Ryan Nicholas scores 16 points, grabs 9 rebounds to power Portland past Loyola Marymount 71-64

PORTLAND, Ore. – Ryan Nicholas scored 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting and hauled in nine rebounds to lead University of Portland to a 71-64 win over Loyola Marymount on Thursday night.

Trailing 36-29 at the break, Portland (14-11, 6-7 West Coast Conference) opened the second half with a 14-0 run that included two 3-pointers from Bobby Sharp and a third from Nicholas to take a lead it would protect down the stretch.

Thomas van der Mars and Bryce Pressley contributed 14 points apiece, while Sharp finished with 11 for the Pilots, who hit 28 of 57 from the field. Van der Mars also grabbed 10 rebounds,

Loyola Marymount (11-15, 3-11) led by as many as 14 points in the first half on a free throw by Marin Mornar that made it 34-20 with 3:19 left before the break.

Evan Payne led the Lions with 21 points, while Anthony Ireland added 15.