Big First Half Gives Ducks Civil War Win

Saturday, January 27

Eugene, OR

5:00 PM

University of Oregon

14-7, 4-4

Oregon State

11-9, 3-5

Oregon State

Oregon

Photo by: Samuel Marshall/Eric Evans Photography

01/27/18 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score: Oregon 66, Oregon State 57 2017-18 Season State

Oregon shot 65.2 percent and went up as much as 21 in the first half Saturday before hanging on to beat Oregon State at home, 66-57.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon men's basketball team overcame another late-game cold streak to avenge its Civil War loss earlier this month, as the Ducks beat visiting Oregon State 66-57 on Saturday before a sellout crowd of 12,364 fans in Matthew Knight Arena.

The Ducks (14-7, 4-4 Pac-12) led by as many as 21 in the first half and won despite shooting 25 percent (6-of-24) in the second half. "We didn't have that same fire we had in the first half, but we were able to rally together," junior Paul White said. "That's what we want to see from this team, that we can stick together through adverse situations."

How It Happened: Oregon trailed 9-5 in the early going before dominating the floor on both ends to build what proved to be an insurmountable lead. Elijah Brown hit a corner three-pointer to spark a 22-2 run that gave the Ducks a 27-11 lead.

The run included a brilliant dribble-drive by Payton Pritchard that took four defenders out of the play and set up Paul White for a dunk …

HIGHLIGHT | Don't blink or you might miss him. Pritchard splits the double-team and finds White underneath! #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/LTZbDiy47b
— Oregon Men's Basketball (@OregonMBB) January 28, 2018

And a thunderous dunk by Kenny Wooten on an assist from Victor Bailey Jr. …

HIGHLIGHT | Kenny Wooten throws it down with AUTHORITY. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/nIUHgVVSY1
— Oregon Men's Basketball (@OregonMBB) January 28, 2018

Oregon State remained within 16 a 32-16 when White scored again, followed by a jab-step three-pointer from Brown to Oregon's largest lead of the game at 37-16. The Ducks shot 65.2 percent in the half, 15-of-23, and scored 17 points off OSU's nine turnovers.

The Beavers (11-10, 3-6) began to close the gap early in the second half. After MiKyle McIntosh hit a three-pointer late in the shot clock for a 44-28 lead, Oregon made just 1-of-9 attempts as OSU closed within double digits at 46-37. That compelled UO coach Dana Altman to call timeout, and McIntosh hit a three-pointer out of the stoppage that seemed to stabilize the Ducks.

Oregon made just six second-half field goals, but the Ducks made 11-of-16 free throws and held on. Altman said defensive lapses were the difference between the two halves; after 17 points off the nine first-half turnovers, the Ducks forced only three in the second half. "Most of it was our activity, not getting the turnovers we did in the first half," Altman said.

Who Stood Out: Brown scored 18 of his game-high 20 points in the first half, and made 9-of-9 from the free-throw line, giving him 39 straight makes going back to November. White added 17 points, including a jump shot with 46 seconds left that ended a stretch of 7:32 without a field goal for the Ducks and proved to be a dagger by providing a 63-52 lead.

What It Means: The Ducks got back to .500 in the Pac-12, won consecutive conference games for the first time this season and avenged their loss at OSU in early January. "We looked in the mirror after that one and realized we had to do some maturing, individually and as team," White said. "We've been playing better overall. We just want to keep rolling in that direction."

Up Next: The Ducks go on the road to the Bay Area, beginning at California on Thursday (6 p.m., Pac-12 Network).