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Portland Pilots (9-9, 2-4 WCC) at #4 Gonzaga Bulldogs (18-0, 6-0 WCC)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017
Tip-off: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Spokane, Wash.
Arena: McCarthey Athletic Center
TV: ROOT Sports NW
Video: WatchESPN
Radio: 910-ESPN Portland
Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com

GAME INFORMATION
The Portland Pilots continue West Coast Conference play by visiting No. 4 Gonzaga on Saturday at 5 p.m. and then returning to Portland to host the Bulldogs on Monday at 5 p.m. Both games will be televised on ROOT Sports Northwest. All Pilot games will have radio coverage on 910 ESPN-Portland (KMTT) with Jason Swygard providing the play-by-play. Coverage starts 30 minutes prior to tip-off and will have a complete post-game show.
 
LAST GAME
San Francisco 75, Pilots 50: The Dons cruised to a 75-50 victory Thursday night at War Memorial Gym at the Sobrato Center. The Dons gained a 43-27 edge in rebounds and 24-9 margin in points off of turnovers for the game. The Pilots shot 36 for the game, made 3-of-14 three-pointers and just 11-of-24 free throws. San Francisco countered by shooting 50 percent overall and 9-of-25 from three-point range. Gabe Taylor scored a game-high 15 points for the Pilots, 14 coming in the first half. Jazz Johnson and Alec Wintering added 10 each. Charles Minlend led a balanced Dons attack with 14 points, while Matt McCarthy added 11 points and nine rebounds. Eleven different San Francisco players scored on the night. There were seven lead changes in the early going and the game was tied at 17, but the Pilots went 6:25 without a field goal as the Dons extended to a double-digit lead. USF drilled seven first half three-pointers to take a 35-24 lead at the break. The Dons turned a pair of Portland turnovers to start the second half into transition dunks and the margin continued to grow down the stretch.
 
PILOT QUICK HITS
• Portland struggled to score and rebound in Thursday's loss at San Francisco. The Pilots shot just 36 percent from the field and were outrebounded by a 43-27 margin.
• Freshman C Joseph Smoyer made his first career start on Thursday, while freshman G/F Chier Maker started his second straight game.
• Senior C Phillip Hartwich came off the bench after missing the previous game with a concussion, while senior F Jarrel Marshall missed his 10th straight game (ankle).
• The Pilots are 2-2 in games decided in the final possession. Portland defeated UTRGV in triple OT on a layup by Jazz Johnson and beat South Dakota on a Gabe Taylor three-pointer. Portland lost to Portland State and then LMU on shots in the closing seconds.
• Jazz Johnson has reached double figures in all 18 games this season. Johnson ranks second in the WCC in three-point percentage (.472) and free throw percentage (.852).
• Alec Wintering is now five assists shy of the school career record. He ranks top three in the WCC in scoring (19.5), assists (5.6), steals (2.0) and minutes per game (37.1).
• Portland's home game against No. 5 Gonzaga that was postponed on Jan. 7 due to inclement weather has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 23 at 5 p.m. Original tickets will be honored on the makeup date.
• Wintering was named the WCC Player of the Week on Jan. 2 after averaging 24.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists in leading the Pilots to two WCC wins.
• Wintering and Johnson comprise the highest scoring teammates in the WCC (36.4), the No. 9 scoring backcourt in the nation and No. 15 scoring tandem overall.
• Portland's 53-45 win over Oregon State on Dec. 18 was the first against a Pac-12 opponent since the 2009-10 season (Oregon and UCLA) and snapped a four-game losing streak to the Beavers.
• Portland's four-player 2017 recruiting class has been ranked No. 17 nationally by The Hoop Scoop, tops among all mid-majors.
• First-year head coach Terry Porter took over the program in April and hired an experienced collegiate staff to support his transition in long-time Pac-12 assistants Bob Cantu (USC) and Ben Johnson (WSU).
• The Pilots return five of their top six scorers from last year's team that finished 12-20 overall and 6-12 in the WCC. The Pilots were picked eighth in the WCC Preseason Poll.
• Porter welcomes five newcomers to the roster in true freshmen Andre Ferguson, Alec Monson, Malcolm Porter and Joseph Smoyer, as well as sophomore transfer Franklin Porter (Saint Mary's). Malcolm and Franklin Porter are redshirting the 2016-17 season.
 
ABOUT GONZAGA
The Bulldogs (18-0, 6-0 WCC) are ranked No. 4 in both national polls this week. Gonzaga remained the lone unbeaten team in the nation with Thursday's 88-57 win at Santa Clara. Notable non-conference wins for the Bulldogs came against Arizona, Florida, Iowa State, Washington, Tennessee and San Diego State. Washington transfer Nigel Williams-Goss leads five Bulldogs averaging double figures at 15.0 per game. Senior C Przemek Karnowski returned to the lineup after having back surgery last season and is averaging 12.9 points and 5.7 rebounds. Other key transfers in rotation include Jordan Mathews (Cal) and Johnathan Williams (Missouri). Head coach Mark Few is looking to lead Gonzaga to its 19th straight NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs were the favorite in the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
LINEUP ADJUSTMENTS
After using the same starting lineup for eight straight games heading into last week's contests, head coach Terry Porter has mixed up the starters for the last three games. Ray Barreno earned his first start of the year on Jan. 12 vs. Saint Mary's, and then Porter went small with Chier Maker getting his first career start on Saturday vs. LMU. Maker responded with a season high nine points. Sophomore G Rashad Jackson also played big minutes and responded with 11 points in the second half against the Lions. Freshman C Joseph Smoyer earned his first career start at San Francisco on Thursday.

PORTLAND VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
Portland is 7-60 all-time against Associated Press Top 25 opponents, has lost its last five games against ranked teams, and has never defeated a top 10 opponent. The Pilots last win against a ranked opponent came against then-No. 18 Gonzaga, 82-73, on Jan. 9, 2014. Portland's win over Minnesota at the 2009 Anaheim 76 Classic snapped an 11-game losing streak against ranked opponents.

WINTERING DOING SPECIAL THINGS
Alec Wintering is tied for the WCC lead in steals (2.0), second in minutes played (37.1), and assists (5.6), and third in scoring (19.5). The Charlotte, N.C. native has scored 20 or more points eight times this year. Last season he became the first Pilot in history to record consecutive 30-point games (34 points vs. Pepperdine on Dec. 23, 31 at San Francisco on Dec. 31) and then matched the feat a second team earlier this year at the Wooden Legacy (31 vs. Dayton, 36 vs. CSUN).

AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS
Alec Wintering currently ranks 49th nationally in scoring, 29th in assists, 37th in steals, and sixth in minutes played per game. The Charlotte, N.C. native also ranks third among all active players nationally in total assists (568), 12th in steals (177), and 31st in scoring (1,548).

WINTERING PASSES SPOELSTRA, CONTINUES ASSAULT ON UP CHARTS
Alec Wintering moved past former Pilot and current Miami HEAT head coach Erik Spoelstra and is now second on the UP all-time assists chart. Wintering has 568 and is five shy of Pilot Hall of Fame member and eight-year NBA veteran Darwin Cook for the school record. Wintering currently leads UP all-time in free throws made (499) and is second in steals (177), No. 6 in three-point percentage (.401) and is on pace to break the record for games started. Wintering's 1,548 points ranks fifth all-time.

DYNAMIC BACKCOURT DUO
Alec Wintering and Jazz Johnson have produced at an elite rate and are the highest scoring teammates in the WCC. The pair combined for 62 points in a win over CSUN, the most points by Pilot teammates in the same game in school history. They were the top two scorers at the elite Wooden Legacy tournament over Thanksgiving weekend as Wintering averaged 26.7 and Johnson averaged 22.7 points per game. The pair is the No. 9 scoring backcourt and No. 15 overall scoring tandem nationally:
Top Scoring Backcourts in the Nation

1. Marcus Keene (G)/Braylon Rayson (G), Central Michigan	48.0
2. Matt Mobley (G)/Jalen Adams (G), St. Bonaventure	41.7
3. Randy Onwuasor (G)/James McGee (G), Southern Utah	38.1
4. Malik Monk (G)/De'Aaron Fox (G), Kentucky	38.1
5. Ike Smith (G)/Tookie Brown (G), Georgia Southern	37.1
6. Markelle Fultz (G)/David Crisp (G), Washington	37.0
6. Jaylon Brown (G)/Ryan Taylor (G), Evansville	37.0
8. Jon Elmore (G)/Stevie Browning (G), Marshall	36.7
9. Alec Wintering (G)/Jazz Johnson (G), Portland	36.4

WINTERING NAMED WCC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alec Wintering was named the WCC Player of the Week on Jan. 2 and was also named the CollegeSportsMadness.com National High-Major Player of the Week after averaging 24.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists in leading the Portland Pilots to a pair of wins to open WCC play. Wintering erupted for 26 points, five rebounds, six assists and zero turnovers in an 80-76 road win at Pacific on Thursday and  followed with 23 points, six rebounds and eight assists in a 73-60 victory against Pepperdine on Saturday. Wintering twice earned the WCC Player of the Week award last season and is the second Pilot in the last three weeks to earn the WCC weekly honor. Gabe Taylor won the December 19 award after leading the Pilots to wins over South Dakota and Oregon State.

JOHNSON THRIVING IN STARTING ROLE
Jazz Johnson played primarily the backup point guard role last year, but this season is starting alongside Alec Wintering and has thrived. He is second on the team and tied for sixth in the WCC in scoring (16.9) and shooting 49 percent from the field, 47 percent from three-point range and 85 percent at the foul line. He is second in the WCC in three-point percentage and free throw percentage. Johnson was an elite prep scorer at Lake Oswego High School, setting the prestigious Les Schwab Invitational scoring record after averaging 35.5 points per game at the tournament his senior season.

TAYLOR BLOSSOMING IN EXTENDED ROLE
Gabe Taylor was named the WCC Player of the Week on Dec. 19 after leading the Pilots to wins over South Dakota and Oregon State. Taylor buried the game-winning three-pointer with 2.2 seconds left against South Dakota for an 85-82 Pilot win. It was his second straight game-winner as he also tipped in a rebound to give the Pilots a 90-89 double overtime win with two seconds left on Dec. 5 against UTRGV. Taylor recorded his first double-double against South Dakota (22 points, 11 rebounds) and has thrived under new coach Terry Porter. He has reached double figures in scoring 12 times in 18 games and is 10th in the WCC in rebounding (6.1) and 18th in scoring (12.8).

RECRUITING CLASS RANKED NO. 17 NATIONALLY
Portland's 2017 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 17 nationally by the HOOP SCOOP following the fall signing period, tops among all mid-majors nationally. First-year head coach Terry Porter and his staff secured four commitments in the fall with three incoming freshmen and a junior college transfer. According to the HOOP SCOOP's rating system, all four Portland commits are rated among the Top 300 signed players in the nation, while freshmen-to-be Tahirou Diabate (6-10, F, Niigate, Japan) and Taki Fahrensohn (6-5, G, Auckland, N.Z.) crack the Top 100 individually. JoJo Walker (6-1, PG, Santa Maria, CA) and JC transfer Austin Stone (6-9, F, USC Salkehatchie) also received high marks. Portland will also welcome current redshirts Franklin and Malcolm Porter to the rotation next season. The HOOP SCOOP referenced Portland's ability to identify quality international recruits as one of the main reasons that the Pilots have secured an elite recruiting class. Diabate (Japan by way of Mali), Fahrensohn (New Zealand) and JoJo Walker (California by way of Puerto Rico) all will bring international experience to The Bluff.

EXPERIENCED STAFF
Terry Porter indicated his desire to find an experienced coaching staff to help support his transition to the college game and he loaded up with a pair of big name assistants. Bob Cantu, a former USC interim head coach, associate head coach and long-time assistant coach with the Trojans and UTEP, has more than 20 years collegiate coaching experience at various levels. He has coached under four NBA Coaches, coached 14 NBA players and five NBA First Round Draft picks, while helping five teams reach the NCAA Tournament. Considered one of the top recruiters in the nation, Cantu helped land the No. 1 overall class in 2007 at USC. Ben Johnson also has extensive Pac-12 coaching experience and 24 years working the sidelines during his coaching career. Johnson was with Dick and Tony Bennett at Washington State during the program's most winning years. He has coached and recruited four NBA players, including NBA Lottery Pick Klay Thompson. Johnson also brought a pair of Australian National Team players to Wazzu in Brock Motum and Aron Baynes. He helped WSU to the Sweet 16 in 2008 and was also a standout player for Dick Bennett at UW-Green Bay. He helped the Phoenix to the 1991 NCAA Tournament and a pair of NIT appearances. Porter rounded out his coaching staff with a familiar face to Pilot fans in Kramer Knutson. A four-year starter for Portland from 2007-11, Knutson led the Pilots to a top-25 ranking and a program-best 60 wins over his final three seasons. Knutson served as Director of Basketball Operations for Portland last year after a four-year professional playing career in Europe.

TERRY PORTER ERA ARRIVES
Porter, a 17-year NBA veteran and two-time NBA All-Star, spent most of his pro career with the Trail Blazers where he helped lead Portland to a pair of NBA Finals and had his jersey retired. Porter also served as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, in addition to various assistant coaching positions throughout the league. He was named head coach of the Pilots on April 1, 2016.
 
OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES
Portland entered its Jan. 5 game at Santa Clara ranked third in the WCC in scoring at 77.8 points per game. The Pilots then recorded back-to-back season lows in scoring with 42 points at Santa Clara and 33 against Saint Mary's. Portland shot 30.2 percent against the Broncos and 25 percent against the Gaels. The Pilots also made just three and two three-pointers in the games, respectively.  Portland bounced back with a better effort in a 79-78 loss to LMU on Saturday, but was held to 50 points on Thursday at San Francisco.

POSTPONEMENTS GALORE!
Portland has had two games postponed because of inclement weather this year. The Dec. 10 game at Boise State was postponed when the Pilots were unable to fly out of Portland. That game will not be made up this season. The Jan. 7 home game versus Gonzaga was also postponed and has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 23 at 5 p.m.

PORTER INKS FOUR DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
Portland signed four prospects during the early signing period, three incoming freshmen and a junior college transfer:
- JoJo Walker (Santa Maria, Calif./St. Joseph HS). The 6-1, 170-pound point guard was the CIF Southern Section Division 5A Most Valuable Player after leading St. Joseph High School to the 2016 CIF title. He earned All-Area MVP honors while averaging 18.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
- Taki Fahrensohn (Auckland, New Zealand/Auckland Grammar School). A 6-5, 180-pound combo guard, Fahrensohn averaged 33.6 points over seven games at the 2016 New Zealand Secondary Schools Basketball National Championships. He is a member of the New Zealand Junior Tall Blacks, the country's national youth team.
- Tahirou Diabate (Niigate, Japan/Teikyo Nagaoka HS). At 6-10, 215 pounds he averaged 31 points and 18 rebounds per game last season and helped lead his team to the Okinawa Cup, Japan's High School National Championships. He and was named the Most Valuable Player of the event after leading the tournament in points and rebounds.
- Austin Stone (Lake Wylie, S.C./Clover HS/USC Salkehatchie). The 6-9, 225-pound post was a late bloomer to the game and has become a force down low at the Junior College level. Stone will enroll as a junior next fall.