the Pilots take on Colorado State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The tournament final rounds will be on Sunday with the championship pitting Saturday’s winner against the winner of Virginia Tech and Bradley.
