PORTLAND, Ore. – Defense and rebounding have been two common areas that Portland head coach Eric Reveno wanted improvement early in this season. The Pilots were up to the task Sunday night in both categories en route to an 87-57 victory over Abilene Christian in the host portion of the Corpus Christi Coast Classic before 1,541 fans at the Chiles Center.

Portland held the Wildcats (2-1) to 29 percent shooting and gained a 40-34 rebounding advantage on the night.

The Pilots (2-2) also had it going on offense, paced by junior point guard Alec Wintering's 17 points. Bryce Pressley added 12 points and D'Marques Tyson reached double figures for the third straight game with 10 points as all 13 Pilots logged at least one point.

Portland put the clamps down early and held the Wildcats to 3-for-24 shooting from the field in the first half and carried a 48-15 lead into the break.

The lead blossomed to as much as 37 points late in regulation as Reveno used his bench liberally throughout the game.

The Pilots jumped out to a 15-2 lead at the outset, bookended by a pair of Wintering three-pointers. The lead grew to 31-7 on back-to-back baskets by Max Livingston and Pressley. A Gabe Taylor three-pointer gave the Pilots a 48-13 lead before a pair of Wildcat free throws before the half made it 48-15.

The first half defensive totals were impressive for the host team as ACU was 0-for-7 from three-point range and scored nine of their points at the free throw line. The Pilots also forced 10 first-half turnovers and held a 24-17 rebounding edge at the break.

Portland finished the game at 52 percent from the field and made 11-of-22 three-pointers. Livingston, Taylor and Jarrel Marshall also finished with nine points apiece.

Duran Porter led the Wildcats with 14 points.

The Pilots will continue their five-games-in-eight-days stretch by hosting Alcorn State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the final host game of the tournament. Portland will travel to Corpus Christi this weekend for the bracketed portion of the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic and take on Colorado State on Friday and then either UTEP or Southern Illinois on Saturday.