Portland defeats Pepperdine 74-62

Feb 15, 2014, 07:04 pm

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Ryan Nicholas scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds to help put Portland over Pepperdine 74-62 on Saturday.

Thomas van der Mars added 15 points and five rebounds for the Pilots (15-11, 7-7). Tanner Riley scored 10 points and Korey Thieleke and Alec Wintering had eight apiece.

Portland took a 15-5 lead early in the first half with Nicholas sinking a pair of 3-pointers and Riley hitting 5 for 5 from the line. The Pilots led 40-33 at the break.

Pepperdine came within four points on a Stacy Davis 3 at 6:52 in the second but could not get any closer as Nicholas sealed the win for the Pilots with 10 points -- including 6 of 6 from the line -- in the final six minutes.

Malcolm Brooks finished with 15 points for the Waves (14-13, 7-8) who hit just 35 percent from the field during the contest.