ACARIGUA, Venezuela (Interstat) — Nahziah Carter scored 16 points and Jesse Zarzuela added 18 as Zulia defeated Portuguesa 82-58 on Monday in Venezuelan SLB play.

Zulia, which improved to 17-2, led 23-11 after the first quarter and never trailed. The Gaiteros outscored the home team 22-21 in the second for a 45-32 halftime advantage and extended the lead in the third quarter. Zulia shot 49.3 percent from the floor, including 11 of 26 on 3-pointers, and forced 20 turnovers while committing nine. Portuguesa, falling to 3-16, shot 38.7 percent and made only 5 of 22 from deep.

Melvin Zambrano scored 12 points and Luis Duarte added 10 for Zulia. Kelvin Pena led Portuguesa with 12 points and six rebounds. Luis Martinez also scored 12 points in the loss. Gil Atencio Yearwood contributed 11 points and seven rebounds for the home team. Zulia held a 36-36 rebounding edge and recorded 14 steals to Portuguesa’s six. The Gaiteros return home to face Carabobo on Wednesday.