GAME NOTES: The Portland Pilots and SIU Edwardsville Cougars will meet for the first time on Saturday, as they mix it up in a non-conference contest at the Chiles Center.

This is the first road game of the season for SIUE, which hosted its first two matchups. Things started against Harris-Stowe, which the Cougars handled in a 104-56 final. They followed that up with a 74-71 loss to IUPU-Fort Wayne. They won't being go far for their next game, as they face Portland State on Monday.

Portland has posted two victories in as many games on the young season. The Pilots rolled over NAIA foe Concordia (87-59) in the opener, which they followed with a 73-68 overtime victory against San Jose State last Sunday. They will take part in the Challenge in Music City next, beginning against Murray State the day after Thanksgiving.

SIUE fell just short against IPFW. They shot just below the Mastodons, sinking 42.4 percent of their field goal attempts compared to a 44.4 percent effort from the opposition. They also were outscored from 3-point range (21-15) and the free-throw line (19-10). The Cougars did manage to keep things close thanks to a 26-11 edge in second-chance points and a 42-32 advantage in points in the paint. Donivine Stewart erupted for 24 points in the loss, but he was not very efficient, connecting on only 10-of-25 field goal attempts, including a 2-of-7 effort from 3-point range.

Stewart has not been shy offensively in either game this season. He is netting 22 points per game and has taken a total of 41 field goal attempts. However, he will need to improve his efficiency to turn all those points into victories, as he has only made 36.6 percent of his shots from the floor. Kris Davis (14.5 ppg) and Michael Messer (12.5 ppg) are the only other double-digit scorers on the roster. Davis struggled his way to 12 points against IPFW, converting only 5-of-13 attempts from the floor, although he did sink 2-of-5 3-point shots.

Prospects were not always so bright for Portland against San Jose State, as the Pilots trailed 37-26 at halftime. However, the Pilots turned it on after halftime, limiting the Spartans to only nine field goals in the final 20 minutes, while sinking 42.3 percent from the floor, including 4-of-4 from 3- point range, themselves. Volodymyr Gerun hit the biggest shot of the game, sinking a jumper with 22 seconds remaining to tie the game and force overtime. The Pilots started slow in overtime as well, but a 9-0 run turned a four-point deficit into a five-point lead, which they never let up.

While Gerun had the clutch basket, the Pilots were carried offensively by Alec Wintering and Kevin Bailey, who scored 24 points and 22 points, respectively. Wintering did so on fewer shots, sinking 7-of-11 attempts from the floor, while Bailey was a less effective 7-of-20. Bailey (22 ppg) is likely to continue to be a potent scorer, while Wintering (15 ppg) has plenty of offensive firepower himself. Gerun (11 ppg, 9.5 rpg) had a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds against San Jose State.

Bailey may not have shot well against San Jose State, but he has still made 51.6 percent of his field goal tries this season. Expect him to be closer to that success rate in this one and for Wintering and Gerun to add even more punch in a winning effort.