PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland men's basketball team shot 57 percent from field and 50 percent from beyond the arc on the way to a 100-69 win against the Willamette Bearcats at Chiles Center Monday.
The Pilots (4-7) had three players score in double figures, led by Bol Dengdit, who had a career high 19 points and six rebounds. Mezziah Oakman also set career bests with 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Jermaine Ballisager Webb helped out with 14 points.
The Portland offense was very productive from deep, making 10 threes on 20 attempts. Coleman Lemke was the most prolific shooter for the Pilots, draining two treys in the contest while making his first career start.
Portland was also dominant on the interior racking up 50 points in the paint. The Pilots did a great job disrupting Willamette shots in the contest, coming away with seven blocked shots. Max Mackinnon's two rejections led the way individually for the Pilots.
How It Happened
After jumping out to an 8-2 advantage, Portland went on an 8-0 run with 17:22 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Max MacKinnon, to increase its lead to 16-2. The Pilots then added 10 points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 56-32 advantage. Portland did most of its first half damage in the paint, scoring 32 of its 56 points close to the basket.
Portland kept its lead intact before going on a 9-0 run, finished off by Oakman's layup, to grow the lead to 98-66 with 1:13 to go in the contest. The Bearcats narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Pilots still cruised the rest of the way for the 100-69 win. Portland got a boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 22 of its 44 total points.
Game Notes
» The Pilots made half of their attempts from three point range, knocking down 10 of 20 shots.
» The Pilots held the Bearcats to only 35.6 percent shooting from the field.
» Portland never trailed on the way to a 100-69 victory.
» Portland tallied 26 total assists in the game.
» The Portland bench made an impact by scoring 54 points to its scoring output.
» Portland had a 45-34 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Portland defense forced 15 turnovers.
» The Pilots were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying seven blocks as a team.
» Portland turned the ball over 13 times while dishing out 26 assists.
» Bol Dengdit and Mezziah Oakman led the Pilots with a game-high 19 points each.
» Dengdit was 8 for 10 from the field and Oakman was 8 of 9 overall.
» Portland got eight rebounds from both Max Mackinnon and Mezziah Oakman.
» Second leading scorer Austin Rapp (ankle) did not play.
» Max Mackinnon filled the stat sheet with nine points, eight rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocked shots.
» Jermaine Ballisager Webb matched his season high with 14 points for the third time in four games.
» Redshirt freshman G Jude Harris scored his first collegiate points with a jumper late in regulation.
Up Next
Portland continues its homestand Wednesday with a 7 p.m. tip-off against Cal State Bakersfield and then concludes non-league action with a Saturday doubleheader. The Pilot men face Lafayette at 1 p.m. followed by the UP women versus Pacific at 3:30 p.m.
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