PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland extended its winning streak to five games with a 65-56 victory over Incarnate Word Sunday night at the Chiles Center. Junior guards Malcolm Porter and JoJo Walker led the way with 15 points each, while Tahirou Diabate added 10 points and a team-high six rebounds.

The Pilots improve to 6-1 on the season which matches the second best seven-game start in program history. The feat has been accomplished just eight times since Portland moved to the NCAA Division I level for the 1958-59 season. The 2014-15 Pilots was the last squad to open with a 6-1 record, while the 1978-79 UP team opened the year with 13 straight wins.

Portland last won five straight games to open the 2014-15 season. The Pilots have not won six in a row since the 2008-09 season.

Sunday's game featured five ties and 17 lead changes as Portland struggled to find a rhythm following an eight-day break in game action.

The Pilot defense came up big down the stretch as the Cardinals (2-6) were held without a field goal for nearly seven minutes late in regulation as Portland closed the game with a 20-7. UIW made just two field goals in the final 10 minutes.

In all six Portland wins this season, the Pilots have shot 47 percent or better and held their opponents to under 45 percent. Portland finished at 47.7 percent shooting from the field and held the Cardinals to 37 percent overall.

Trailing 34-33 at the half, the Cardinals pushed the margin to 49-45 with 10:38 remaining. Walker and Jacob Tryon converted consecutive layups and then Walker made a free throw to give the Pilots a 50-49 lead.

Dez Balentine gave the lead back to UIW with a layup, but Isaiah White buried a step-back three-pointer for a 53-51 lead that the Pilots would not relinquish.

White followed with his third blocked shot of the game and was rewarded at the other end with a driving dunk on a feed from Porter forcing a UIW timeout. Portland maintained at least a two-possession lead the rest of regulation.

The Cardinals were able to stick around by collecting 17 offensive rebounds. Keaston Willis led UIW with 16 points.

Portland entered the game ranked No. 4 nationally in three-point percentage (.443) and once again shot the ball well from deep. The team converted 8-of-17 three-pointers (.471) on Sunday.

Portland will return to the Chiles Center on Wednesday to host the CSUN Matadors at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 503-943-GOUP or visiting PortlandPilots.com/Tickets.