Portland slips past mistake-prone Idaho

PORTLAND – Guard Nik Raivio scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Portland squeaked past Idaho for a 68-65 non-conference men’s basketball victory Saturday.

Idaho (4-4) hurt its chances by turning the ball over 20 times to just 11 miscues by the Pilots. Portland (5-2) took advantage by outscoring the Vandals 22-9 off turnovers.

Portland shot poorly from the floor, making just 21 of 55 shots for 38 percent, compared to 57 percent for Idaho. However, the Vandals connected on just 13 of 21 free throws (61.9 percent).

“The players were shown playing hard at the Division I level on the road isn’t enough and they have to pay attention to details,” Vandals coach Don Verlin said. “I told them in the locker room they should have a lump in their stomach because we didn’t block out like we needed to, we missed free throws and the turnovers really cost us. We have got to get better at the details.”

While Portland was having trouble finding the range, Idaho was able to run off 10 unanswered points early in the second half to take a 40-37 lead.

Portland native Mac Hopson, who led the Vandals with 21 points, had two baskets and an assist during that run.

The lead changed hands three more times before Portland regained it with a 3-pointer from T.J. Campbell that made it 46-44 with 14:24 remaining. The Vandals never led again but forged ties at 51, 60 and 64.

Raivio, who recovered from a poor shooting performance on Wednesday in a 63-58 loss to Eastern Washington, played a pivotal role down the stretch.

He scored the last seven points for the Pilots, including a driving lay-in that broke a 64-64 tie with 56 seconds left.

Idaho missed an opportunity to tie it on its next possession when forward Brandon Wiley made only one of two free throws after being fouled on a drive.

The Vandals had a chance to take the lead when Raivio made a bad pass near halfcourt. Idaho’s Trevor Morris picked up the steal and was headed for a go-ahead lay-in when he lost the ball out of bounds under pressure from Campbell.

Raivio then sealed the win with two free throws with 3 seconds remaining.

Hopson’s desperation heave at the buzzer was off line.

Wiley finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds and Marvin Jefferson chipped in 13 points and six boards for Idaho.

Portland 68, Idaho 65

 Idaho (4-4)- Wiley 7-8 2-5 16. Jefferson 4-7 5-6 13. Hopson 8-13 3-4 21, Simmons 1-2 0-0 2, Watson 0-1 3-4 3, de Souza 1-5 0-0 2, Morris 3-6 0-0 8, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Augusto 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 24-42 13-21 65.

Portland (5-2)- Smeulders 3-12 6-7 12, Raivio 6-13 6-8 21, Knutson 0-0 1-2 1, Stohl 2-12 0-1 6, Campbell 3-8 0-0 8, Ito 0-0 0-0 0, Porter 3-4 0-0 7, Sikma 2-3 2-2 6, Hannibal 2-3 3-4 7. Totals 21-55 18-24 68.

Halftime—Portland 35 Idaho 30. 3-Point Goals—Idaho 4-11 (Hopson 2-3, Morris 2-4, Simmons 0-1, de Souza 0-3), Portland 8-24 (Raivio 3-5, Campbell 2-5, Stohl 2-12, Porter 1-1 Smeulders 0-1). Fouled Out—Knutson, Hannibal. Rebounds—Idaho 32 (Wiley 10), Portland 29 (Raivio 8). Assists—Idaho 13 (Hopson, Simmons 4), Portland 14 (Raivio, Campbell 4). Total Fouls—Idaho 22, Portland 17. A—1,236.