PORTLAND, Ore. – The Pacific men's basketball program went cold early in the second half and dropped a 78-64 decision to Portland on Saturday at the Chiles Center.
 
The Tigers (6-11, 0-2 WCC) only trailed 33-30 at the half when they started the second going 0-for-6 from three, while the Pilots (7-9, 1-0 WCC) hit four of their first six threes to create separation. It came after a highly competitive first half which featured five ties and six lead changes.
 
It was the first WCC road game of the year for Pacific. Junior Cam Denson led the Tigers with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting and secured six rebounds.
 
Nearing a double-double was senior Donovan Williams with 10 points and nine rebounds. Fellow senior Nick Blake also reached double-figures with 12 points.
 
The Tigers posted a positive 11-9 turnover margin and outscored the Pilots 14-8 in points off turnovers. Sophomore Moe Odum grabbed a pair of steals after coming into the game ranked top-five in the WCC in steals per game (1.4 spg).
 
Portland caught fire in the second half where it shot 17-of-30 (.567) from the field and 8-of-16 (.500) from beyond-the-arc. Tyler Robertson guided the team with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Tigers led 8-5 early after a driving layup by Denson. They were still ahead 14-12 after a bucket by Williams at the 10:53 mark.
 
Pacific was in front 20-18 when the Pilots answered with an 8-0 spurt to go up 26-20 at the 4:36 mark. A buzzer beater from nearly half court by junior Tyler Beard trimmed it to 33-30 at the intermission.
 

T. Beard ending the half in style !!!#PacificProud pic.twitter.com/Gwfuen8kC0

— Pacific Men's Basketball (@PacificMensBB) January 7, 2024

Portland came out of the gates hot in the second half and hit four of its first six three-pointers to build a 49-35 edge with 15:13 remaining. The Tigers responded with threes by freshman Tan Yildizoglu and senior Judson Martindale to make it a 57-47 game with 9:48 to go.
 
After a lay-up by Blake changed it to 60-49, the Pilots hit a trio of long balls to go back up 69-49 with 7:57 left. Portland's largest lead of the game was 74-50 with 5:56 remaining.
 
The Tigers made a late 11-2 push as a three by Blake cut it to 76-61 at the 2:59 mark.
 
It was the first of three consecutive road games for the Tigers who will travel to Pepperdine for a 7 p.m. game Thursday. The next home game is Thursday, Jan. 18 when Pacific hosts Santa Clara at 7 p.m. at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
 
NOTES
- Pacific is now 31-16 all-time against Portland and 11-11 on the road. The two teams split a pair of meetings last season, each winning at home.
 
- Denson has reached double-figures in scoring in three of the last four games, nine times this year and 13 times in his career. His seven made field goals matched a career-high.
 
- After missing the first 11 games of the year, Blake has registered five consecutive double-figure scoring games. It was the 30th of his career. Blake was 4-of-8 from the floor and drilled a pair of threes.
 
- Williams was one rebound away from his second career double-double. He tallied his 13th career double-digit scoring performance, seventh this season and second in a row after netting 15 points Thursday against San Francisco. Williams drew six fouls against Portland.
 
- Martindale returned to the lineup after missing the last two games. He nailed a pair of threes and finished with six points in 12 minutes.
 
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