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Sharp Sparks Pilots Comeback in Triple OT Thriller

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland junior guard Bobby Sharp hit eight three-pointers and junior center Thomas van der Mars added 27 points and 18 rebounds as the Pilots pulled out a thrilling 114-110 triple overtime win over the BYU Cougars in West Coast Conference action Thursday night. BYU junior guard Tyler Haws erupted for a Chiles Center record 48 points in the loss.

The game featured improbable comebacks by both teams at the end of regulation and throughout the overtime periods before Portland (12-8, 4-4 WCC) held on for the win.

Portland's only other triple overtime game came before any of the current Pilots were born – an 82-81 win over San Jose State on November 27, 1984.

The Pilots had an 80-78 lead after a van der Mars layup with a minute left in regulation. After forcing a turnover, the Pilots threw the ball away under the BYU basket and Haws made the layup to tie the game with 30 seconds left. Kevin Bailey's jumper missed with eight seconds and Kyle Collinsworth went coast-to-coast but had the ball stolen by Alec Wintering under the basket with 1.5 seconds left and Portland's desperation heave missed to force the first overtime.

Sharp hit a pair of back-to-back threes to open the overtime period and give Portland a bit of a cushion and the home team would lead 90-83 with 44 seconds left. Haws made two free throws and then Skyler Halford drilled a three to pull within 90-88 with 23 seconds on the clock. Van der Mars hit one free throw, but Haws buried the game-tying three with 12 seconds left and Bailey's 15-footer at the buzzer missed short.

The Pilots trailed by eight midway through the second overtime but pulled within 101-100 on a contested three by Sharp with 31 seconds left. After a pair of BYU free throws, Sharp hit a step-back triple with a defender draped all over him to tie the game with 13 seconds remaining. Haws jumper at the buzzer was off and the game went to a third overtime.

Portland took the early lead on a van der Mars tip-in and would maintain control until the final buzzer as the Pilot student section rushed the court chanting Bobby Sharp's name and hoisting him in the air in celebration.

Haws' 48 points broke the previous Chiles Center record of 43, set by Portland's Matt Houle on Feb. 13, 1993 against San Francisco. It is also the 11th highest single-game total in WCC history and the most since Terrell Lowery of LMU scored 48 against Idaho State on Dec. 1, 1990.

Junior guard Matt Carlino added 25 points, nine assists and seven steals for the Cougars (13-8, 5-3).

Bailey and Nicholas added 15 apiece for the Pilots, while Bryce Pressley finished with 12 points.

The 114 points scored by the Pilots were the most against a Division I opponent in school history.

The win for Portland was the first ever against BYU, snapping a nine-game losing streak against the Cougars.

Portland will have a quick turnaround and host the San Diego Toreros on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the WCC Game of the Week. Tickets are 2-for-1 for adults and free for kids 6th grade and younger.

GIF Highlights:
















Bobby Sharp was the big hero for the Pilots, and the students celebrated his heroics by carrying him off the court. It was awesome.

















With the Pilots trailing 100-93 in the second overtime with 1:40 left, Ryan Nicholas got the comeback started with this clutch basket in the lane, which he followed with two free throws soon after.

















Sharp's deep three with 24 seconds left in second overtime gave the Pilots life, cutting a Cougar lead to one point at 101-100.

















Sharp's second three-pointer in the final 30 seconds of second overtime tied the game at 103-103 with 12 seconds left.

















Thomas van der Mars had 27 points and 18 rebounds, and had a big highlight dunk in the second half off a beautiful pass from Kevin Bailey.