MORAGA, Calif. – In a game that featured 11 ties and six lead changes, the No. 20 Saint Mary's Gaels pulled away late for a 51-41 victory over the Portland Pilots Thursday night at McKeon Pavilion. The Gaels improve to 22-2 overall and 12-1 in West Coast Conference play, while the Pilots drop to 9-16 and 2-11 in league play.
Free throws made the difference in the second half as the Gaels converted 14-of-18 from the line after the half. Portland finished 7-for-7 in the game. The game was tied at 22 at the half.
Andre Ferguson converted a three-point play to give the Pilots a 29-28 lead early in the second half, but the Gaels answered with 16-6 run sparked by an Emmett Naar three-pointer and two layups. Foul trouble plagued the Pilots in the closing minutes as Saint Mary's repeatedly went to the line, while the Pilots never got into the bonus.
Portland played its seventh straight game without the services of All-WCC point guard Alec Wintering who was lost for the year with a torn ACL. Wintering had successful surgery on the knee on Wednesday. The Pilots also were without freshman center Joseph Smoyer who suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice on Tuesday.
Sophomore guard Jazz Johnson led the Pilots with 10 points and continued his streak of reaching double figures in every game this season. Senior Jarrel Marshall provided a boost off the bench with nine points.
Jock Landale led the Gaels with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Naar and Joe Rahon added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Portland was able to give Saint Mary's fits by extending the shot clock at both ends of the floor and varying defensive schemes to keep the Gaels off balance. Saint Mary's shot just 31 percent from the field for the game, while the Pilots finished at 33 percent.
The first half featured six ties and three lead changes before Ray Barreno capped the period with a layup to make it 22-22 going into the break.
Portland continues its road trip with the Saturday afternoon WCC Game of the Week against Loyola Marymount at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on ROOT Sports, Spectrum SportsNet, and CSN Bay Area. Radio coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. on 910 ESPN-Portland.