Oregon Ducks Earn Ugly Win vs UCLA Bruins, Pritchard Scores 25
The Oregon Ducks eeked out a win over the UCLA Bruin, 94-91 Saturday night at Matthew Knight Arena.
Oregon faced the UCLA Bruins at Matthew Knight Arena. The Ducks won the game last season on a last-second shot by Dillon Brooks. This season has been one of learning and finding consistency for Dana Altman. Over the last two games, the Ducks had a lead heading into the final minutes to lose both.
Oregon entered the game with four Pac-12 Conference losses and need a win to keep pace in the middle of the Conference. The Bruins won the opening tip.
The Oregon Ducks were not about to give this game up at home. Five minutes into the game Aaron Holiday ran into Paul White and received a double technical foul. The Ducks had a run of six straight made field goals and Holiday picked up his third foul with 8 minutes remaining in the first half. Oregon was shooting 61 percent from the floor and had good ball movement from the start of the game. With 7:53 left in the first half it was 32-18 Oregon.
Oregon played mistake-free basketball in the first half without turning the ball over once. The UCLA Bruins had 9 turnovers that the Ducks turned into 12 points. Oregon shot 56 percent in the first half including 24 points in the paint and an efficient 14 assists led by Troy Brown.
The second half saw a comeback attempt by UCLA to pull within 9, but Oregon answered back with 7:56 to go. Oregon led by eleven 77-66 with just over five minutes left. Payton Pritchard talked after the loss Thursday about the urgency this team needed the rest of the way. The Ducks Sophomore led the way on the court.
UCLA went on a streak of five straight field goals to pull within eight, 81-73 with just over four minutes left. Paul White pulled down a key rebound and was fouled pushing the lead back to eleven for Oregon.
"A lotta good things. We had to find a way to win one. With Payton hitting those free throws late. Really good.Head Coach Dana Altman on the win over UCLA"
The Bruins hit an 8-0 run in a forty-second span to pull within 3 with 1:45 left. Chris Wilks missed the first foul shot and the Ducks Offense took over. The Ducks missed an opportunity and it was 88-87 Oregon. Holiday fouled Troy Brown with just under a minute left. Brown hit both free throws extending the lead to 90-87.
Oregon waiting too long and committed a shot clock violation on a shot that would have given them a 5 point lead. UCLA had the ball with 13 seconds left and could tie it with a three-pointer.
UCLA finished the game making 9 of 11 shots, but the Oregon Ducks did not miss a free throw in the final minute to hold on for a 94-91 win over the Bruins in front of a sellout crowd at Matthew Knight Arena.
Payton Pritchard had 25 points. Victor Bailey Jr had 18 off the bench. MiKyle McIntosh had a big game inside with 18 points and 8 rebounds. The Oregon Ducks now have a week to prepare for Oregon State.
Next: Oregon Women's Basketball: Ducks Fall In Overtime To Oregon State
The Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers tipoff on Saturday, January 27th at 5 pm Pacific Time on Pac-12 Network.