University of Oregon
23-6, 12-4
Washington
16-13, 8-9
Cook Caps Memorable Final Week At Home As Ducks Beat UW
02/29/16 | Men's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Photo: Eric Evans
EUGENE, Ore. — Elgin Cook capped a memorable final week in Matthew Knight Arena, scoring a career-high-tying 26 points to lead all scorers for the second straight game as No. 13 Oregon capped an unbeaten season at home with an 86-73 victory over Washington before 12,364 fans Sunday.
How It Happened: Cook, who led the Ducks with 24 points against WSU on Wednesday, didn't lose any momentum during the three-day break. He hit a short jumper on Oregon's opening possession Sunday, and completed a three-point play for an early 12-8 lead. Cook drove the lane for an emphatic dunk and a 20-15 lead minutes later, and led the Ducks with 13 points as they took a 40-32 lead at halftime.
The second half featured more of the same, with Cook driving to the rim for a dunk on the opening possession. Dillon Brooks followed with a three-pointer and then a layup in transition as Oregon scored seven straight to open up a 47-32 lead, its biggest of the night.
The Huskies used their three-point shooting to remain within shouting distance, hitting 9-of-25 for the game. Oregon, meanwhile, made a season-low two three-pointers, on 10 attempts. But the Ducks found other ways to protect their lead.
UW senior Andrew Andrews scored 12 straight for the Huskies to get them within 67-61, but Cook bullied his way to the rim for a basket to stabilize the Ducks and spark a 13-7 run. Jordan Bell had dunks on consecutive possessions during the run, and Cook capped it with his final two points of the night, from the free-throw line.
Who Stood Out: Cook not only led all scorers, he grabbed a game-high seven rebounds. Brooks added 19 points, five rebounds and three assists, making both of the Ducks' three-pointers. Casey Benson and Bell scored 12 points apiece, and Chris Boucher added 10.
What It Means: The Ducks (23-6, 12-4 Pac-12) remained in control of the race for the Pac-12 championship, needing one win next week in Los Angeles to clinch at least a share of the title. Oregon also extended its school-record home win streak to 25.
Quotable:
Dana Altman, UO coach
On Oregon's focus entering the final week of the regular season
“UCLA. I'm not sure why we didn't perform well in the Bay Area; it could have been we were looking ahead, could have been we were listening to the hype. I'm not sure. But we didn't do a good job, coaches and players. We just need to go out and play. ... I don't want to put any pressure on the guys. We've just got to go play."
Elgin Cook, UO senior
On his impressive final week at home
“It's amazing. We had a great run here, and it wouldn't be possible without my teammates, and without the fans. We just want to finish off strong. Last time we went on the road, we got drilled. We just need to take our home mentality on the road.”
Dwayne Benjamin, UO senior
On explanations for the home win streak
“The crowd. The energy. A lot of people say it, but I really mean it. When other people start to make a run, they start to chant, they bring the energy. You don't want to disappoint your home fans. We just always played hard for them.”
Notable: Along with Cook and Benjamin, players Dylan Ennis and Max Heller and manager Patrick Scully were honored during the postgame senior day ceremony. Ennis plans to appeal to the NCAA to return to Oregon as a sixth-year senior in 2016-17. Boucher, also a senior who will appeal for another year, did not participate in the ceremony. … The Ducks completed the fifth unbeaten home season in program history. The others were 1911-12, 1925-26, 1937-38 and 2001-02. … Cook moved up to 27th on the UO career scoring list with 1,107 points, passing Charlie Franklin (1,090, 1955-58), Nick Jones (1,087, 1964-67) and Mike Clark (1,082, 1977-81) on Sunday.
Up Next: The Ducks go on the road to close out the regular season, beginning at UCLA on Wednesday (6 p.m., ESPN2).
