PORTLAND, Ore. – Kelson Gebbers hit a dagger 3-pointer with 1:56 left in the fourth quarter to put Portland ahead 68-59, and the Pilots earned a 74-64 victory against the Lafayette Leopards at Chiles Center Saturday.
The Pilots (5-8) had three players score in double figures, led by Chris Austin, who had 20 points. Austin Rapp tacked on 15 points and eight rebounds and Gebbers helped out with 10 points off of the bench.
The Portland offense was very productive from downtown, knocking down nine threes on 19 attempts. Mikah Ballew was the most prolific shooter for the Pilots, draining two treys in the contest.
Portland's defense held Lafayette to only 38.9 percent shooting from the field. The Leopards did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with four offensive rebounds and managed zero second chance points while Portland cleared 33 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
After falling behind 9-8, Portland went on a 9-0 run with 10:42 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Rapp, to take a 17-9 lead. The Pilots then added one point to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 31-22 advantage. Portland relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down five shots to account for 15 of its 31 points.
Lafayette proceeded to take a 42-41 lead before Portland went on an 8-0 run, finished off by Ballew's three, to seize a 49-42 lead with 10:05 to go in the contest. The Pilots kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 74-64 win. Portland got a boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 28 of its 43 total points.
Game Notes
» The Pilots shot well from three point range, knocking down nine of 19 long range attempts.
» The Pilots held the Leopards to only 38.9 percent shooting from the field.
» The Pilots shared the ball well, recording an assist on 80 percent of made baskets.
» The Portland bench made an impact by adding 45 points to its scoring output.
» Chris Austin and Kelson Gebbers came off the bench to score 20 and 10 points, respectively.
» Portland had a 36-28 edge on the boards in the win.
» Chris Austin led the Pilots with a game-high 20 points.
» Portland got a game-high eight rebounds from Austin Rapp.
Get Your Tickets Now!
Secure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or by downloading the Portland Pilots App. For group and fan experience package information, email pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a contribution to University of Portland Athletics can do so by clicking here. Your gift helps our over 300 student-athletes compete at the highest level – on and off the field - in the rapidly changing world of intercollegiate athletics. All gifts to Pilot Athletics are 100% tax deductible.
Follow Along With the Action
Get the latest news and information about your favorite University of Portland athletic programs by visiting PortlandPilots.com. You can also follow along for the most dynamic coverage and team-centric content by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Instagram.