Three-Point Barrage Sinks Utes

Sunday, February 16

Eugene, OR

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

20-6,9-4Pac-12

Utah

14-11,5-8Pac-12

Utah

Oregon

Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto

02/16/20 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

The UO men made 10 three-pointers in the first half Sunday on the way to an 80-62 victory over Utah.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — After feeding off the home crowd in a dramatic comeback win three nights earlier, the No. 17 Oregon men's basketball team repaid the Matthew Knight Arena faithful Sunday night with some offensive fireworks.

The Ducks lit up the scoreboard in the first half Sunday against Utah, starting out the game 9-of-12 from three-point range on the way to an 80-62 victory before 8,542 fans. The win came three days after Oregon's second-half comeback to beat Colorado, which ended the team's two-game losing streak.

"These two games were must-wins for us, obviously, to keep in the hunt for a conference championship," UO senior guard Payton Pritchard said. "We needed to get these and bounce back."

How It Happened: After Utah opened the game with a bucket, the Ducks tied it moments later when Will Richardson split two defenders and fed Shakur Juiston for a layup. On the next UO possession, Richardson made a three-pointer, and then Pritchard and Richardson hit threes on back-to-back possessions for an 11-4 lead.

Richardson made yet another three for Oregon's first double-digit lead of the night, 24-13, and late in the first half the Ducks got consecutive threes from Anthony Mathis followed by a third straight, from Pritchard, to lead 40-24. The Ducks went into halftime up 44-30, having gone 10-of-15 from three-point range.

"We had great looks," UO coach Dana Altman said. "The penetration-kicks and the inside-out threes really gave us some good looks."

Francis Okoro Hook

Utah mounted a rally early in the second half, but the Ducks responded with some most-welcome production from sophomore post Francis Okoro. After Richardson hit yet another three for a 52-40 lead, the Utes answered with a a three at the other end, but Okoro got Oregon right back on the board with a hook shot from the middle of the key.

The closest Utah would get in the second half was eight, at 55-47, but Okoro responded with another hook shot at the other end to get the lead back to 10. He finished with six points and four rebounds, Okoro's best production since the first of the year.

"After tonight I was really excited for myself, and for the team obviously," said Okoro, who missed last week's loss at Oregon State while in his native Nigeria attending a celebration of life held in memory of his father. "After the game tonight I feel confident. Just gotta keep the same energy going next week and keep the same confidence."

Who Stood Out: Pritchard finished 8-of-13 from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range for 25 points. Richardson filled up the box score with 18 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals. Juiston added 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Addison Patterson had a second strong game with 10 points, three assists and two blocked shots.

The Oregon Ducks take on the Utah Utes at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon on February 16, 2020 (Eric Evans Photography)

What It Means: After playing themselves into a tie with Colorado for first place in the Pac-12 by beating the Buffs on Thursday, the Ducks briefly fell a half-game out when Colorado won at Oregon State on Saturday. But Sunday's victory put Oregon back into a tie for first with three weeks left in the regular season.

Notable: Pritchard's 25 points gave him 1,810 for his career, No. 5 in UO men's basketball history. Pritchard on Sunday passed Tajuan Porter (1,803, 2006-10) and next in his sights is Greg Ballard (1,829, 1973-77). … Program alums Kenny Wooten and Louis King sat courtside for the game. … Walk-on Eddy Ionescu played the final minute for the Ducks.

Up Next: The Ducks go on the road to play at Arizona State on Thursday (6 p.m., ESPN).