SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Portland opened West Coast Conference play with a heartbreaking 68-63 overtime road loss to the San Diego Toreros Thursday night at Jenny Craig Pavilion. The Pilots led by 17 in the first half, but ran out of gas late in their first game since Dec. 22.

Mike Meadows scored a team-high 16 points for the Pilots (9-7, 0-1 WCC), all coming in the first half. Freshman forward Chika Nduka made his first start of the season and matched his season high with 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Moses Wood recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Marcellus Earlington paced the Toreros (9-7, 2-1) with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Yavuz Gultekin added 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Portland raced out of the gates to a 25-8 lead spurred by five straight baskets from Meadows. The Toreros closed the gap to five in the final minute, but Meadows dropped in a runner just before the break to give the Pilots a 37-30 lead at the half.

San Diego erupted out of halftime and used a 15-4 run to take a 45-41 lead in the first five minutes. The Toreros took their largest lead on a steal and dunk from Earlington for a 52-46 edge with 6:40 remaining.

Wood hit a clutch three and was fouled to make it a two-point game with 5:04 remaining and a Nduka layup tied the game at 58 with 2:26 left. He scored again on the next possession to give Portland its first lead since early in the second half, but Earlington tied it at the other end.

Portland came up empty and USD had a chance to win in regulation, but the Pilots defense got a pair of stops to force overtime. Portland had three good looks at three-pointers to open the overtime period, but couldn't convert as the Toreros went up 62-60 with less than two minutes to go.

Matheus Silveira made two clutch free throws with 1:28 left to tie it before Josh Parrish scored to put USD up two. Wood made 1-of-2 at the foul line with 25 seconds left, but fouled out after his missing the second and Gultekin converted at the line for a 66-63 lead. The Pilots missed two three-pointers in the closing seconds and USD made a pair of free throws to hold on for the victory.

Both teams shot 36 percent from the field, but the Toreros gained a 21-6 edge in points off turnovers courtesy of 16 Pilot giveaways. USD also had a 16-4 edge in fast break points.

Portland will continue its three-game, WCC-opening road trip Saturday at Pepperdine with a 5 p.m. tip-off. The Pilots visit Loyola Marymount on Monday at 4 p.m. Both games will be aired on the WCC Network with live radio coverage on 910 ESPN Portland (KMTT).