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By Malika Andrews |
The Pilots returned to The Chiles Center to host Portland State University and Oregon State University on Dec. 3 and 6, respectively.
After an exciting back-and-forth second half that led to overtime, the Pilots fell to the Oregon State Beavers 65-58 on Saturday night.
The team shot only 20 percent for 3-pointer,s but were led by senior guard Bobby Sharp who had 12 points, nine of them from the 3-point line.
Earlier in the week, the Pilots led for almost the entire game in their battle against their crosstown rival, the PSU Vikings, on Thursday. Sophomore point guard, Alec Wintering, scored a career high of 27 points, leading to the team’s 83-71 victory.
“I was able to make shots early,” said Wintering. “Guys were finding me, I just let the game come to me. I’m playing less scared than I did last year - its maturity. I’m a sophomore now. I am just more comfortable with the system and just more comfortable playing with these guys. I put in extra work over the summer and it paid off.”
The team played the majority of the game without leading scorer Kevin Bailey, who left the game late in the first half due to a foot injury. Bailey did not return to the game, nor did he suit up for the Oregon State game.
This 6-1 start is the Pilots’ best start since 1995-1996, when they won six of their first seven games.
“When you earn it like this, it is easier to handle [success]”, said head coach Eric Reveno, “We have a mature group that has worked hard for it. I think there are some technical things [to improve on], but in terms of being hungry, they’ve paid their dues and they feel like they deserve it.”
The Pilots have a week off before traveling to Sacramento State on Sunday, Dec. 14 to start off their two-game road trip. They will continue to Nevada to take on UNLV on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Malika Andrews is the sports editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at andrewsm17@up.edu or on Twitter @malika_andrews
