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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Portland Pilots led from start-to-finish in a 71-59 victory over the Drake Bulldogs on the second day of the Challenge in Music City on Saturday night. Senior center Thomas van der Mars led a balanced attack with 14 points as 12 players scored in the game for the Pilots. Portland improves to 5-0 and matches the third best start to a season in program history.

The Pilots raced to a 24-11 lead midway through the first period and would push the margin 38-22 on a Max Livingston three-pointer just before halftime.

Drake (1-5) made an initial surge to open the second half as senior guard Gary Ricks hit back-to-back three-pointers to pull the Bulldogs within 40-32, but Kevin Bailey answered with a three-pointer. The Bulldogs would cut the deficit to nine points on two more occasions, but the outcome was never in doubt. Ricks finished with a game-high 23 points.

Van der Mars was the only Pilot in double figures. Sophomore point guard Alec Wintering added nine points and eight assists, while senior forward Volodymyr Gerun chipped in eight points and seven rebounds. Bailey and freshman D'Marques Tyson added eight points apiece, while senior center Riley Barker finished with six points and seven boards off the bench.

The Pilots dominated the glass with a 32-20 rebounding margin and also had 14 assists with just eight turnovers. Drake committed 12 turnovers in the contest and gave up 20 second chance points.

Both teams shot the ball well with Drake finishing at 51 percent overall and the Pilots an even 50 percent. Portland made 10-of-12 free throws, while the Bulldogs were 3-of-4 at the stripe. Portland was whistled for just nine fouls in the game.

Head coach Eric Reveno went to his bench early and often on Saturday after sticking with a seven-man rotation in a 64-61 tournament-opening win against Murray State on Friday.

The Pilots will conclude the Challenge in Music City on Sunday with an 11 a.m. (PT) tip-off against the Valparaiso Crusaders (5-1), who face Murray State in Saturday's late game. The game will be aired live on Sports 910 with pregame coverage beginning at 10:30 a.m.

NOTES: Portland also started 5-0 during the 2009-10 season... The Pilots 1995-96 NCAA Tournament team opened with a 6-0 record, while the school best start to a season is 13-0 during the 1978-79 season.