Seniors Lead Ducks to Pac-12 Title

Saturday, March 7

Eugene, OR

8:00 PM

University of Oregon

24-7,13-5Pac-12

Stanford

20-11,9-9Pac-12

Stanford

Oregon

Photo by: Samuel Marshall

03/07/20 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score - Oregon 80, Stanford 67

EUGENE, Ore. – The 13^th-ranked Oregon men's basketball team completed a rare collegiate triple crown by defeating Stanford 80-67 Saturday night in front of 10,862 at Matthew Knight Arena.

The University of Oregon became the first Pac-12 school and second Power Five college overall to win regular season conference titles in men's basketball, football and women's basketball in the same academic year. The Ducks join Ohio State (2005-06, 2006-07, 2009-10) as the only two Power Five schools to earn that triple crown.

More importantly, the Ducks (24-7, 13-5) claimed the No. 1 seed and a first round bye for next week's Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas. Oregon will face the winner of the No. 8 Oregon State-No. 9 Utah first round game Thursday at noon.

This is the seventh conference title in program history, joining 1919, 1939, 1945, 2002, 2016 and 2017. It is the first time the Ducks have clinched an outright league title playing in front of the home fans since 1945.

In his final home game, Payton Pritchard led the way with 29 points, six rebounds and five assists.

"It is kind of an emotional moment for me," said Pritchard. "Just everything I have been through here, all the ups and downs. To finish playing here at Matthew Knight on a high note like that, and with the crowd and the way they responded to me. It was a real blessing to me, and I am just very thankful to be a part of this program."

Fellow seniors Anthony Mathis and Shakur Juiston also contributed to the win. Mathis scored 14 points with four three-pointers. Juiston grabbed a team-best nine rebounds with six points.

How it Happened: After the teams traded a pair of three-pointers for a 6-6 tie a little over two minutes into the game, Juiston set the tone for the night with a soaring dunk that brought the senior night crowd to its feet.

Tied at 13-13 with 14:15 to play, the Ducks went on a 14-4 run for their biggest lead of the half, 27-17, with 7:28 remaining. Will Richardson and Addison Patterson each had four points in the run.

Pritchard, Mathis and Richardson all had eight points in the first half as the Ducks led 36-31 at halftime.

Stanford (20-11, 9-9) got no closer than five points in the second half.

The Ducks' biggest lead, 15 points, came on an Addison Patterson three-pointer that made it 57-41 with 10:53 remaining.

Who Stood Out: Richardson had 12 points and four steals. The Ducks outscored Stanford 38-26 in the paint after being outscored 36-26 inside in the 70-60 loss to the Cardinal last month.

Notable: Stanford was the 10^th different Pac-12 team that Pritchard has scored 20 points against this season. … Pritchard tied Johnathan Loyd (2010-14) for the most games played in program history at 144. … Dana Altman passed Gary Williams for 25^th on the NCAA Division I career coaching wins list with victory number 669.

Quotable:
Head Coach Dana Altman on winning the Pac-12 title outright:
"Nine times out of ten being selfish is a bad thing but this the one in that ten. You don't want to share this one with anybody."

Up Next: Oregon opens Pac-12 Tournament play Thursday at noon against the winner of the No. 8 Oregon State-No. 9 Utah first round game (noon, Pac-12 Networks).

- GoDucks.com -