Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. – The DePaul Blue Demons beat the Portland Pilots, 82-69, Sunday in the 7th-place game of the Victory Bracket at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the inaugural PK80 Phil Knight Invitational.

Max Strus scored a game-high 21 points, while Marin Maric added 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Blue Demons (2-4).

Franklin Porter tallied a team-high 16 points for the Pilots (2-4). Marcus Shaver Jr. and Josh McSwiggan added 15 points and 14 points, respectively, while Philip Hartwich chipped in seven points and 12 rebounds.

Portland continued its hot perimeter shooting for the tournament by draining 14-of-27 three-pointers. The Pilots finished PK80 by making 39-of-82 (.476) from beyond the arc.

Turnovers and rebounds were the difference in the game on Sunday as DePaul gained a 41-29 rebounding margin and 19-12 edge in points off of turnovers.

It was an uphill battle from the start for Portland as DePaul jumped out to an 8-0 lead and was on fire from the field in the early going. The Blue Demons raced out to a 36-17 lead midway through the first half in large part to Portland's inability to control the ball.

The Pilots cut the deficit to 45-33, but a four-point play by Max Strus just before the half gave the Blue Demons a 49-33 lead at the break. DePaul outscored the Pilots 17-2 in points off turnovers in the period.

The margin grew to 18 early in the second half, but Portland stormed back behind a barrage of three-pointers. Hartwich made layup and then blocked a shot at the other end to start a transition break capped by a Franklin Porter three to make it a 64-57 deficit and force DePaul to call a timeout. The Blue Demons would come out of the break and use a 10-0 run to thwart the rally.

Portland shot 46 percent from the field, but made just 7-of-14 free throws, while DePaul finished at 46 percent overall, 12-for-25 from three-point range and 6-of-9 at the foul line.

The Blue Demons had 22 assists and 10 turnovers, while the Pilots finished with 18 assists and 14 giveaways.

Portland will return to the court on Thursday to host Multnomah University at 7 p.m. at the Chiles Center. Tickets for that game and all other Pilot home games are available at PortlandPilots.com/Tickets.