Box Score
Video Replay
Radio Highlights
Photo Gallery
Nicholas Records Double-Double, But Pilots Lose to BYU
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland junior forward Ryan Nicholas scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, but the BYU Cougars scored 24 points off of 17 Pilot turnovers to pick up an 85-67 win Saturday night at the Chiles Center. Kevin Bailey added 12 points for the Pilots before fouling out in just 21 minutes of action.
Sophomore guard Matt Carlino scored a game-high 24 points with six assists and four steals to lead the Cougars (16-6, 6-2 WCC). Senior forward Brandon Davies added 20 points and 11 rebounds, while sophomore Tyler Haws chipped in 19 points.
The Pilots (8-14, 1-6) were effective offensively for the second straight game, finishing at 47 percent from the field, but struggled to a 17-for-30 clip at the free throw line. Giveaways were once again problematic as Portland committed 17 and forced 11, leading to a 24-4 disadvantage in points off of turnovers.
BYU shot 52 percent from the field and the 85 points scored were an opponent season-high for the Pilots.
Nicholas got off to a fast start with 11 first half points, but the Pilots trailed 39-29 at the half after committing 11 turnovers in the first period.
Carlino sparked a 10-2 run to open the second half with a pair of three-pointers and the lead would grow to 57-36 on a Haws jumper with 14:53 remaining.
The physical game reached a boiling point shortly thereafter when a scrum for a loose ball near midcourt led to multiple players from both teams entangled well after the whistle had blown. Portland junior Tanner Riley was issued a flagrant foul and ejected for what the officials determined was fighting. He will miss Portland’s next game according to NCAA rules.
Freshman guard Bryce Pressley hit a runner followed by a Nicholas free throw to pull Portland within 13 at 68-55 with 5:47 remaining, but BYU would not let the Pilots any closer down the stretch.
Pressley was solid once again off the bench and finished with six points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals with no turnovers in 27 minutes of action.
The Pilots will look to snap a four-game losing streak with a tough Bay Area road trip next weekend. Portland faces Santa Clara on Thursday at 7 p.m. and then concludes the season series against Saint Mary’s on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Thursday’s game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet Northwest and Saturday will be featured on ROOT Sports. All Pilot games are available live True Talk 800 AM with a 30-minute pregame show.
