PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots led by as much as 30 late and completed a 73-56 win against the USC Upstate Spartans Wednesday night on day one of the Portland Classic at the Chiles Center. Josh McSwiggan led Portland with 17 points as the team extended its win streak to three games.

The Pilots (4-2) were dominant defensively and in the interior. Portland held Upstate to 28 percent shooting in the game, outrebounded the Spartans (1-3) by a 47-36 margin and gained a 30-16 edge in points in the paint.

McSwiggan was an efficient 5-of-7 from the field, including 4-of-6 from three-point range. He also finished 3-of-4 at the foul line, missing his only free throw in 24 attempts this season.

Sophomore guard Marcus Shaver Jr. added 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in a balanced effort for the Pilots (4-2). Sophomore guard JoJo Walker finished with 11 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Freshman center Theo Akwuba grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and blocked three shots. It is the second straight game in double digit rebounds and three blocks for the Montgomery, Ala. native.

Portland led from start-to-finish as McSwiggan buried a pair of early three-pointers for a 19-8 lead. Shaver Jr. hit a pair of free throws and finished at the rim on the break to make it 26-10. A pair of Malcom Porter free throws and Akwuba dunk on the last possession gave the Pilots a 38-19 halftime lead.

McSwiggan and Walker hit back-to-back threes and another Akwuba dunk in the lane capped an 11-0 run early in the second half for a 54-28 edge. The lead was 30 at 69-39 after a Tahirou Diabate dunk with 5:03 remaining.

Portland emptied its bench and Upstate whittled the deficit down in the closing minutes.

Freshman Josh Phillips earned his first minutes of the season for the Pilots and recorded his first collegiate points with a dunk late in regulation.

Deion Holmes, a Preseason All-Big South Conference selection, finished with a team-high 20 points off the bench in his season debut. He was the lone Spartan to reach double figures.

In the tournament's opening game on Wednesday, Texas State pulled away for a 54-42 victory. The Portland Classic continues Friday with USC Upstate and Texas State at 4:30 p.m. followed by the Pilots hosting Cal Poly at 7 p.m. The tournament concludes on Saturday and features a basketball tripleheader. The UP women host Cal State Fullerton at noon, followed by Cal Poly versus USC Upstate at 2:30 p.m. and Portland against Texas State at 5 p.m. For tickets, visit PortlandPilots.com/Tickets.