MORAGA, Calif. – Portland senior center Thomas van der Mars recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, but the Saint Mary's Gaels used a big second half for a 68-51 West Coast Conference men's basketball victory Thursday night at McKeon Pavilion.

The Gaels (20-6, 12-3 WCC) used an 18-0 run midway through the second period and outscored Portland 38-23 after the break to pull away. Saint Mary's shot 64 percent in the second half and 54 percent overall for the game, snapping the Pilots streak of holding opponents under 40 percent at four games.

Senior guard Kerry Carter scored a game-high 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, while senior guard Aaron Bright scored all 14 of his points in the second half. Senior center Brad Waldow added 14 points and eight rebounds.

The Pilots (16-11, 7-8) had their four-game win streak snapped with the loss, but remain alone in fifth place in the WCC standings. Seniors Volodymyr Gerun and Kevin Bailey joined van der Mars in double figures with 10 points apiece.


After Portland cut the deficit to 42-41 with 14:53 remaining, the Carter hit back-to-back threes and Bright finished at the rim to cap the 18-0 run. Portland point guard Alec Wintering snapped a 6-minute, 57-second scoreless spell with a steal and layup, but the Pilots would get no closer than 15 points down the stretch.

The 51 points scored marked the second lowest of the season for the Pilots, who shot 40 percent from the field and 3-for-11 from three-point range. The Gaels drilled 8-of-21 from beyond the arch.

Portland trailed 27-15 early on, but closed the first half with a 13-3 run and trailed 30-28 at the break.

The Pilots will conclude their brief road trip at Pacific on Saturday for a 7 p.m. tip-off. The game will be streamed live on TheW.tv and radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on Sports 910 (KMTT).