SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Thomas van der Mars shot 9 of 10 from the field to score 20 points and Portland led wire-to-wire to hold off Sacramento State 80-75 on Sunday night.
Bobby Sharp scored 16 points for the Pilots, including four straight free throws in the final nine seconds after the Hornets cut the lead to one, 76-75.
Portland (7-2) led by 11 points early in the first half only to have Sacramento State battle, cutting the Pilots’ lead to 39-37 in the final minute of the first half. Bryce Pressley hit a pair of free throws and van der Mars converted a three-point play to push the lead to 44-39 at intermission.
Mikh McKinney led the Hornets (5-4) with a career-high 32 points, while Eric Stuteville added another 14.
Both teams shot well from the field. Portland was 27 of 51 (52.9 percent) while Sacramento State was 27 of 54 (50 percent.)
