Final Four: Oregon Ducks Miss Opportunities, Lose To North Carolina 77-76

Oregon left their heart on the floor, losing 77-76 on the final rebound of the game that went to North Carolina in a battle where opportunities were missed by the Ducks.

The Oregon Ducks fell behind early, but came back. It was a sloppy first half for both teams, but the Oregon Defense was a big key in the first half. The Oregon Defense held the North Carolina Tar Heels to under 30 percent shooting from the floor. Oregon found a lead midway through the first half.

Despite 7 turnovers in the first 14 minutes of the first half, the Oregon Ducks put together back to back shots and push the lead to 24-18. Tyler Dorsey and Dillon Brooks were scoreless over a good part of the first half. Dylan Ennis hit back to back three-point shots to push the lead to 8 points with just under 4 minutes left till halftime.

Jordan Bell left the game with what looked like a badly twisted ankle leaving the Oregon Defense without their big man up front for the last few minutes of the first half. Bell left the game without committing a foul.

Bell returned to the lineup, but Payton Pritchard picked up his third personal foul before halftime. Tyler Dorsey hit his first two foul shots and also his first two points of the game giving the Ducks a six point lead 32-26. North Carolina came back to take the lead 37-36 with just over a minute left running on a 13-4 run over two and a half minutes..

The Oregon Ducks has 12 turnovers in the first half after three NCAA Tournament games with just 11 turnovers over that span. North Carolina took a three-point lead 39-36 into the locker room at halftime.

The second half started with a back and forth battle that included back to back uncontested three-pointers from the Tar Heels Justin Jackson. With 12 minutes left in the game Oregon had 14 field goals and 14 turnovers. They were down seven points and free throws would be key the rest of the way.

Oregon on one possession started getting North Carolina Starters into foul trouble, but also found some foul trouble of their own with Tyler Dorsey and Dillon Brooks picking second fouls. Tyler Dorsey got Oregon within 4 with 11 minutes left. Kavell Bigby-Williams had two big blocks over a two minute period followed by a block from Jordan Bell.

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Dillon Brooks joined Payton Pritchard with three personal fouls as North Carolina pushed the lead to 10 points with just under 8 minutes left in the game.

Brooks picked up his fourth foul and Bell picked up his second with just over 5 minutes left. Oregon used foul shots to pull within five with four minutes left. The Ducks were hanging around and in need of a few shots to fall in the final few minutes. Oregon pulled within 4 with 57 seconds left.

Tyler Dorsey hit a three pointer that hung on the rim before falling to pull within three with just over 30 seconds left in the game.

Justin Jackson and Isaiah Hicks were monsters on the inside and out. Jackson had 22 points. Meeks had a double double with 25 points and 14 rebounds. For Oregon a slow start from Tyler Dorsey and Dillon Brooks did not help the 12 turnovers of the first half. The Ducks also had an over 5 minute scoring drought in the final five minutes of the game.

Dillon Brooks fouled out and Tyler Dorsey hit the 20 point mark for the ninth straight game. Oregon found themselves within a point at 77-76 with just over 5 seconds left. The Ducks fouled Meeks. He missed the first free throw and missed the second, but North Carolina found the free throw line again missing both free throws but getting the final rebound to send Oregon home.

Next: Oregon Softball: Ducks Earn Win Over Arizona State

The Oregon Ducks came a point short in the Final Four but had opportunities that they were not able to take advantage of.. North Carolina will meet Gonzaga Monday Night for the National Championship.

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