WCC : OTHER GAMES : Portland and San Diego Are Winners
With the help of two clutch baskets and a crucial turnover in the final seconds, the University of Portland won its first West Coast Conference tournament game, beating Santa Clara, 65-62.
The Pilots (11-17) were ahead, 37-31, at halftime and led most of the way until Santa Clara (9-19) took a 58-55 lead with six minutes left thanks to free throws on a technical foul against Portland and two consecutive baskets by Rhea Taylor.
With the game tied, 60-60, Portland’s Josh Lowery made a three-point basket from the top of the key with 1:02 left. Jeffty Connelly scored on a drive for Santa Clara, but Portland ran a perfect back door play, finding David Roth for a layup with 14 seconds left.
Connelly, who scored 21 points, made what would have been a tying three-pointer but was called for stepping on the sideline with four seconds left.
The Pilots play Loyola Marymount in the semifinals this afternoon at 5 p.m.
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