PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots could not overcome a cold shooting second half and dropped a 70-58 non-conference men's basketball game to Grambling State on Saturday night at the Chiles Center. In the first game since semester finals concluded on Thursday, the Pilots made just 1-of-15 three-pointers and scored only 23 second half points.

Sophomore guard Marcus Shaver Jr. led the Pilots with 14 points and five rebounds, while redshirt freshman center Hugh Hogland finished with 11 points for his second straight double figures scoring game off the bench. JoJo Walker added 12 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Walker paced Portland to a 35-34 halftime lead with eight first half points, but the Pilots (6-6) could not buy a bucket after intermission. The home team shot just 9-of-29 from the field and converted 4-of-9 free throws in the second half.

Despite the offensive struggles, the game came down to the wire as a 6-0 run cut the Tigers' lead to 60-56 with 2:12 remaining. Portland got a defensive stop and had a 3-on-1 fast break, but was called for an offensive foul and then Anthony Gaston buried a back-breaking three-pointer for a 63-56 lead with 1:15 to go.

Portland shot 35 percent overall from the field, was 4-of-27 from three-point range and 18-of-27 at the free throw line. The Tigers finished at 38 percent from the floor, 9-of-24 from beyond the arc and 17-for-22 at the charity stripe.

Grambling State gained a 44-34 rebounding margin in the game and was led by Ivy Smith Jr. with 13 points and nine assists. Dallas Polk-Hilliard added 12 points, while Lasani Johnson and Zavier Peart chipped in 11 and 10, respectively.

Sophomore forward Jacob Tryon made his return to the lineup after missing the previous ten games with a foot injury and scored his first official points as a Pilot with a pair of first half free throws.

Portland continues its homestand on Monday night when the Seattle University Redhawks visit for a 7 p.m. tip-off and then welcomes Florida A&M on Friday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. Kids 12 and younger will receive free admission to both games and tickets are available for all upcoming home games by visiting PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or calling 503-943-GOUP.