University of Oregon
California
Bears Best Ducks in OT, 85-81
02/26/04 | Men's Basketball
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -- Leon Powe broke out of a two-week shooting slump with 20 points, 11 rebounds and a key block in overtime to help California snap a three-game losing streak with an 85-81 overtime win over Oregon on Thursday night.
Powe, the Bears' leading scorer, averaged less than eight points during California's three-game losing streak. But he came up big in overtime with a pair of free throws and the block against Luke Jackson that preserved an 82-79 lead with 55 seconds to play.
Richard Midgley scored 22 points to lead the Bears (12-12, 8-7 Pac-10), but had only one basket over the final 19 minutes.
Marquise Kately added 17 points for the Bears, who blew a nine-point lead in the final 2:30 of regulation before winning in overtime. California is one game behind second-place Washington, which upset Arizona earlier in the day.
Jackson had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead the Ducks (12-10, 7-8) but scored only seven points after halftime. Oregon lost for the third time in five games.
The Ducks led by as many as seven points in the first half but their shooting struggled as the game went on. Oregon scored only three baskets over the final seven minutes of the first half and had just one basket during a 10-minute stretch of the second half.
But the Ducks, who defeated California 68-56 earlier this season, broke out of their offensive slump when it counted most in the second half. Andre Joseph sank four consecutive free throws then scored off a drive through the key and a 3-pointer, helping Oregon erase a 74-65 deficit.
Joseph and Aaron Brooks led the comeback, combining for 17 of Oregon's final 19 points in the second half.
Brooks, who missed 10 games earlier this season with a broken right hand, had the final five points for the Ducks, including a pair of free throws that tied the game at 76 with 36 seconds remaining. Brooks missed a chance to win the game in regulation for Oregon when his shot was blocked by Rod Benson.
Joseph finished with 16 points while Ian Crosswhite added 17 for the Ducks. Brooks' career-high 16 points all came in the second half.
Midgley scored 13 points in the first half, including nine in a late 13-2 run that turned a six-point deficit into a five-point lead for California. Midgley hit five of his first seven shots from the floor to pace a Bears offense that shot 55.9 percent to open the game.
Oregon scored only three baskets over the final seven minutes of the first half and trailed 44-36 at halftime.
