LONG BEACH, Calif. — In a thrilling college basketball clash on Saturday night, the Portland Pilots narrowly triumphed over Long Beach State with a score of 63-61. Leading the charge for Portland was Austin Rapp, who put up an impressive 18 points in the contest.

Rapp showcased his shooting prowess by hitting 5 of his 10 attempts from the field, including a stellar 5 for 8 from beyond the arc, and was perfect at the free-throw line, converting all 3 of his free-throw attempts. Max Mackinnon contributed significantly to the team’s effort, scoring 12 points after making 5 of 11 shots, including 1 of 3 from long distance.

Vukasin Masic added to the Pilots’ offense with 9 points, completing 3 of 7 field-goal attempts, and managed to secure 7 rebounds while also dishing out 6 assists. Portland’s strong performance gave them a record of 2-2 for the season.

On the other side of the court, the Long Beach State Beach fell to a record of 1-3 despite a commendable effort. Cam Denson was a standout player for the Beach, notching 15 points along with 9 rebounds and 2 steals. Fellow teammate Ramel Lloyd Jr. also excelled with 15 points. Additionally, Devin Askew contributed with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, making a strong impact in the game.

This riveting matchup showcased the athleticism and determination of both teams as they battled it out on the hardwood.