SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Max Mackinnon scored a career high 28 points but the Portland men's basketball team fell to the San Francisco Dons 81-72 Thursday night in West Coast Conference play at The Sobrato Center.

The Pilots (5-13, 0-5 WCC) had three players score in double figures, led by Mackinnon, who had 28 points and two steals. Austin Rapp added 19 points and eight rebounds and Chris Austin helped out with 12 points and six rebounds.

Portland got plenty of open looks offensively, both at the rim and beyond the arc, but struggled to convert and finished the game at 43 percent overall and 5-for-22 from three-point range. The Dons (14-4, 4-1) shot 50 percent overall and were 9 of 23 from three.

How It Happened
The game was close throughout the opening period as the largest lead for either team was seven points. The Pilots scored the first four points on layups by Mackinnon and Rapp. Consecutive baskets by Marcus Williams gave San Francisco its first lead at 10-8. The Dons led 15-8 before Portland cut the deficit back to one possession. Malik Thomas closed the half with a three-pointer and two free throws to give USF a 37-31 lead at the break.
Portland's defense was stout in the first half and the offense created many open looks, but the team missed numerous layups and went just 1-for-8 from three-point range. Mackinnon and Rapp combined for 19 first half points to lead the Pilots.

The Dons opened the second half with a 13-4 run capped by a Williams three-pointer to open up a 15-point lead. Mackinnon heated up and his layup cut the deficit to 57-50 midway through the period but that would be as close as it would get down the stretch.

Game Notes
» Max Mackinnon, Austin Rapp, and Chris Austin combined to account for 82 percent of the Pilots points.
» Portland cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 14 offensive boards in the game.
» San Francisco outrebounded the Pilots by a 39-32 margin overall and 16-10 in second chance points.
» Max Mackinnon led the Pilots with a game-high 28 points.
» Portland got a game-high eight rebounds from Austin Rapp.

Up Next

The Pilots get the weekend off before hosting the Pacific Tigers on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.

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