Portland, OR—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team opened the 2016-17 campaign Friday evening at Portland, but ran into a human buzz saw in the form of Pilots senior Alec Wintering who just missed out on a triple double with 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the 71-55 Portland victory.
The Highlanders led 6-3 at the first media timeout, as Wintering missed his first four shots from the field. He caught fire immediately thereafter, however, making his next five shots and scoring 10 straight points to put the Pilots on top 13-9. Jazz Johnson scored the next five points of the game to put Portland up nine, 18-9.
A Malik Thames' three-pointer ended the run, and the senior scored eight of the team's next 12 points to slice the Pilots advantage to one, 22-21 with 7:04 to go in the first. That was the last basket the Highlanders would score before intermission, however, as Portland took a nine-point lead into the break, 33-24.
Thames scored nine of his team-high 18 points in the first, including making two of three from long distance, but the rest of the Highlanders struggled to solve the Pilots' zone defense, going a combined six for 20 from the field and 0 for six from three-point range.
Portland Head Coach Terry Porter went away from the zone to start the second half, but the Highlanders could get no closer than seven early in the period, but every time UC Riverside made a run, Withering would answer.
The Highlanders continued to struggle from long range missing 15 of 18 three-pointers in the second half, and 22 of 27 for the game.
Johnson joined Wintering in double figures for Portland with 17 points, while Game Taylor added 15 points and eight boards. Secean Johnson (12 points) and Chance Murray (11) were UC Riverside's other double-digit scorers.
The Highlanders return home Sunday for a 2 pm PT tip against Bristol University at the SRC Arena.
