Box Score Radio HighlightsVideo HighlightsVideo ReplayPORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots trimmed a 21-point second half deficit to five points late, but the No. 7 Gonzaga Bulldogs held on for an 87-75 victory before a sellout crowd of 4,852 Saturday evening at the Chiles Center.
Kevin Pangos and Przemek Karnowski scored 21 points each to lead the Bulldogs (14-1, 3-0 WCC), while sophomore point guard Alec Wintering finished with 20 points, eight assists and zero turnovers for the Pilots (10-5, 1-2).
Portland played without leading scorer Kevin Bailey (foot) for the eighth straight game. Senior center Thomas van der Mars added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Pilots.
Gonzaga took its largest lead of the game on a Karnowski three-pointer – his first make and attempt of the season from three-point range – with 10:29 remaining for a 65-44 lead.
Portland stormed back with a 15-1 run over the next 3:02 capped by a Wintering three-pointer to ignite the home crowd and make it a 66-59 game. The teams would continue to trade baskets and then Wintering made it a 75-70 deficit with a pair of free throws and 1:58 remaining. Pangos answered with a runner in the lane and then dished to Karnowski on the next possession for a three-point play to essentially end the threat.
Gonzaga shot 57 percent from the field for the game and made 23-of-28 free throws overall. The Pilots struggled to 39 percent in the first half and finished at 47 percent overall from the floor and 13-of-21 at the foul line.
Gonzaga jumped out to an early double digit lead and would push the margin to as much as 19 points in the first period before settling for a 43-28 halftime edge. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Pilots 21-10 in the first half and had a 20-12 edge in points in the point.
Wintering, whose career high as a freshman was 15 points, recorded his fifth 20-point game of the season and increased his assist-to-turnover ratio to 2.1.
Portland will remain at home for two more WCC games next week. The Pilots host Santa Clara on Thursday at 7 p.m. and San Francisco on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the WCC Game of the Week.
GIF HIGHLIGHTS:
Alec Wintering had 20 points to lead the Pilots, and also added 8 assists. This jumper midway through the second half helped spark a Pilots run that cut Gonzaga's lead from 20 to 5.
Â
Thomas van der Mars had 17 points and eight rebounds, and hit several clutch shots down the stretch. Here's a compilation of his Thomas dominating the paint.
Â
Bobby Sharp had 11 points, hit two threes on the night, and finished this nice drive and jumper in the second half.
Â
Jason Todd had a nice night for the Pilots, scoring nine points on 3-4 shooting and added four rebounds. This shot was the second of back-to-back threes that gave the Pilot offense a big lift in the first half.
Â
Voldy Gerun added eight points for the Pilots, and had the big highlight play with this drive and dunk through traffic in the first half.
