MOUNT VERNON — The Peninsula College men’s basketball team didn’t shoot very well, but played solid defense to win their 2021 season-opener against Green River on Friday at the Skagit Valley College Thanksgiving Tournament.

The Pirates won 59-55, though they shot just 14.3 percent from 3-point range and 50 percent on their free throws.

However, they had 11 offensive rebounds to Green River’s four and held the Gators to 34.7 percent shooting and 23.5 percent shooting from 3-point range.

The Pirates had a 20-point lead at one point five minutes into the second half at 43-23 but struggled to score over the final 15 minutes, allowing the Gators to get within two points late in the game. Green River outscored Peninsula 32-14 over that 15-minute stretch.

A pair of free throws by Jaylin Reed in the final seconds put the game away for Peninsula.

Reed, one of the Pirates’ “super sophomores” who stuck around an extra year due to an extra year of eligibility, led the Pirates with 24 points and four steals. Isaiah Sampson had 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Roosevelt Williams Jr. led the team with nine rebounds.

Peninsula College played Clackamas at the SVC Tournament late Saturday after press deadline. The Pirates will play Big Bend at noon today.

Peninsula 59, Green River 55

GR 20 35 — 55

PC 30 29 — 59

Green River (55) — Anderson 12, Bushell 10, McDade 8, Wallen 7, Vaughn 6, Clarke 4, Cronk 4, Berg 2, Foster 2.

Peninsula (59) — Reed 24, Sampson 11, Garcia 7, Harris 6, Hunter-Holiday 4, Williams Jr. 4, Dean 2, McCullough 1.