Defense Helps Ducks Grind Out W

Thursday, February 18

Eugene, OR

8:00 PM

University of Oregon

13-4,8-3Pac-12

Colorado

16-7,10-6Pac-12

Colorado

Oregon

Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto

02/18/21 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Oregon-Colorado Box Score

Oregon held Colorado to 34.4 percent shooting with 17 turnovers as the Ducks won 60-56 on Thursday night.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon's fourth straight win was a defensive struggle Thursday night, with the Ducks making enough big plays down the stretch to beat Colorado in Matthew Knight Arena, 60-56.

After Colorado tied the game with 2:40 to go, 53-53, the Ducks finished it out on a 7-3 run to even the score with the Buffaloes in the season series. Though Oregon shot a pedestrian 43.4 percent, the Ducks held Colorado to 34.4 percent shooting with 17 turnovers.

"We did just enough to grind one out," UO coach Dana Altman said. "That was a slugfest."

How It Happened: The Ducks (13-4, 8-3 Pac-12) didn't take their first lead of the game until midway through the second half. It came thanks to a 9-0 run fueled by defense, with Oregon forcing turnovers on five straight Colorado possessions to go ahead 48-43. But Oregon then went more than 5 minutes without scoring, and the Buffs fought back to tie it, 48-48.

The Oregon Ducks take on the Colorado Buffaloes at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon on February 18, 2021 (Eric Evans Photography)

The Oregon Ducks take on the Colorado Buffaloes at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon on February 18, 2021 (Eric Evans Photography)

Chris Duarte ended the UO scoreless drought by getting to the basket and adding an and-one, and he scored again on the next trip for a 53-50 lead. Colorado tied it one last time before Chandler Lawson hit two free throws that put the Ducks ahead for good, 55-53.

Colorado tried for a go-ahead three-pointer, which missed and was rebounded by LJ Figueroa. Will Richardson scored to put Oregon up 57-53, Colorado again missed a three and Figueroa again rebounded it. Richardson then hit two free throws for a 59-53 lead, before the Buffs finally connected on a three-pointer. But that was Colorado's only make in a 1-of-9 shooting streak to close out the game, and Oregon hung on.

Carelessness with the ball had the Ducks playing from behind from the start. Oregon had seven turnovers in the first 7:29 of the game, falling behind 14-6 in the process. Richardson got to the rim twice to get the offense going, and the Ducks had just one more turnover before halftime. But though Eugene Omoruyi bullied his way to the basket for a bucket that tied it at 21-21, Colorado took a 30-25 lead into halftime.

Who Stood Out: Duarte finished with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, plus a team-high seven rebounds. Omoruyi added 13 points — scoring in double figures for the 16th time in 17 games — and had five rebounds with a career-high five steals. Richardson scored 11 points, and Figueroa had seven points with six rebounds. Franck Kepnang was a factor on the defensive end, blocking three shots and altering several others.

The Oregon Ducks take on the Colorado Buffaloes at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon on February 18, 2021 (Eric Evans Photography)

What It Means: For as happy as Altman was to get a quality win, Colorado's 43-29 advantage on the boards haunted him postgame — and could haunt the Ducks going forward, he warned.

"You're not gonna win on a consistent basis if people are beating you 14 on the boards," he said. "We either focus in on that, get it turned around, or things are not going to go our way."

Notable: Eric Williams Jr. missed his second straight game due to a knee issue. … The Ducks played their first of three games in five days, after it was announced earlier in the week Oregon would play at USC on Monday, a game that was originally scheduled for Jan. 30 before being postponed. … The Ducks are now 186-21 under Altman when holding the opponent to less than 70 points.

Up Next: The Ducks host Utah on Saturday (6 p.m., Pac-12 Network).