Portland Routs Willamette 133-89 in Opener
Timo George and James O'Donnell led Portland's season-opening win over Willamette on Monday, with Portland next visiting UT Arlington on Friday.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Portland beat Willamette 133-89 in the season opener on Monday. Timo George scored 19 points for Portland, and James O'Donnell added 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Why it matters
The lopsided opening result sets an early tone for Portland's season and gives the program an early benchmark for its scoring depth. The team's next test comes Friday on the road at UT Arlington.
Portland's 133 points were spread across several double-figure scorers, led by George's 19 and O'Donnell's 18 points plus 10 rebounds. Willamette's Tanner Overby posted 17 points, seven assists and two steals in a losing effort.
The players
Timo George
Timo George is a Portland forward who led his team in scoring with 19 points in the opener.
James O'Donnell
James O'Donnell is a Portland forward who contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds in the season-opening win.
The details
Portland's scoring was distributed across several players, with R.J. Nance adding 15 points on 6 of 10 shooting and George grabbing six rebounds. For Willamette, Overby led the way while Kellen Sande and Anujan Tennathur added 12 and 11 points.
Timeline
Monday: Portland defeats Willamette 133-89 in the season opener.
Friday: Portland visits UT Arlington.
Season Trajectory
A 44-point opening win gives Portland an early read on how its rotation distributes scoring across the roster. The result matters most as an early marker for the team's depth as the schedule moves toward its Friday road game at UT Arlington.
Fantasy managers tracking Portland's rotation can note that George, O'Donnell and Nance each produced double-digit scoring in the opener. The Friday trip to UT Arlington will show whether that production holds on the road.
The takeaway
Early-season box scores often reveal which players will carry scoring load, and Portland's balanced output in its opener is worth watching as the schedule tightens. Readers following the team should track whether the same distribution appears in the Friday road game.
What happens next
Portland visits UT Arlington on Friday.
Further reading
For more on the program, see Portland Basketball coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS Sports.
