Ducks Remain Unbeaten In Pac-12 Play

Saturday, January 13

Eugene, OR

5:00 PM

University of Oregon

13-3,5-0Pac-12

California

6-11,2-4Pac-12

California

Oregon

Photo by: GoDucks.com

01/13/24 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

The UO men overcame an 18-point deficit in the first half Saturday to beat California in Matthew Knight Arena.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Trailing by 18 late in the first half, the Oregon men's basketball team stormed all the way back to remain perfect at home this season and also in Pac-12 play by beating California in Matthew Knight Arena on Saturday, 80-73.

Jermaine Couisnard had 18 points to lead the Ducks (13-3, 5-0 Pac-12), including a three-pointer just before halftime to cap a 16-2 run that cut Oregon's deficit to 43-39 at the break. They took the lead for good on a Kario Oquendo three-pointer at the 11:34 mark of the second half, rewarding a crowd of 6,748 that braved frigid temperatures around Eugene to see the UO men improve to 9-0 at home this season.

"The crowd was great; I didn't know if we'd have anybody show up," UO coach Dana Altman said. "The students, people who came, that was one where, when you're down 18 and stuck in the mud like that, the crowd really picked us up. And we finally hit some shots, and finally got some stops."

Jadrian Tracey had 14 points for the Ducks, and led all players with a plus-21 margin when he was on the court Saturday. Keeshawn Barthelemy and Jackson Shelstad each added 12 points, while starting post Mahamadou Diawara was plus-20 in his 19 minutes of action.

Saturday's game also featured the return of UO post N'Faly Dante, who hadn't played since the season opener due to injury. He had eight points and two rebounds in his return for the Ducks, who remain the only unbeaten Pac-12 team in conference play at this point.

"We gotta get used to playing with him, getting more movement when we throw the ball to him so they can't double him as easy," Altman said. "But defensively there late, he really did a good job."

The Ducks' comeback from an 18-point deficit was the largest they've overcome in a win since digging out of a 19-point hole against Seton Hall on Nov. 27, 2019. Oregon had been 0-3 when trailing by double digits this season, having overcome an eight-point deficit to beat UTEP on Dec. 9.

How It Happened: The teams went back and forth in the opening minutes, and it was tied 10-10 at the first official timeout when Dante entered the game for the first time. He had an emphatic two-handed dunk on the Ducks' next possession and bullied his way to the rim for another bucket on their net trip, tying it 14-14.

But from there Cal took control with an 8-0 run. After Barthelemy broke that run with a three-pointer, the Golden Bears scored another five in a row to lead 27-17. Buckets continued to come in bunches for Cal, and ultimately Oregon's deficit was 41-23 with 3:57 left in the first half.

"Just really disappointed, golly," said Altman, who called a timeout at that point. "Energy level was bad, they were getting whatever they wanted — 41 points in 16 minutes. It really had a bad feel to it. Jermaine did a great job getting guys going."

Jermaine Couisnard Halftime Buzzer Beater Three-Pointer

Jermaine Couisnard Halftime Buzzer Beater Three-Pointer

Tracey scored out of the timeout, the first of six straight possessions to close the half on which the Ducks scored. Couisnard hit a three, Barthelemy pulled up for a jumper, Tracey hit a three and then Couisnard closed the half with back-to-back three-pointers that made it 43-39.

Scoring in the second half opened with Tracey making a steal and driving all the way down for a dunk.

"I just want to be energy for our team, give our team energy — talking, communicating," he said. "We had to pick up our talk a little bit, communicate more. That's what I was trying to do."

Jadrian Tracey

The Ducks finally clawed into the lead on a Shelstad three-pointer that made it 46-45. Cal rallied back in front, before Oquendo's three gave Oregon the lead for good, and he drove the lane for a thunderous tomahawk slam on the next trip. He missed an and-one opportunity, but the Ducks got the rebound and Tracey scored the first two of what ended up being seven straight points by him for a 63-55 lead.

Cal closed back within two a couple of times late, but with Oregon up 68-65 the Ducks got stops on six of Cal's next seven possessions. A 6-0 run by the UO men put them up 76-67, and they held on to win, holding Cal to 34.4 percent shooting in the second half after the Bears shot 54.8 percent in the first.

Up Next: The Ducks play at Colorado on Thursday (7:30 p.m., FS1).