Gonzaga Again Makes Itself at Home in Portland, 80-65

PORTLAND, Ore. —  Ronny Turiaf scored 21 points and had 14 rebounds to lift No. 15 Gonzaga to its eighth consecutive victory, 80-65 over Portland Friday night.

Blake Stepp had 19 points -- making all 10 of his free throw attempts-- for Gonzaga (15-2, 5-0 West Coast Conference). The Bulldogs closed the game with a 19-6 run.

Eugene Jeter scored 18 points for Portland (8-10, 2-3).

Portland has lost eight in a row to Gonzaga at home. The Pilots won, 72-68, at Spokane, Wash. last season to end a losing streak in the series at 14.

Portland was within two points late in the second half, but Gonzaga muscled the ball down low to Turiaf and Adam Morrison for baskets and stopped the Pilots four consecutive times at the other end.

Turiaf took control inside in the second half. The 6-foot-10 forward scored 11 of Gonzaga’s 16 points during an eight-minute span. In all, the Bulldogs scored 32 points in the paint.

Cory Violette fed Stepp for an eight-foot runner in the lane to make it 71-61 with 3:27 left, and Kyle Bankhead made a three-point basket with 2:29 left to clinch the victory.

Portland opened the game with three consecutive three-point baskets, taking a 9-5 lead. Violette, who scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half, had nine of the Bulldogs’ next 17 points to give them a 22-15 lead.

Donald Wilson scored seven points -- including a three-point play off a steal -- in the next three minutes as the Pilots went on a 9-4 run to close the half trailing, 39-38.