University of Oregon
8-4
Baylor
7-4
Ducks' Comeback Falls Short
12/21/18 | Men's Basketball
Despite a furious second half rally, the Oregon men's basketball team lost on the road to Baylor, 57-47, on Friday
WACO, Texas – Despite a furious second half rally, the Oregon men's basketball team lost on the road to Baylor, 57-47, at the Ferrell Center on Friday.
Oregon nearly overcame its worst scoring half of the season, cutting Baylor's lead to two points on a Payton Pritchard three-pointer with 3:32 to play, but the Bears closed out the game on a 10-2 run to secure the victory.
How It Happened: After opening the night with a Will Richardson steal and a Payton Pritchard layup, Oregon (8-4) struggled offensively during the first half. Head coach Dana Altman called a timeout with 4:53 left in the frame after Oregon managed just two field goals in the first 15 minutes.
Altman's timeout proved to be the right call as Victor Bailey Jr. scored on back-to-back possessions out of the huddle, leading an 8-2 Oregon charge to get the Ducks within nine points of Baylor (7-4), 23-14 with 1:44 remaining. Oregon made five of its last seven from the field to go into the locker room trailing the Bears, 28-16.
Early in the second half, the Bears went on an offensive surge, where they led by as many as 16 points, 37-21, with 15:03 remaining. However, the Ducks responded with an offensive charge of their own.
Oregon went on a 15-4 run in a little less than five minutes which included two big-time threes by Pritchard. Paul White capped off the run by rattling one in from beyond the arc to get the Ducks within five points, 39-34 with 10:57 left.
Shortly after, UO went on another offensive run, outscoring Baylor 10-2 and getting within two points, 47-45, after Pritchard sunk a three with 3:32 remaining. However Baylor finished out the half on a 10-2 run of their own to secure their victory at home.
Who Stood Out: Payton Pritchard recorded 14 points, 12 of which came in the second half off of four three-pointers ... Will Richardson also scored in double digits, tallying 10 points along with three assists and two steals ... Kenny Wooten recorded three blocks for the Ducks.
Notable: Bol Bol (foot) and Abu Kigab (ankle) were both sidelined with injuries ... Baylor will return the game to Eugene next season.
Quotable:
Dana Altman, Head Coach
"We got beat by 13 on the boards and were outscored by 10 on second chance points and we lost by 10 so that was disappointing. We've got a lot of work to do and it's not going to be easy"
Up Next: The Ducks will close out their preseason slate by traveling to Boise State on Saturday to face the Broncos for the second time in as many weeks (4:30 p.m. PT, CBS Sports Network).
