University of Oregon
30-6
Saint Joseph's
28-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| #8 Saint Joseph's | 27 | 37 | 64 |
| #1 Oregon | 32 | 37 | 69 |
Ducks Hold Off Saint Joseph's, Advance to Sweet Sixteen
03/21/16 | Men's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Photo: Shawn Toner
SPOKANE, Wash. — Down seven with less than six minutes to play and suffering through an off night offensively, the Oregon men's basketball team made big plays at both ends down the stretch to beat Saint Joseph's, 69-64, in Spokane Arena on Sunday and advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
How It Happened: Despite shooting just .333, Oregon led 32-27 at halftime against the Atlantic-10 champion Hawks. Early in the second half the Ducks seemed poised to break the game open, when Dillon Brooks completed a three-point play and then hit a three-pointer on the next possession for a 45-35 lead.
But Saint Joseph's answered with a 10-0 run to tie the game, and the Hawks took their first lead at 50-49 on a Lamarr Kimble three-pointer with 8:11 to play. After Oregon regained the lead on an Elgin Cook bank shot, Saint Joseph's scored another eight straight to lead 58-51 with 5:32 to go.
Momentum shifted again, beginning with another Brooks three-point play. Employing a pressing defense, the Ducks got three straight stops on defense, and a Tyler Dorsey putback tied the score, 58-58. Kimble scored in the post for the Hawks, setting the stage for the game's biggest sequence: Dorsey hit a three-pointer and Brooks hit another on the next possession, putting the Ducks ahead for good, 64-62.
Following a timeout with 1:19 left, Oregon forced a shot-clock violation. The Hawks still had a chance after Casey Benson made one-of-two free throws for a 67-64 lead, but Jordan Bell forced another turnover that Dorsey jumped on. Dorsey was fouled in the ensuing scrum and made two more free throws, clinching the win for the Ducks.
From the start Oregon was in control, as Cook hit a jumper on the opening possession and Brooks made a three-pointer on the next possession. But the Ducks would struggle offensively most of the first half, going 1-of-12 from three-point range the remainder of the half after Brooks' early shot.
Who Stood Out: Brooks made 7-of-13 field-goal attempts for a game-high 25 points, none bigger than the three-pointer that put Oregon in the lead for good. Cook added 18 points along with four rebounds and four assists, and Dorsey scored 14 while grabbing seven rebounds. On a night when Chris Boucher wasn't in rhythm, Bell stepped up to lead the Ducks with 10 rebounds.
What It Means: The Ducks (30-6) advanced to the Sweet Sixteen after falling a game short each of the last two seasons, and matched the school record of 30 victories set in 1945.
Notable: The Ducks advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the fifth time ever, and the first since 2013. … Brooks reached 1,019 points for his career, becoming the first player in UO history to surpass 1,000 during his sophomore season. … The Ducks held their opponent below 30 points in the first half for the fourth straight game. Arizona had 24 in the Pac-12 tournament final at halftime, Utah had 21 in the final and Holy Cross had 25 in Friday's first-round NCAA Tournament game. … Cook, the first player in UO history to play in three NCAA Tournaments, set program records for free throws made 24 and attempted 31 in the tournament.
Up Next: The Ducks will face fourth-seeded Duke in a West Regional semifinal on Thursday in Anaheim, Calif. (7:07 p.m., TBS)
