Strong Play Down The Stretch Keeps Ducks Unbeaten

Sunday, November 22

Eugene, OR

3:00 PM

University of Oregon

4-0

Valparaiso

5-1

Team	1	2	F
Valparaiso	35	32	67
Oregon	33	40	73

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

11/23/15 | Men's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com

EUGENE, Ore. ? Playing the mid-major deemed by ESPN to be the nation's best potential “Giant Killer” at this point in the season, the 20th-ranked UO men's basketball team fought through early inconsistency to finish strong and beat visiting Valparaiso, 73-67, on Sunday afternoon before 5,752 in Matthew Knight Arena.

How It Happened: The Crusaders (5-1) went into halftime up 35-33 after a banked three-pointer at the buzzer. Dillon Brooks scored eight straight for Oregon coming out of the break, the last a jumper to put the Ducks up 41-40.

Both teams were content to settle for three-pointers for a few minutes, and Valparaiso clawed ahead 51-49. Brooks then scored on four straight trips for the Ducks (4-0), the last a dunk off a turnover for a 59-53 lead. That contributed to what ended up being a 12-0 run for Oregon, making it 63-53. The Crusaders got hot from deep to close within 69-67, but Elgin Cook made two free throws with 28.6 seconds left to give the Ducks some cushion again.

Turnovers were the story early ? the Ducks had 10 at halftime ? as both teams failed to establish much rhythm. Oregon finally found some consistency midway through the first half, scoring on four straight trips and taking a 17-11 lead on a basket by Kendall Small.

It was 27-19 when Valparaiso scored eight straight and tied the score on a three-pointer by Jubril Adekoya. The teams traded baskets down the stretch and Chris Boucher gave the Ducks a late 33-32 advantage, but Tevonn Walker banked in a three to close the half and the Crusaders led 35-33.

Who Stood Out: Brooks established a career high with 26 points, and also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. His tenacity when the Ducks needed it early in the second half proved to be the difference in the game. Tyler Dorsey added 21 points on 7-of-9 field-goal shooting, and Boucher fought for nine rebounds while blocking three shots and altering several others.

What It Means: The Ducks posted their second RPI-boosting win of a week that began with an upset of Baylor on Monday.

Quotable:
Dillon Brooks, UO sophomore
On the scoring he provided along with Dorsey
“We ran a couple screen-and-rolls for me to get open or Tyler to drive. Tyler played a really good game, he attacked well, shot well. But it was a team effort. The team got us the ball, and we were scoring.”

Tyler Dorsey, UO freshman
On the defensive effort in the second half
“We got stops. And when we got stops, we ran in transition and got easy buckets.”

Dana Altman, UO coach
On beating Baylor and Valparaiso this week
“No doubt, they're two big wins. But I told the guys, heck, we're at home, we should win. I want them to take that mentality.”

Notable: As was the case vs. Baylor, the Ducks relied primarily on a six-man rotation. Small, Trevor Manuel and Roman Sorkin played nine minutes combined. ... The Ducks were 7-of-9 from the free-throw line in the second half, a welcome showing after shooting 62.2 percent in the first three games, and 10-of-15 in the first half Sunday. ... Oregon had just nine assists on 26 baskets.

Up Next: Oregon remains at home to host Arkansas State on Wednesday in Matthew Knight Arena (4 p.m., Pac-12 Networks). The UO volleyball team hosts Arizona State later that evening.