University of Oregon
12-3, 1-1
California
12-4, 2-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 27 | 38 | 65 |
| Oregon | 27 | 41 | 68 |
Ducks Dig Deep, Beat Bears
01/07/16 | Men's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Photo: Eric Evans
EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon men's basketball team capped a trying week with a gutty victory Wednesday, holding off California, 68-65, for the Ducks' first conference victory of the season in front of 6,948 in Matthew Knight Arena.
How It Happened: The game was back-and-forth all night, with neither team leading by more than six and the score tied at halftime, 27-27. The Ducks (12-3, 1-1 Pac-12) took the lead for good at 49-47 on a three-pointer by Dwayne Benjamin, and the lead grew to four thanks to a Jordan Bell dunk on the next possession. But the Golden Bears (12-4, 2-1) kept it tight throughout.
It was 52-50 when Chris Boucher hit a three-pointer for Oregon, then blocked a three-point attempt on the other end. Cal freshman Ivan Rabb scored against Boucher moments later to get the Bears within 57-54, but two possessions later Elgin Cook broke down a defender for a layin and then completed the three-point play after a timeout to match Oregon's biggest lead, 60-54.
The Ducks then went scoreless on their next four possession, and Cal closed within 60-57. Coming out of a timeout with just under a minute to go, Tyler Dorsey hit a three-pointer from the corner on an inbounds play, and Oregon led by six again. The Ducks hit enough free throws the rest of the way to hang on.
Back-to-back threes by Dorsey had provided an early 11-6 lead in the first half, but Cal used a 10-2 run to claw ahead, 16-13. Oregon finally tied the game 23-23 on a hook shot by Boucher, and another Boucher basket forged the 27-27 halftime tie.
Who Stood Out: Boucher established a new career-high with 18 points, and Dorsey added 17 on 4-of-6 three-point shooting. Cook and Dillon Brooks provided the kind of veteran leadership the Ducks needed, fighting through off nights from the field to contribute in other ways. Cook was 3-of-12 for nine points, but grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and the screen to spring Dorsey's late three-pointer. Brooks had four points on 2-of-10 shooting, ending a streak of nine straight games in double-figures, but had four assists, five rebounds and two steals. Defensively the Ducks did an outstanding job on Jordan Mathews, who went scoreless two years after scoring a career-high 32 points in Eugene; it was his three-point attempt that Boucher blocked down the stretch.
What It Means: The Ducks dug deep to rebound from Sunday's loss to Oregon State, and overcome a roster that's been in flux due to injuries and a transfer.
Quotable:
Dana Altman, UO coach
On Oregon's response to the Civil War loss
“That was a different team. We played hard. As disappointed as I was Sunday, I'm equally as proud tonight. We didn't play well offensively, but we kept competing; our defense was better. That's a good basketball team, very talented, very well-coached.”
Tyler Dorsey, freshman guard
On what it took to win
“We looked at the film of last game, and we just had to pick up our effort. We didn't play our best (tonight), but we had that effort and we kept fighting.”
Chris Boucher, senior forward
On the significance of the win
“I think this game helped us realize that if we work together, we can be a great team.”
Notable: Prior to tipoff, the program announced that graduate transfer Dylan Ennis will miss the remainder of the season after aggravating the injury that sidelined him for the first 12 games of the season. Ennis played 21 total minutes against Western Oregon and Oregon State, the lone appearances of his UO career. … Freshman Trevor Manuel, who informed Altman this week of his intent to transfer, was not in uniform Wednesday. … Cal went 0-for-12 from three-point range, the first time Oregon held an opponent without a three-pointer since Savannah State went 0-of-13 in November 2005.
Up Next: The Ducks host Stanford in Matthew Knight Arena on Sunday (7 p.m., ESPNU).
