PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots overcame a 13-point second half deficit to tie the game late, but the Sacramento State Hornets pulled out a 73-66 victory in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) hosted at the Chiles Center Wednesday night. It was the first postseason game hosted by the Pilots on campus in program history.

Portland senior forward Voldy Gerun scored a team-high 15 points off the bench to lead four Pilots (17-16) in double figures, while freshman forward Jason Todd grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds.

Sacramento State senior guard Dylan Garrity scored a game-high 17 points, while reigning Big Sky Conference Player of the Year Mikh McKinney added 16 points for the Hornets (21-11).

A Garrity three-pointer put the Hornets up 55-42 with 12:14 remaining, but the Pilots would use a 16-3 run over the next five minutes capped by a Todd jumper to tie the game. Portland would tie the game on three more occasions down the stretch, but Garrity's jumper with 54 seconds remaining put Sacramento State up 68-66.

A missed three-pointer by the Pilots fell to McKinney and he was able to convert two free throws with 28 seconds left for a 70-66 edge. The Pilots were unable to convert at the other end and the Hornets made more free throws for the final margin.

Portland led for a majority of the first half and held a 29-24 lead with 4:36 left in the period and McKinney on the bench with three fouls, but the Hornets closed the half with a 12-1 run for a 36-30 lead at the break.

Junior guard Bryce Pressley finished with 12 points for the Pilots, while Kevin Bailey added 11 and Alec Wintering finished with 10.

Portland shot 43 percent from the field, while the Hornets finished at 52 percent overall and 7-of-14 from three-point range. The Pilots were able to gain a 34-28 rebounding margin, but Sacramento State had an 11-4 edge in second chance points.

The record books are now closed on a six-member Portland senior class that litters the Pilot career record books.

Thomas van der Mars concludes his career as the program's all-time leader in blocked shots (121) and a game started (120) and also is No. 5 in career field goal percentage (.555), No. 6 in rebounds (832) and 13th in scoring (1,252).

Bailey is No. 8 all-time in scoring (1,386) and blocked shots (64).

This was Portland's fourth CIT appearance and sixth postseason appearance overall as a Division I institution.

GIF Highlights:


This Jason Todd jumper tied the game late at 58-58, but the Pilots couldn't get over the hump as the Hornets pulled away for the win.
 



Bryce Pressley assisted on back-to-back Thomas van der Mars and Voldy Gerun alley-oops in the first half. Gerun would finish with 15 points to lead the Pilots.
 

Bryce Pressley hit four three pointers on the night and finished with 12 points and four assists.
 

Kevin Bailey had 11 points in the game, including these two in the first half on a nice drive and finish.