Defensive Effort Helps Ducks Reach 4-0

Sunday, November 17

Eugene, OR

5:00 PM

University of Oregon

4-0,0-0Pac-12

UT Arlington

2-2,0-0Sun Belt

UT Arlington

Oregon

Photo by: Samuel Marshall

11/17/19 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Oregon - UT Arlington Box Score

The Oregon men's basketball team held Texas-Arlington to 23 percent shooting in a victory Sunday.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — A stifling defensive effort helped the Oregon men's basketball team remain unbeaten on the season Sunday evening, when the No. 14 Ducks held Texas-Arlington to 23 percent shooting in a 67-47 victory before 6,017 fans in Matthew Knight Arena.

Texas-Arlington was averaging 76.7 points entering the day, leaning on outside shooters who were putting up nearly 36 three-point attempts per game. The Mavericks put up 30 against the Ducks, making only six, but also were just 9-of-34 on two-point attempts, 26.5 percent.

"I thought we did a pretty good job of challenging their shooters," UO coach Dana Altman said. "I thought that was pretty good."

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How It Happened: The Mavericks made their first two three-point attempts of the night, helping them keep Sunday's game even from the start. The teams went back-and-forth, with the visitors making a third early third-pointer to go ahead 13-11. But Anthony Mathis hit a three for the Ducks that put them back up, 16-14, and Oregon never trailed again.

The score was tied 16-16 when the UO men broke it open. Payton Pritchard scored to spark a 13-0 run, which also featured a three-pointer by Addison Patterson and an alley-oop layin by Chandler Lawson, two freshman reserves.

"I think it was good getting our younger players used to the feel of the game, playing minutes where the game was close," UO sophomore Will Richardson said. "Each game they're getting better and better. We're going to need them; it's a long season. People go down, and we need them to stay ready."

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Chris Duarte capped the 13-0 run with a three-pointer for a 29-16 lead, and though the Mavericks ended the run with a basket, Pritchard hit another three moments later to make it 35-21. Patterson then forced a turnover in the backcourt and collected the ball before dunking to make it 37-21. Texas-Arlington did finish the half on a 7-0 run to cut Oregon's lead at the break to 37-28.

Pritchard carried the Ducks early after halftime, scoring their first seven points. The Mavericks hit a three to get within 39-33 with 16:24 left in the game, but their next field goal didn't come for nearly eight minutes. Oregon used that lull to go on another run, this time a 10-0 spurt that featured two Richardson baskets and another three-pointer by Patterson. That brought the UO lead from 44-36 to 54-36, and the Mavericks didn't get closer than 13 the rest of the way.

Who Stood Out: Pritchard scored 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, and also grabbed eight rebounds. Richardson and Patterson scored nine points each. Duarte returned to the starting lineup after his knee injury Tuesday against Memphis and added seven points and seven rebounds. Freshman CJ Walker also had eight rebounds, and provided a defensive highlight by taking a charge.

"He's an energy guy — defensive and rebounding are where it starts," Altman said of Walker. "And the offense will come."

What It Means: The Ducks have to feel even better about their depth moving forward after the positive performances by the freshmen Sunday.

Up Next: The Ducks host defending American Athletic Conference co-champs Houston on Friday (6 p.m., Pac-12 Network).