USD Can’t Make Up for Bad Start

The University of San Diego missed its first 14 shots from the field Saturday and went on to lose at the University of Portland, 68-64, in a West Coast Athletic Conference basketball game.

USD (9-12, 1-7) fell behind, 14-1, and, by the end of the first half, had made just 9 of 26 field goals.

USD was able to make things close at the end. The Toreros cut Portland’s lead to one point three times, the last with 1:07 remaining.

But Portland (6-15, 1-7) made 7 of 10 free throws, including five by Adolphis Gaffney, Robert Phillips and Ron Deaton, in the final 2 minutes to hold on.

Earlier, after trailing by nine at the half, 30-21, USD scored the first eight points of the second half to pull to within one.

Portland then increased its lead to 11 with 9:25 remaining.

Freshman John Sayers scored a career-high 18 points and had 8 rebounds for USD.

Deaton scored 17 points and Adam Simmons scored 15 points and had 12 rebounds for Portland.