Tyler Robertson scored a career-high 32 points and the Portland Pilots held off the Portland State Vikings for a 98-91 men’s basketball victory Friday night at the Chiles Center in North Portland.
Robertson had just two points at halftime, but he went for 30 in the second half and finished 22 of 24 from the free throw line. He added four rebounds and six assists.
The crosstown rivalry game went back and forth, with each team building a lead as large as 11 points.
Portland State led 27-16 midway through the first half, but the Pilots (3-0) came back and the game was tied 42-42 at the break.
UP went up 62-51 less than 7 minutes into the second half, only to have the Vikings (0-1) roar back and briefly take the lead at 83-81 with 3:57 to go.
But the Pilots closed the game on a 17-8 run, with Robertson scoring 13 points during that closing stretch.
Moses Wood had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Portland, making 3 of 5 three-pointers.
Cameron Parker led the Vikings with 23 points and six assists, while Hunter Woods added 11 points and 14 rebounds.
