Sunday, December 11
Eugene, Ore.
3:00 PM
University of Oregon
8-2
65
vs
56
Alabama
4-4
1
2
F
Alabama
23
33
56
Oregon
31
34
65
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Ducks Finish Strong To Turn Back Tide
12/11/16 | Men's Basketball
Oregon scored the final nine points Sunday to beat visiting Alabama, 65-56.
EUGENE, Ore. — Dragged into a nail-biter by a game Alabama squad, the No. 24 Oregon men's basketball team scored the final nine points Sunday to break a tie and win 65-56 before 8,922 in Matthew Knight Arena.
How It Happened: With 8:58 to play, UO freshman Payton Pritchard used a spin move and then a crossover to free himself up for a pullup jumper that dropped in for a 53-46 lead. Alabama responded with an 8-0 run that gave the Crimson Tide (4-4) its first lead since the opening minutes, 54-53.
Out of a timeout, Tyler Dorsey sunk a corner three for a 56-54 lead, but Alabama answered to tie it up, on two of the 16 second-chance points by the Tide in the second half. Following another timeout with 2:38 left, Dillon Brooks forced a turnover at one end, then drove to the hoop before passing out to Dylan Ennis for the go-ahead three-pointer at the other end. The Ducks got another stop on defense, and Brooks hit the dagger, a midrange jumper with 48 seconds to play. Oregon (8-2) held Alabama scoreless over the final 3:13.
The Ducks started the game slowly but tied it 5-5 on a Dorsey three, and Jordan Bell's go-ahead layin put Oregon ahead for all but the closing minutes. Brooks hit a three-pointer during a 9-0 run to a 23-9 lead, before the Ducks went the final 4:48 of the first half without a field goal to lead 31-23 at halftime.
Who Stood Out: Dorsey led the Ducks with 19 points, making 5-of-8 three-pointers. Brooks and Chris Boucher added 10 apiece, and Boucher had three of Oregon's eight blocks. Ennis had six assists and nine points, none bigger than his go-ahead three-pointer.
What It Means: After blowout wins their last two times out, the Ducks showed they could also win with their backs against the wall. Oregon also won the turnover battle, committing 13 and forcing 18, after coming into the game with a negative ratio for the year.
Quotable:
Head coach Dana Altman
On the Ducks pulling out a close game
"We're stuck in the mud a little bit. There's a lot of things we have to work on. I'm happy we found a way to win. … We made two plays back-to-back down the stretch, we got the stops we needed, but over the course of the game we make mistakes."
On what changed for Alabama late
"We're still facing the same problems: tonight it was the boards. Second-chance points, 21-6; points in the paint they got pretty much anything they wanted that second half. But the offensive rebound putbacks let them get back in the game and allowed them to stay right there."
Sophomore guard Tyler Dorsey
On how Alabama closed the gap
"It was a physical battle. In the second half we let them have too many second-chance points, and that's how they got back in the game."
Notable: New UO football coach Willie Taggart was introduced at center court early in the first half, before conducting an interview with ESPNU during its telecast of the game. … Students in attendance received a T-shirt recognizing Taggart's hiring… Casey Benson drew two offensive fouls, the first just nine seconds after entering the game in the first half. … Oregon had just 12 points in the paint at halftime, struggling to finish around the rim. The Ducks doubled that total by midway through the second half.
Up Next: The Ducks remain at home to face Montana, and former UO guard Ahmaad Rorie, on Tuesday (7 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
How It Happened: With 8:58 to play, UO freshman Payton Pritchard used a spin move and then a crossover to free himself up for a pullup jumper that dropped in for a 53-46 lead. Alabama responded with an 8-0 run that gave the Crimson Tide (4-4) its first lead since the opening minutes, 54-53.
Out of a timeout, Tyler Dorsey sunk a corner three for a 56-54 lead, but Alabama answered to tie it up, on two of the 16 second-chance points by the Tide in the second half. Following another timeout with 2:38 left, Dillon Brooks forced a turnover at one end, then drove to the hoop before passing out to Dylan Ennis for the go-ahead three-pointer at the other end. The Ducks got another stop on defense, and Brooks hit the dagger, a midrange jumper with 48 seconds to play. Oregon (8-2) held Alabama scoreless over the final 3:13.
The Ducks started the game slowly but tied it 5-5 on a Dorsey three, and Jordan Bell's go-ahead layin put Oregon ahead for all but the closing minutes. Brooks hit a three-pointer during a 9-0 run to a 23-9 lead, before the Ducks went the final 4:48 of the first half without a field goal to lead 31-23 at halftime.
Who Stood Out: Dorsey led the Ducks with 19 points, making 5-of-8 three-pointers. Brooks and Chris Boucher added 10 apiece, and Boucher had three of Oregon's eight blocks. Ennis had six assists and nine points, none bigger than his go-ahead three-pointer.
What It Means: After blowout wins their last two times out, the Ducks showed they could also win with their backs against the wall. Oregon also won the turnover battle, committing 13 and forcing 18, after coming into the game with a negative ratio for the year.
Quotable:
Head coach Dana Altman
On the Ducks pulling out a close game
"We're stuck in the mud a little bit. There's a lot of things we have to work on. I'm happy we found a way to win. … We made two plays back-to-back down the stretch, we got the stops we needed, but over the course of the game we make mistakes."
On what changed for Alabama late
"We're still facing the same problems: tonight it was the boards. Second-chance points, 21-6; points in the paint they got pretty much anything they wanted that second half. But the offensive rebound putbacks let them get back in the game and allowed them to stay right there."
Sophomore guard Tyler Dorsey
On how Alabama closed the gap
"It was a physical battle. In the second half we let them have too many second-chance points, and that's how they got back in the game."
Notable: New UO football coach Willie Taggart was introduced at center court early in the first half, before conducting an interview with ESPNU during its telecast of the game. … Students in attendance received a T-shirt recognizing Taggart's hiring… Casey Benson drew two offensive fouls, the first just nine seconds after entering the game in the first half. … Oregon had just 12 points in the paint at halftime, struggling to finish around the rim. The Ducks doubled that total by midway through the second half.
Up Next: The Ducks remain at home to face Montana, and former UO guard Ahmaad Rorie, on Tuesday (7 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
Team Stats
UA
ORE
FG%
.414
.442
3FG%
.105
.400
FT%
.667
.786
RB
33
27
TO
18
13
STL
7
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
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