University of Oregon
Fresno State
Ducks Run Past Fresno State, 74-70
12/11/11 | Men's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Devoe Joseph, playing for the first time since wearing a Minnesota jersey last December, scored 18 points to lead Oregon past Fresno State, 74-70 on Saturday.
Garrett Sim also scored 17 points for the Ducks (5-2) and E.J. Singler added 14 points, including a jumper off a pass from Joseph with 22 seconds left to make it a two-possession game, 71-66.
Joseph, who had to sit out until the end of the fall quarter after transferring to Oregon, came off the bench to shoot 6-for-13 from the field with three 3-pointers. He also had four assists and steals.
“I was very anxious,” said Joseph, a senior combo guard. “That's just how I like to play. I like to play with a lot of energy and get after it and leave it all on the floor.
“These guys have been preparing me for this moment all year long … so I knew what I could do.”
Jonathan Wills scored 20 to pace the Bulldogs (4-6), Jerry Brown and Tyler Johnson scored 13 each and Kevin Foster added 11 points.
Kevin Olekaibe, who was leading Fresno State in scoring at 21.6 points coming into the game, scored just four points in 18 minutes and was in and out of the lineup with an apparent ankle injury.
In a game that featured 10 ties and 10 lead changes, the Ducks went up for good on a 3-pointer by Sim with 9:04 to play that made it 53-52.
But Joseph provided the momentum changer, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to push Oregon's lead to 61-54 with 7:35 left.
Joseph added six more points in the final six minutes as the Ducks answered every attempt by the Bulldogs to rally.
“Great energy,” Sim said of Joseph. “I think you can see what he can provide for us. It's a big addition for our team.”
The Ducks shot a season-best 56.3 percent from the floor. Sim led the way, going 5 for 5 from the field.
“Well, I thought in some regards we took a step in the right direction,” Oregon coach Dana Altman said.
The Ducks led by as many as nine points, 22-13, midway through the first half before Fresno State used a 15-2 run to go up 28-24 with 5:07 to go until halftime.
The Bulldogs' run began with a three-point play from Johnson and ended with another from Wills.
But Joseph and Tyrone Nared scored on consecutive possessions for the Ducks to even the score and Jeremy Jacob hit a baseline jumper with three seconds on the clock to give Oregon a 34-32 halftime lead.
Oregon (5-2) returns to action Monday night with a home game against Portland State. Tip-time is set for 7 p.m. at Matthew Knight Arena. Tickets are available for purchase online at goducks.com/mbbtix or in person at either the Matthew Knight Arena Box Office or Moshofsky Center Ticket Office.
POSTGAME NOTES
- The Ducks improved to 4-0 in home games this season … Oregon is 4-1 on the year when it shoots for a better percentage than the opponent … UO is 4-0 in games decided by 10 or fewer points (2-0 in games decided by five or fewer points).
- Oregon shot a season-high 56.3 percent on field goals (27-of-48). It was the first time this season UO shot better than 50 percent from the floor.
- The Ducks committed more turnovers than their opponent for the fifth time in seven games this season. UO had 16 turnovers to Fresno State's nine.
- Garrett Sim scored 17 points marking the fifth time in the last six games he's scored in double figures. In his last two games, Sim is shooting 84.6 percent on field goals (11-of-13) and 62.5 percent on 3-pointers (5-of-8). It was the 35th time in Sim's career that he scored in double figures.
- Devoe Joseph, playing his first game in an Oregon uniform, led the team in scoring with 18 points. He is the fifth different Duck to lead the team in scoring (in seven games).
- Carlos Emory led the team in rebounding (6) for the first time this season. He is the seventh different UO player to lead the team in rebounding.
- E.J. Singler (14 pts) reached double figures in scoring for the fourth time in his last five outings.
- Tyrone Nared had a career-high three blocks, all three coming in the second half.
- Oregon started 2-of-7 from the field in the first half; the Ducks finished the final 16 minutes of the half 12-of-18.
