Cougars look to improve position on bubble as they face Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. — So this is life on the bubble, perched precariously somewhere between the NCAA Tournament and the NIT.

That's the position BYU has put itself in. After dropping a pair of home games to Loyola Marymount and Saint Mary's in recent weeks, the Cougars (19-6, 7-3) bounced back with an 83-73 triumph over No. 24 Gonzaga Thursday at the Marriott Center, marking their first victory over a ranked team this season.

"I think they responded well to disappointment and got back on the right track," coach Dave Rose said of his team.

Still, BYU's NCAA Tournament at-large fate remains uncertain.

"I think it's a game-by-game type of thing. (Tournament projections) can change pretty easily, especially right there on the bubble, if you have a good win or not," said forward Noah Hartsock, who recorded a double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds against the Bulldogs. "We've got to make sure to take care of business. I mean, we're in a tough situation right now. I think this is when we start playing our best basketball. This game (against Gonzaga) will help give us confidence and help us play well."

The Cougars understand that any loss going forward could cause their bubble to burst.

BYU continues West Coast Conference play tonight (8 p.m., MST, BYUtv) when it invades the Chiles Center for a meeting with Portland (6-17, 3-7).

The Cougars are seeking their 20th victory of the season, and their seventh consecutive 20-win season.

Portland is led by sophomore forward Ryan Nicholas, who averages a team-high 11.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. The Pilots downed Santa Clara Thursday, 84-78, on the road, to snap a six-game losing streak.

Rose changed his starting lineup against Gonzaga, starting Anson Winder in place of Brock Zylstra, who came off the bench. Winder scored 10 points to go along with four rebounds, five assists and three steals while Zylstra scored four points and grabbed four rebounds. Winder is expected to start again tonight.