Oregon Ducks Find A Way vs Pesky Alabama
The Oregon Ducks had one focus on Saturday, the Alabama Crimson Tide and extended their home winning streak to 31 straight games.
It was a big crowd for Sunday Afternoon Basketball at Matthew Knight Arena. Alabama started with the ball, but an Oregon Ducks block by Jordan Bell to try and set an early tone. The Crimson Tide scored the first points in the game as Corbin Collins landed a three.
The Ducks would wake up as Casey Benson landed a 3, Jordan Bell blocked a shot on the other end and Benson hit a lay-in giving Oregon a 12-5 lead with 14:00 left in the first half.
Oregon would find itself on a 21-4 run capped by a Dillon Brooks three-pointer followed by Payton Pritchard with a two-point lay in.
Dana Altman watched as the Ducks forced 11 turnovers in the first half against Alabama. Oregon 38 percent from the field with no players in double figures at the break. A bit of a surprise considering last week’s record-setting win over Savannah State. Oregon was scoreless for nearly the last five minutes of the half and took a 31-23 lead into the locker room.
The Oregon Ducks saw mistakes to start the second half. Alabama made 5 of 7 field goals from the start. The Ducks had 9 points in the first six and a half minutes, Alabama landed 14. It was a difference of 55 percent to 40 percent shooting in favor of the Crimson Tide with Oregon holding onto a 4 point lead with just under 13 minutes to go.
"Tonight it was boards and second half points. They got pretty much everything they wanted in the second half.Oregon Ducks Head Coach Dana Altman on Alabama."
With just under 8 minutes left, Alabama was out-rebounding the Ducks and were within 5 at 53-48. For the half, both teams were hitting 58 percent to that point. The Crimson Tide pulled within one as Dante Hall hit a two-pointer.
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Two key players found themselves with 4 fouls with Chris Boucher and Alabama’s Avery Johnson with 4 fouls with just over 5 minutes remaining. Up by one, the Oregon Ducks would not see a basket for over four minutes. Alabama would take the lead off a Dante Hall rebound basket with 4:03 remaining.
Following a timeout, Tyler Dorsey landed a 3 pointer giving Oregon back the lead and waking up the close to sellout crowd at Matthew Knight Arena. Dante Hall would tie the game at 56 with three minutes to left.
Dylan Ennis hit a 3 point shot off the assist from Dillon Ennis as the shot clock wound down from 2 seconds to give the Oregon Ducks a 3-point lead 59-56 with 1:15 remaining. Ennis and Brooks landed back to back shots ensuring an Oregon victory, 65-56. It was the Ducks 31st consecutive win at home.
The Oregon Ducks next hosted Montana, Tuesday at 7pm Pacific Time on Pac-12 Network.