Jordan Bell Becomes Single Season Record Holder For Blocks in Win Over Arizona State

The Oregon Ducks coming off a loss to Arizona on Thursday found themselves in another sluggish start against Arizona State on Saturday afternoon. Oregon would start the game with five early turnovers and would hit one three point shot in the first ten minutes of play. A jump shot by Dwayne Benjamin had the game tied at eleven going into a timeout with 11:43 remaining in the first half.

At the midway point through the first half Oregon was shooting sixty-two percent from the field. They would miss some easy shots, including a three point shot from Casey Benson. Arizona State would sputter with the lead at the five minute mark, 18-14. Benson hit a three point shot with under four minutes to go leading to a fast break for Oregon. The Ducks would be down one 20-19 as Arizona State took a timeout.

Elgin Cook would help put Oregon up two, 25-23 at the half. Shooting was again not great for either team. Joseph Young led Oregon with seven points, Dwayne Benjamin had four. Oregon had nine turnovers to Arizona State with eight in the first half. Oregon hit three for six from beyond the arc in the first half. Both teams had twelve points in the paint, The Ducks finished the first half hitting thirty-eight percent.

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Oregon would start the second half off with another turnover and Arizona State woud take a 32-31 lead into the first timeout. Jalil Abdul-Bassit and Jordan Bell would hit back to back shots for Oregon and they would retake the lead. Midway through the second half neither team appeared to have much separation as Oegon led 39-38 with 11:29 left in the second half.

Elgin Cook would hit two back to back shots tying the game at 45 with 6:45 to go in the game. Arizona State would hold a four point lead with 4:14 to go before Dillon Brooks hit a two point shot and was fouled. Brooks would make the foul shot and the Sundevils lead was one with under four minutes to go.

Joseph Young would awaken the Oregon Offense with 3:30 to go with a three point shot giving Oregon the lead 53-52. Arizona State would stay alive with foul shots on the other end of the floor to take a two point lead with 2:23 to go. Jordan Bell would again tie the game as the shot clock expired on a rebound basket. Bell would again hit a two off a turnover with under a minute remaining to give Oregon a 57-55 lead. The Ducks would have the ball off a Arizona State travelling call with 50 seconds left.

Shaquille McKissic would miss the first free throw and the Oregon lead remained 57-55 with 11.6 seconds left. in the game. He also missed the second. McKissic then fouled Elgin Cook and sent him to the line. He made both giving Oregon a four point lead. Arizona State would have the final shot in regulation with 3.8 seconds left and a chance to tie. The final shot was not to be as Oregon won 59-56. Oregon moved to 2-1 in Pac-12 play and 12-4 overall.

Both teams shot a combined six for twenty-eight from beyond the arc. Oregon won despite fifteen turnovers. Joseph Young had sixteen points for the Ducks. Jordan Bell set a new single season shot block record just three games into the Pac-12 Conference season. He finished the game with eight blocked shots and has sixty on the season.

Oregon now heads north to face Washington and Washington State next week.