Bears Maul Ducks In Berkeley

The Oregon Ducks were not able hold on to their 16 game losing streak since beating USC in the new “Matt” Court Arena.  The Ducks who are 4-4 in PAC-10 play committed numerous fouls and where not able to break through the Bears lead. The final score was 85-77.

Ducks Coach Dana Altman stressed that in order to win this game they needed to use their various defense plays and CAL took advantage of the lack of defense, something the Ducks would struggle with all throughout the first half of the game.

Forward Tyrone Nared was able to get the game going by making a two point shot within the first few minutes of the game.  That play was then overshadowed by CAL Jr. Guard Jorge Gutierrez when he hit a 3 pointer.  At that point the Bears had a six point lead over the Ducks.

With 14 minutes left in the first half  a frustrated Coach Altman decided to change it up a bit and pulled out almost 80% of his players thinking that may work to the teams favor.  It did in some ways when Nared flushed a back-door 2 pointer over the top against the zone.  However, that play did not put them back in the game when the duck committed 2 turnovers giving the Bears the strength they needed to run away with the game in the first half.

Fouls by Oregon were running amuck at Haas Pavillon and the team was hoping that superstar Joevan Catron was going to step up and lead the team but Caetron was not having a good game with all of the fouls he was committing. Then to top it off, CAL Bears  Guard Jeff Powers hit a 3 point stunner.

Coach Altman called a time out and was apparently not happy with his team, in fact he was furious.  This is when I believe that the Ducks got a quick talking to about the how the game was going because Junior Garett Sim was able to pull of two 3 pointers with 8 minutes to go.  These plays put them 10 points away from the Bears score of 34-24.

The Defense picked up for the Ducks when Guard Malcolm Armstead shot 2 then put in another left handed 2 pointer.  Again, it looked like the Ducks were going to pick up the pace but opportunites to gain points by free throws were unanswered.

In the second half  Catron committed yet another foul giving CAL another reason to score.  The Bears were also having a difficult time with fouls when Junior Forward Harper Kamp committed 2 fouls on Catron giving the Ducks time to score some 2 and 3 pointers, and for Strowbridge to make both of his free throws off a Bears foul.

Again, it looked like the Ducks were making a comeback when Catron and Strowbridge repeated their 3 pointers and free throws.  Then CAL Guards Gutierrez and Allen Crabbe scored a 3 pointer and free throws off the line due to a foul by E.J. Singler, who did not have a great game from the start when it came to shooting.

By then there were 4 minutes left and CAL sealed the deal when Kamp scored 2 points, while Gutierrez made his 2 free throws.   Oregon now falls 10-11 and will play their next 5 games at home.  Maybe being homebound is just what they need.