STOCKTON, Calif. (Interstat) — The Pacific Tigers, fueled by a dominant first-half performance and a stifling defensive effort, avenged an earlier overtime loss by overwhelming the Portland Pilots 74-51 in a West Coast Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at the A.C. Spanos Center.

The most important part of the game was the opening 20 minutes, where Pacific established a commanding lead that Portland never threatened. The Tigers raced out to a 40-21 halftime advantage, effectively deciding the contest long before the final buzzer. Pacific’s defense was the catalyst, forcing Portland into a miserable shooting performance while converting turnovers and misses into easy scoring opportunities at the other end.

Pacific improved to 15-8 overall, while Portland fell to 10-13. An announced crowd of 1,613 watched the Tigers control the game from the opening tip.

The Tigers set the tone early with physical interior play and active hands. Portland struggled to find any offensive rhythm, shooting just 13 for 42 from the field for the game, a frigid 31 percent. The Pilots were also hampered by 13 turnovers, which Pacific converted into 15 points. Conversely, the Tigers shot 50.9 percent, making 29 of 57 attempts, and owned a decisive 38-12 advantage in points in the paint.

Justin Rochelin and TJ Wainwright led a balanced Pacific attack. Rochelin, a guard from Encino, California, scored 17 points and grabbed several key defensive rebounds. Wainwright, from Los Angeles, added 15 points and was disruptive defensively. Forward Elias Ralph of Okotoks, Canada, contributed 14 points, and center Isaac Jack of Port Alberni, Canada, provided a strong inside presence with 10 points.

Portland’s offense never found consistency. Guard Joel Foxwell of Melbourne, Australia, led the Pilots with 13 points, but the team’s leading scorer was hampered by the Tigers’ defensive pressure. Forward Cameron Williams of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, added nine points. The Pilots, who entered the game having won three of their last five, including a thrilling 90-89 overtime victory over these same Tigers on Jan. 8, were held to their lowest point total of the season.

The game’s trajectory was clear from the outset. After a slow start from both teams, Pacific used a 12-2 run midway through the first half to build a double-digit lead. The Tigers’ ball movement and interior passing created high-percentage shots, while Portland settled for contested jumpers. Pacific led by as many as 21 points in the period before taking the 19-point lead into the break.

Any hope of a Portland comeback was extinguished quickly in the second half. The Pilots never cut the deficit below 16 points, as Pacific answered every modest Portland run with a basket of its own, often in transition. The Tigers finished with 12 fastbreak points compared to zero for Portland, underscoring the game’s tempo and defensive disparity.

Pacific also shared the ball effectively, tallying 10 assists led by Jaden Clayton of Whitby, Canada, who dished out seven. The Tigers’ defense was equally collaborative, registering 10 steals.

The victory keeps Pacific in the upper tier of the WCC standings as the conference schedule reaches its midpoint. Portland, meanwhile, must regroup quickly from an offensive performance that saw them post an offensive rating of just 81.9 points per 100 possessions, a season low.

According to pregame analytics, Pacific was projected with a 64.9 percent probability to win and was installed as a 6.5-point favorite. The combined score of 125 fell well under the over/under line of 141.5, a direct result of Portland’s scoring struggles.

Pacific next travels to face San Francisco on Saturday. Portland will head to Pullman for a non-conference matchup against Washington State, also on Saturday.