University of Oregon
3-1
Syracuse
2-2
Oregon Defeats the Orange, 80-65
11/16/18 | Men's Basketball
Bol Bol finished with 26 points as the Oregon men’s basketball team defeated No. 15 Syracuse in the 2K Empire Classic on Friday
NEW YORK CITY - The Oregon men's basketball team put on a complete performance to defeat No. 15 Syracuse, 80-65, in the consolation game of the 2K Empire Classic in Madison Square Garden on Friday.
How It Happened: Oregon found its rhythm halfway through the first period to take control against 'Cuse.
UO briefly trailed Syracuse to open the first half, but a made jump shot by Kenny Wooten at the 10:17 mark gave the Ducks the push they needed to roll the rest of the way. Oregon (3-1) put up 13 points in a little under five minutes, to take a 23-16 lead with 6:32 left.
Syracuse (2-2) responded to Oregon's explosive stretch to get within one point, 23-22 at the 4:11 mark. However, their run was short lived as Payton Pritchard and Bol Bol each scored six points to end the half on a 12-0 run, giving the Ducks a 35-22 lead heading into the locker room.
During the first half, the Ducks held 'Cuse to shooting just 26.9 percent from the field and 18.8 percent from beyond the arc. Bol led the Ducks with 11 points and seven rebounds in the opening frame, while Pritchard added nine points and Wooten had seven. Bol also had three blocks and three steals in the first half.
The Ducks' solid shooting and defense allowed them to continue to find success in the second half. Abu Kigab knocked down his first career three-pointer at the 14:31 mark to give the Ducks' a 15-point lead, 49-34. 'Cuse attempted to comeback, going on a 7-0 run to cut Oregon's lead to 49-41, but Bol responded with a three-point play, restoring the Ducks' lead to 52-41 with 11:31 left to go.
"I wasn't really worried about them getting the lead down to eight," said Bol. "But Will (Richardson) made a good play and then I was wide open."
The Orange made one last charge, cutting Oregon's lead back down to 62-53 with 6:30 remaining, but Pritchard scored seven quick points, leading a 13-4 Oregon run to put the game away.
Bol finished the game with a career-high 26 points as he was named to the all-tournament team on his 19th birthday. Pritchard had 18 points and Wooten had 12 for the Ducks.
Notable: This win gives head coach Dana Altman his 213th win to pass Basketball Hall of Famer Howard Hobson for second on the UO career coaching wins list … No. 15 Syracuse is the highest ranked non-conference opponent Oregon has defeated during preseason since taking down No. 14 Kansas, 84-78, on Dec. 7 2002 … Oregon shot 92 percent from the charity stripe … The Ducks held Syracuse to just 17.9 percent from three-point range … 19 of Oregon's points came from second chance opportunities.
Quotable:
Dana Altman, Head Coach
On the Ducks' performance compared to last night...
"I'm really proud of the way they bounced back. We were really disappointed in them (last night) and our coaches expressed that. The way they turned it around, for a young team that hadn't been together - I was pleased with that."
Payton Pritchard, Junior
On how the Ducks responded after the loss last night...
"I think last night was kind of a wake-up call, that we can't just walk through things. Our preparation before the game has to be better. Even in the game our intensity, and even though we're so talented you got to have intensity and all that. Maybe in a way we can look at it as a good thing."
Up Next: The Ducks return home to host Green Bay in the final game of the 2K Empire Classic on Tuesday (7 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Networks).
