Pilots @ New Mexico (Sunday, Nov. 25 @ 5:00)

Pilots Battle Before Falling to Unbeaten Lobos

ALBUQUERQUE, NM --- The Portland Pilots dropped a 69-54 non-conference men’s basketball game to the unbeaten New Mexico Lobos before 13,487 fans Sunday night at The Pit. Alex Kirk led three New Mexico players with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Portland guards Korey Thieleke and Kevin Bailey scored 11 each to lead the Pilots.

Thieleke filled up the stat sheet for the second straight game. After recording career highs in all statistical categories against Portland State on Wednesday, Thieleke came up big again for the Pilots in his second consecutive start. The Bakersfield, Calif. native finished with career highs of 11 points, six rebounds, four blocked shots and four steals. He also added three assists in 37 minutes of action.

Bailey made 7-of-8 free throws, but was 2-for-10 from the field before fouling out in 21 minutes Portland leading scorer Ryan Nicholas also went 2-for-10 from the floor and fouled out, but finished with eight points and nine rebounds.

In a game that featured lots of fouls, free throws and three-point struggles for both teams, the difference was a 10-0 run by the host Lobos (6-0) to open the second half and create separation.

The Pilots (2-3) held New Mexico to 24 percent shooting in the first half, but Portland also struggled from the field and went into the half trailing 30-27.

The Lobos (6-0) erupted out of halftime and pushed their lead to as much as 19 points. Portland would battle back as Derrick Rodgers hit a three-pointer to pull within 55-44.

Three straight free throws by Cameron Bairstow pushed the Lobos lead to 62-46, but the Pilots answered with five straight points by Ryan Nicholas to pull within 11 once again. New Mexico would hold on late to remain unbeaten.

The Pilots held UNM to 33 percent shooting for the game and 2-for-19 from three-point range, but the Lobos converted 29-of-38 free throws. Portland finished at 32 percent from the floor, 1-for-10 from beyond the arc and 17-of-21 at the foul line.

The Lobos also gained a 44-35 rebounding edge. Portland committed 16 turnovers and forced 14 from UNM.

The Pilots will next return to the Chiles Center to host Lewis & Clark College on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or at the door 60 minutes prior to tip-off.

With both teams shooting poorly (playing good defense?) New Mexico beat us on the glass and free throw line. Needed to win battle of boards.

Want to play more? Play harder. Talk more. Enjoy the fight. Not your nature? Try. Improve. Have fun. Any coach will reward that.

DoubleDipper wrote:One of my friend’s daughters, who attended UP, wore her purple Pilots T-shirt with the traditional wheel logo, and made a point of cheering loudly for her Pilots. You would not believe the number of Lobo fans who had to be told the Pilots did NOT fly airplanes!

For some reason the student section loved to get after Kevin, and hounded him most of the night (until he fouled out), but it was good natured, and Kevin took it in a positive spirit.

wrv wrote:I happened to have witnessed Derrick Rodgers make a three pointer during competition in the midst of his NCAA D1 career: who knew that his unwillingness to shoot was purely mental. Keep shooting Derrick.

NoPoNeighbor wrote:Forgot to mention yesterday... Quite discouraging to see that we still struggle to get the ball inbounds without turning it over or getting a 5-second violation. That's a surefire momentum killer, every time. Our inbound plays just looked anemic all night. Three guys standing still while one lazily curled around a screen. When that one guy wasn't open, everyone continued standing around and the passer was forced to throw a lob to one of the tall guys. I just can't understand why this is still a consistent issue, game after game, year after year.

PurpleGeezer wrote:You can only move on an inbound after a made basket.

But I have noticed that refs aren't calling a defender crowding the inbound player. Last year a defender actually had his feet on the baseline and it wasn't called.

Maybe it's time to start coaching crowding until the refs start calling it.

DoubleDipper wrote:I didn't have the luxury of replay at the game....but as I recall, our four guys on the court barely moved....as if no planned play was in place.

Occasionally shocked to realize some really think coaching is just identifying and prioritizing issues. Coaching is that plus FIXING issues.