Portland secured a win against San Diego with a decisive 22-0 run in the second half, finishing the game 87-74 at the Chiles Center. The victory came during the regular season finale on Saturday.
Garrett Nuckolls led Portland with 20 points. Seniors Jermaine Ballisager Webb and Matus Hronsky contributed 18 and 17 points respectively on Senior Day. Assane Diop was San Diego’s top scorer with 16 points.
The Pilots played without starting forward Cameron Williams, who missed his third consecutive game due to a concussion. NaVaughn Long was also unavailable because of a hand injury.
San Diego started strong, building an early lead of 16-5 and maintaining a four-point advantage at halftime, shooting 56 percent from the field. In the second half, San Diego extended its lead to 53-39 before Portland responded with a key run that shifted momentum. Ballisager Webb scored ten points during this stretch, while Hronsky added two three-pointers.
After regaining the lead at 61-55 with just over nine minutes left, Portland held off another push by San Diego. Nuckolls hit crucial shots as part of a subsequent run that kept Portland ahead for good.
Portland forced 15 turnovers while committing only seven and had a rebounding edge of 31-24. The team also outscored San Diego in the paint by ten points.
Before tipoff, seniors Sam Noland, Matus Hronsky, and Jermaine Ballisager Webb were recognized in a pregame ceremony.
With this result, Portland moves to an overall record of 13-18 (6-12 WCC), while San Diego falls to 11-20 (5-13). The Pilots now turn their attention to the Credit 1 West Coast Conference Basketball Championship in Las Vegas from March 5–10. Their opening round opponent will be determined after Sunday’s bracket announcement.
