CORVALLIS, Ore. – Portland was on fire from the field early, but the Oregon State Beavers withstood the early onslaught and came away with an 89-79 win Monday night in West Coast Conference action at Gill Coliseum.
Portland started the game by making 15 of 16 field goals, including 6-for-7 from three-point range to jump out to a 10-point lead, but the Beavers never let the margin get too far out of reach and took the lead before halftime.
Austin Rapp led the Pilots with 22 points and six rebounds, while Max Mackinnon and Jermaine Ballisager Webb added 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Michael Rataj finished with a game-high 28 points to lead five Beavers in double figures.
How it Happened
The Pilots jumped out to a 36-26 lead with 7:27 left in the first half, but went scoreless for the final six minutes of the period as Oregon State took a 46-39 lead into halftime. OSU's answer to Portland's blistering start was Rataj who started 7-for-7 from the field and ended the first half with 18 points. OSU shot 68 percent from the field in the first half, while Portland finished at 63 percent.
The 17-0 OSU run extended into the second half and the Beavers pushed the edge to 54-42. Portland refused to quit and a four-point play by Rapp made it a 66-62 deficit with 7:41 remaining. A 9-0 run by the Beavers essentially put the game away.
Game Notes
» The Pilots shot well from three point range, knocking down 12 of 30 long range attempts.
» The Pilots shared the ball well, recording an assists on 17 of 27 field goals.
» Austin Rapp led the Pilots with 22 points.
» Portland got a game-high six rebounds from Rapp.
» Michael Rataj scored 28 points on 12-for-15 from the field and added five rebounds and five assists.
» The Beavers outrebounded the Pilots by a 29-19 margin.
» The Pilots shot 52 percent overall, while the Beavers finished at 61 percent for the game.
Up Next
The Pilots continue WCC play at No. 19 Gonzaga on Thursday and then return to host Saint Mary's on Saturday at 7 p.m.
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 the Pilot Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly helps our nearly 300 student-athletes as they strive to make a difference in our community and achieve academic and athletic excellence. Thank you for support of Pilot Athletics!
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.