Pilots @ Montana 12/3 6 PM PST

Pilots Begin Four-Game Road Trip at Montana

Pilots (6-2) at Montana (3-2)
Friday • Dec. 3 • 6:00 p.m. (PST) • Missoula, Mont. (Dahlberg Arena – 7,500)
Radio: 800 AM (KPDQ)
Live Video/Stats: MontanaGrizzlies.com
Live Audio: PortlandPilots.com
Series: UM leads 12-8
Last Meeting: UP 58, UM 57 (2007-08 at UM)


This Week in Pilots Hoops…
The Portland Pilots (6-2) begin a four-game road trip in Missoula, Mont. and take on the Montana Grizzlies (3-2). Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST) at Dahlberg Arena. Portland enters the game having won two straight, while the Grizzlies are a perfect 3-0 on their home court. Montana is coming off of a 22-10 season a year ago and appearance in the NCAA Tournament.


Game Coverage
All Portland games will be aired live on the radio in the Portland market on 800 AM (KPDQ) with Bill Johnson providing the play-by-play, including a 30-minute pregame show. The feed will be simulcast online at PortlandPilots.com. Montana will have a free video feed of the game and live statistics via MontanaGrizzlies.com.


Portland Briefly...
-The Pilots improved to 5-0 at the Chiles Center with a 69-60 win over Saint Louis on Tuesday night. Luke Sikma scored a career-high 26 points in the win as Portland’s frontcourt combined for 48 points on 21-for-33 shooting. Jasonn Hannibal also added a career-best 12 points.
-Sikma is leading the WCC and is sixth in the nation in rebounding (12.0).
-Jared Stohl’s 30 three-pointers made lead the nation as of Dec. 2. He led the nation in three-point percentage last season (.478) and could become the first player in NCAA history to do it two years in a row. Stohl is already the UP record holder in threes made (275) and is fourth in WCC history. He is 30-for-58 this season from the three-point line (.517).
-Nemanja Mitrovic has reached double figures in the last four games and in six of the eight total games this season.
-The Pilots 30-4 at the Chiles Center since the beginning of the 2008-09 season (5-0 this year) and have led by at least 16 points in all five wins this season in the building.
-Portland ranks sixth nationally in team three-point percentage (.444).
-Portland is ranked No. 18 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25.
-Stohl was named to the WCC Preseason All-Conference Team and the Pilots were picked to finish fifth by the league’s head coaches in the WCC Preseason Poll.
-Portland returns one starter from last year’s 21-11 squad (Kramer Knutson) along with Sikma and Stohl, both All-WCC honorable mention honorees last season.
-Head coach Eric Reveno returns with his staff for their fifth season together at Portland. He is the third longest tenured head coach in the WCC.
-The Pilots matched a school Division I record with 21 wins last season, following a 19-win 2008-09 campaign. Both years Portland was invited to the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.


About Montana
-Head coach Wayne Tinkle is in his fifth year at Montana and posts a career record of 73-55.
-After losing road games at Nevada (81-66) and Utah (82-69) to open the season, the Grizzlies have won three straight home games against Montana Tech (78-51), Idaho (75-33) and Cal State Fullerton (75-67).
-Sophomore PG Will Cherry equaled his career-high with 24 points in both of the Grizzlies victories over Idaho and Fullerton.
-Cherry (17.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.8 spg), senior C Brian Qvale (15.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg) and junior F Derek Selvig (10.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg) provide the Grizzlies with experience.
-Qvale is second in school history and fifth in Big Sky history with 167 career blocked shots.
-UM returns two starters and five lettermen from last year’s team that finished 22-10, won the Big Sky Conference Tournament and fell 62-57 to New Mexico in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
-The Grizzlies were picked second in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches’ Poll and third in the Preseason Media Poll.


Sikma and Fellow Bigs Play Big
Portland has finished in the top 5 nationally in three-point percentage the last two years and are No. 6 in the nation early this season. Teams have challenged Portland’s frontcourt to score while staying home on shooters and the bigs have come through. Luke Sikma scored a career-high 26 points against St. Louis on Tuesday, while fellow senior Jasonn Hannibal also had a career-high with 12 points. Senior C Kramer Knutson chipped in 10 points as the trio combined to score 48 points on 21-of-33 (.636) shooting from the field.


Stohl Named WCC Player of the Week
Jared Stohl was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week after averaging 23.5 points in two Pilot games last week. Stohl erupted for a season-high 26 points in a 74-63 win over UC Santa Barbara after scoring a team-high 21 points against Washington State. He went a combined 12-for-23 from the field (.522), 11-for-21 from three-point range (.524), and 12-of-13 at the foul line (.923) in the two games. Stohl also grabbed three rebounds, three assists and two steals.


Mitrovic Plays Through Pain
Junior G Nemanja Mitrovic suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee in the second half against Washington State on Nov. 23, but was still able to provide a lift off the Pilots bench on Saturday with 11 points against UCSB. He moved back into his starting roll on Tuesday versus Saint Louis and finished with 10 points. Mitrovic has reached double figures in six of eight games this season, including the last four. He also has at least two three-pointers in six games and is shooting 44.4 percent from beyond the arc (16-36).


Stohl No. 1 Nationally in Three-Pointers Made; Chases WCC Record
Jared Stohl leads the nation in three-pointers made early on this season with 30 through the first eight games. Already the Portland leader in career three-pointers made (275), Stohl is chasing the WCC record of 363 held by Jeff Fryer of LMU (1987-90). He moved into fourth place in the WCC record book and trails Richie Frahm (Gonzaga, 1997-00) by five for third place.


Sikma Sixth Nationally in Rebounds
Senior F Luke Sikma is leading the West Coast Conference and ranks No. 6 nationally in rebounding average (12.0). Sikma has corralled double-digit rebounds in five of the team’s first eight games. He matched his career-high with 19 rebounds versus Florida Atlantic on Nov. 14 and also grabbed 18 rebounds at Idaho on Nov. 20. He has three double-doubles already this season and 13 for his career.


Sikma Climbing UP Charts
Luke Sikma has put up big numbers in a variety of statistical categories throughout his career on The Bluff and could end up as the school’s career leader in rebounds. He currently ranks sixth in the UP record book with 746 career rebounds. Rick Raivio (1976-80) is the all-time leader with 910 rebounds. Sikma also ranks in the school’s top 10 in field goal percentage (6th, .530) and blocked shots (4th, 72). The Bellevue, Wash. native is nearing the Top 20 in career assists (21st, 192) and steals (22nd, 89).


Stohl Joins 1,000-Point Club
Senior G Jared Stohl became the 33rd player in school history to eclipse 1,000 career points after his 24-point effort on Sunday versus Florida Atlantic on Nov. 14. Stohl entered the season with 951 points. He ranks 19th in Portland history with 1,079 career points.


Stohl Looks to Make NCAA History
Junior sharpshooter Jared Stohl led the nation in three-point percentage according to the final 2010 NCAA statistics. The Marysville, Wash. native finished 98-205 (.478) on the season. As a sophomore in 2009, he finished third nationally at 45.6 percent. Stohl can become the first player in NCAA history to lead the country in three-point percentage two years in a row. He is off to a good start, going 30-for-58 (.517) through eight games from beyond the arc.


Stohl Obliterates UP Three-Point Record
With four three-pointers at Santa Clara on Jan. 30, 2010 Jared Stohl became the Portland career leader in three-pointers made. Stohl now has 275 career threes, 64 more than second place Casey Frandsen (211, 2000-04). Stohl also ranks second in career three-point percentage (.459), trailing only format teammate T.J. Campbell (.478). He led the WCC last season in three-pointers made per game (3.1) and his 98 three-pointers tied for second place in UP single-season history, eight shy of Peter McKelvey’s record from the 1991-92 season. Stohl also owns the UP single-game record by drilling 10 three-pointers on Dec. 22, 2009 against Idaho, breaking his own school record. He finished 10-for-15 from three-point range for 30 points. He set the previous record by going 9-for-13 against San Francisco on Jan. 15, 2009.


Pilots Among WCC Statistical Leaders
Luke Sikma leads the WCC in rebounds (12.0) and also ranks in the Top 10 in assists, steals and blocked shots. Jared Stohl leads the league in free throw percentage (.960) and three-pointers made per game (3.. Stohl is also fifth in scoring at 16.0 points per game. Eric Waterford is third in assist/turnover ration (2.5), fourth in three-point percentage (.529) and sixth in assists (3.4). Kramer Knutson is seventh in blocked shots (10). As a team, Portland leads the league in three-point percentage (.444) and three-pointers per game (8.0).


Pilots Again Among National Three-Point Leaders
Portland is currently ranked No. 6 nationally in team three-point percentage (.444). Last year Portland finished fifth nationally as a team in three-point percentage (.407), while the Pilots finished second nationally in 2008-09 (.418).


Home Court Edge
The Chiles Center has become quite comfortable for the Pilots over the last three seasons as Portland has rattled off a 30-4 home record. Signature home wins have come against Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Saint Mary’s twice in the last two seasons. Portland is off to a 5-0 start at the Chiles Center already this year and have yet to trail on their home floor. The Pilots have had at least 16-point leads in each of the five victories.


Pilots No. 18 in CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25
Portland dropped one spot to No. 18 in this week’s CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. WCC rival Gonzaga is No. 2, while fellow WCC power Saint Mary’s came in at No. 3 this week.


Pilots Earn Tournament, Conference Honors after Big Weekend
Senior F Luke Sikma was named the AIA Classic Most Valuable Player and was also named the WCC Co-Player of the Week on Nov. 15 after leading the Pilots to three wins and the AIA Classic title. He averaged 11.3 points and 13.0 rebounds, including a dominating 15-point, 19-rebound performance in the de facto championship game against Florida Atlantic on Nov. 14. Senior G Jared Stohl and freshman G Tanner Riley joined Sikma on the all-tournament team.


Sikma to Provide Season-Long Blog on PortlandPilots.com
Get behind the scenes anecdotes and information on the University of Portland men’s basketball team through the eyes of senior captain Luke Sikma. The Bellevue, Wash. native will give a unique, in-depth look at the UP basketball program. Fans can also send questions and comments to Luke, so make sure to bookmark www.portlandpilots.com/SikmaBlog!


Stohl Earns Preseason All-Conference Nod
Senior G Jared Stohl was recognized the WCC coaches as one of the top 10 returning players in the WCC as a member of the preseason all-conference team. Stohl has earned All-WCC honorable mention honors each of the last two seasons.


Knutson, Sikma Voted Team Captains
Portland head coach Eric Reveno always lets his players choose the team captains at the beginning of every season. This year, Pilot seniors Kramer Knutson and Luke Sikma were voted captains by their peers. Knutson is a three-year starting center and two-time WCC All-Academic pick, while Sikma earned All-WCC honorable mention honors last year.


Staff Stability
Eric Reveno was named the 2009 WCC and District 9 Coach of the Year after leading UP to a 10-win improvement during the 2008-09 season. Now in his fifth year on The Bluff, Reveno credits the stability of his coaching staff as key to the program’s turnaround. All three assistants that joined Reveno when he was hired in April of 2006 have remained on the Portland bench ever since. No other team in the WCC has kept an entire staff together the last five years. Reveno is the third longest tenured WCC coach behind Gonzaga’s Mark Few (12) and Saint Mary’s Randy Bennett (10).


New Video Scoreboard Unveiled in Chiles Center
The Chiles Center will have a very new look as a centerhung video scoreboard was installed this fall. The new video board will allow for instant replays, real-time stats, and live game action from a three-camera arena feed. The board will also be hooked up to DirectTV to allow for watch arena watch parties or other viewing desires. The new board became operational on Nov. 1, 2010.


Three Recruits Inked During Early Signing Period
Portland signed Kevin Bailey (Clovis, Calif./East Clovis HS), Dorian Cason (Fontana, Calif./Summit HS) and David Carr (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic HS) to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period, head coach Eric Reveno announced. Bailey is an athletic and skilled 6-5 wing who is rated a top 150 national recruit according to Rivals.com and is the No. 11 prospect in the state of California. Cason is a long and mobile 6-7 power forward, also rated as a top 25 California prospect. Carr is a sharpshooting 6-2 guard that also led his high school team in rebounding and assists last season.


Two-Year Run Best in UP History
The Pilots strung together one of the most successful two-year runs since Portland joined Division I for the 1958-59 season. With 19 WCC wins in the last two years, the Pilots established the best two-year league run for wins in program history. The team has also matched the single-season wins mark (21, 1994-95) and wins in consecutive seasons mark (40, 1994-96).

Best Two-Year Records in UP History Since 1958-59
Overall W-L (Years) WCC W-L (Years)
40-19 (1994-96) 19-9 (2009-10))
40-23 (2008-10) 17-11 (1995-96

37-18 (1977-79) 16-12 (1994-95)
35-21 (1978-80) 16-12 (1981-82)


2010-11 TV Schedule Features 17 Regular Season Games
At least 17 University of Portland men’s basketball games will be televised during the 2010-11 season. The Pilots will be nationally televised on the ESPN family of networks a minimum of five games.

Purplegeezer wrote:As they step to the line, you just ask them to spell Nemaja Mitrovic.


throws 'em off every time....

Pilots Give Grizzlies First Home Loss, 58-54

MISSOULA, Mont. --- The Portland Pilots dealt the Montana Grizzlies their first home loss of the 2010-11 season with a thrilling 58-54 victory Friday before 3,589 at Dahlberg Arena. Junior guard Nemanja Mitrovic scored a game-high 16 points to pace Portland (7-2), who have now won three games in a row and improve to 2-0 in true road games this year. The Grizzlies had their three-game win streak, all at home, snapped with the loss.

Senior forward Luke Sikma added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Pilots and senior center Kramer Knutson finished with 10 points.

Montana (3-3) overcame an early 12-point deficit to take the lead early in the second half, but the Pilots held the host Grizzlies without a point over a four-minute and nine-second stretch late in regulation to push the team to victory. Montana missed their final nine free throw attempts and finished 8-for-20 at the charity stripe for the game.

The Grizzlies were also held to 4-for-18 from the three-point line and 43 percent shooting from the field by the Pilot defense. Portland, meanwhile, shot 55 percent from the field, made 5-of-8 three-pointers and 9-of-14 free throws.

Sophomore UP guard Derrick Rodgers gave the Pilots a big defensive boost in the second half, holding UM leading scorer Will Cherry to just two points in the period after he scored 13 in the first half.

Portland led by as much as 12 points in the first half, but a tip-in by Brian Qvale at the halftime buzzer cut the Pilot lead to 32-29.

Cherry led the Grizzlies with 15 points and seven assists in the game, while Qvale added 11 points.

Portland will continue their four-game road trip with a trip to Seattle, Wash. to face the No. 22 Washington Huskies on Monday at 7 p.m. The game will be televised live on FSN Northwest and on the airwaves on 800 AM (KPDQ).

. . .the Pilots' leading scorer Stohl, who finished with seven points, nine below his average.