Ducks' Comeback Bid Falls Short Against No. 17 Arizona

Saturday, January 13

Tucson, AZ

11:00 AM

University of Oregon

12-6 (2-3 P-12)

Arizona

14-4 (4-1 P-12)

Oregon

Arizona

Ducks' Comeback Bid Falls Short Against No. 17 Arizona

01/13/18 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Oregon-Arizona Box Score 2017-18 Season Stats

EUGENE, Ore. – For the second straight game the Oregon men's basketball team overcame a first half double-digit deficit to take a second-half lead. But unlike Thursday's game at Arizona State, the Ducks could not complete the comeback falling to No. 17 Arizona 90-83 Saturday in Tucson.

How it Happened: The Ducks came out strong riding the high from their win over ASU Thursday, racing out to a 7-2 lead to open the game.

Arizona answered sinking their first six buckets to go on a 13-2 run and lead 15-9 at the 15:11 mark. The Wildcats extended their lead to as high as 21-9, as the Ducks went on a five-minute scoreless drought that was eventually snapped by a bucket from Victor Bailey Jr.

The Ducks turned it around midway through the period, cutting into the Wildcat's lead as a pair of free throws from Elijah Brown sparked a 12-0 run for UO. A layup from MiKyle McIntosh made it a one-point game, 32-31, at the 3:52 mark. McIntosh and Bailey Jr. combined for eight of the Ducks 12 points during UO's three-minute scoring run.

Roman Sorkin kept it a one possession game, 41-38, with a layup right before halftime. The Duck defense stepped up late, holding Arizona to 1-of-10 shooting to close out the half while recording 14 points off the Wildcats' 11 first half turnovers.

Elijah Brown led all scorers with 13 points, shooting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.

Arizona opened the second half with a 10-2 run to regain a double-digit lead over the Ducks, 51-40. McIntosh then proceeded to take charge, scoring seven of the Ducks' first 11 points to pull Oregon back within four, 53-49, and force a Wildcat timeout with 13:45 to play.

The Ducks tied the game, 55-55, netting six straight buckets from the free-throw line. McIntosh gave Oregon its first lead since the opening minutes of the game, 58-57, draining a big three-pointer at the 10:47 mark.

Both teams then proceeded to trade buckets, and the lead, for the next eight minutes until a dunk from Arizona's Deandre Ayton sparked an 8-0 run to give the Wildcats an 84-77 lead with just over a minute to play.

Who Stood Out: Elijah Brown led the team with a season-high 25 points draining a season-high six three-pointers, one shy of his career-high … MiKyle McIntosh had a tremendous weekend recording a season-high 20 points along with seven rebounds after earning a double-double at Arizona State … Payton Pritchard finished the game with seven assists recording at least six assists in back-to-back games for only the second time this season … Pritchard and Troy Brown Jr. combined for 13 of Oregon's 17 total assists.

Notable: The Ducks recorded 21 points off Arizona's 17 turnovers … UO had solid production form its bench with 19 points scored by reserves compared to eight from UA … The charity stripe was a big factor once again as Arizona went 34-of-37 from the free-throw line while Oregon was 21-of-24.

Up Next: The Ducks return to Eugene to host USC Thursday, Jan. 18, at 6 p.m. PT (ESPN2).?