USF is looking for win number 20 in the 26th game of the season. To do it, the Dons will have to earn their first win on the road since Jan. 17 at Pacific.  USF and the Pilots tip at 7:00 p.m., the game will be televised regionally including NBC Sports California+ with Tom Glasgow and Francis Williams on the call. Pat Olson and Jim Brovelli will call the action live courtside on the official home of USF Dons Basketball, 1550-AM The GAME.

GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Feb. 16, 2019 – 7:00 p.m. PST
Opponent: Portland Pilots (7-19, 0-11 WCC)
Site: Chiles Center (Portland, Ore.)
Television:  ROOT Sports NW |NBC Sports California+ | AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain | TheW.tv (out of market)
Talent: Tom Glasgow (play-by-play); Francis Williams (analyst)
Radio:  1550-AM The GAME
Talent: Pat Olson (play-by-play) and Jim Brovelli (analyst)
Live Stats: USFDons.com
Game Notes: USF at UP
 
USF AT A GLANCE

• At 19-6, USF is off to their best start through 25 games since the 1981-82.  USF has started the season 19-6 or better 10 times, with the previous nine teams all advancing to the post season.
• With a win on Saturday, USF will have won their 20th game in 26 tries, the fastest USF has won 20-games since the 1981 season when the Dons did it in their 24th game.
• USF is 4-4 on the road this year.  They average 69.5 points per game while shooting 44.0 percent from the field.  Charles Minlend leads the team on the road, the redshirt sophomore averages 17.4 ppg game.
• With five games to play in the regular season, the Dons are currently in third in the WCC.  They trail BYU by one game in the loss column and two back in the win column.  A looming date in Provo for the Dons could decide the second seed in the WCC.
• Senior guard Frankie Ferrari recorded his 100th career steal on Thursday evening.  Ferrari now has 950 points, 376 assists and 100 steals.
• Seniors Nate Renfro and Matt McCarthy are moving ever closer to the career games played record at USF.  Renfro has played in 126 games, while McCarthy has played in 124.  The record of 128 was set by Angelo Caloiaro (2008-12).
• Head coach Kyle Smith loves to spread out the minutes - eight players are averaging 10 or more minutes per contest. Only Frankie Ferrari is averaging more than 30 minutes per contest.
• The Dons have seen a huge boost in their attendance this season.  USF is averaging 2,166 fans per game this season.  Last year, the second under head coach Kyle Smith, the Dons were averaging 1,720 fans per contest.

 
THE SERIES
The Dons look to extend their winning-streak over the Pilots on Saturday in the Rose City.  All-time the Dons are 61-27 against the Pilots and have won seven in a row and nine of the last 10. In Portland, the Dons are 24-16 (.600) and have won eight-straight. Last season, the Dons defeated the Pilots 84-61 in Portland.  Earlier in the year, the Dons defeated the Pilots 83-61 in San Francisco on Jan. 24.

ABOUT THE PILOTS
The Pilots are currently sitting in 10th in the WCC standings with an overall record of 7-19.  In conference play they are still looking for their first win at 0-11.  UP is currently mired in a 12-game skid that started Jan. 5 at LMU. The Pilots were idle on Thursday, their last time out they lost at home to the Lions 72-55.  For the year, Portland is averaging 66.4 points per game, shooting 41.6 percent from the field.  Their opponents are averaging 75.5 points per game and shooting 44.2.  At home, the Pilots are 6-9, their last win came on Dec. 21 at home against Florida A&M.
 
LAST GAME AGAINST PORTLAND
Four members of the Dons finished in double-figures with Matt McCarthy setting the tone with a career-high of 20 points as the Dons (17-3, 5-1 WCC) dominated against the Portland Pilots (7-14, 0-6 WCC), 83-61, on Jan. 24 at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.  The Dons shot 54.5 percent from the field with 38 of the Dons 83 points coming inside the paint.  Joining McCarthy in double figures was Frankie Ferrari who had 18, Nate Renfro and Charles Minlend had 10 each. The Dons went into the locker room up 42-21 and kept up the pace in the second half.  Portland was led by Marcus Shaver, Jr. who had 13.  The Pilots shot 41.7 percent from the field but were just 3-for-14 from 3-point range. 
 
UP NEXT
Next Thursday the Dons return to the road for a showdown with BYU in Provo.  The game between the Dons and Cougars could determine who ends up claiming second in the WCC standings and securing the second seed in the WCC Tournament in Las Vegas.  Thursday's game is slated for a 6:00 p.m. PST tip and will be televised on BYUtv.