Oregon Ducks Top Oregon State, Elijah Brown Leads The Way With 20 Points
The Oregon Ducks picked up a key Pac-12 win over Oregon State, getting back to .500 in Conference play.
Oregon and Oregon State tipped off the 350th Civil War on Saturday night. Both teams needed a win to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. The Ducks won the opening tip-off, but Payton Pritchard traveled on the Ducks first possession. Oregon State went on a 7-0 scoring run of their own to take a two-point lead heading into the first media timeout.
The Oregon Ducks followed a 5-point start with an 8-0 run in just over a minute to take a 13-9 lead. Oregon found an early groove and a 14-2 run going a perfect 5 for 5 from the floor pushing their lead to 19-11.
Oregon State went on a 5-minute scoring drought with big baskets by Victor Bailey Jr. and Kenny Wooten to extend the Ducks lead to 25-11 with 7:47 left in the first half.
Out of a timeout, Troy Brown hit back to back baskets pushing the lead to 29-13 followed by an Oregon State turnover. The Beavers were hitting just 36 percent from the floor and 1 for 6 from three-point range with just over 5 minutes left in the first half.
The Ducks continued pushing the pace on Offense hitting 70 percent from the floor with three minutes left in the first half. Elijah Brown keyed the Offense with 16 points. Paul White had 9. Elijah Brown finished the first half with 18 points. He hit 4 of 5 from the floor along with 3 of 4 from three-point range and a perfect 7 for 7 from the free throw line.
Oregon went into the locker room with a 41-25 lead on Oregon State.
Both teams opened even-keeled in the second half. The Ducks sent Oregon State to the line early in the second half. The Beavers hit 4 of 5 free throws pulling to within 46-35 in the first six minutes. The Ducks hit a scoreless streak that allowed Oregon State to get back in the game and within 11 points.
MiKyle McIntosh hit a three-pointer out of an Oregon timeout that put Oregon back up 49-37. with 10 minutes left in the game. Payton Pritchard made his presence felt with a key basket with eight and a half minutes to go. He was fouled on the way up bringing the Matthew Knight Arena crowd to a cheer. His basket made it 53-39 Oregon.
With six minutes left, Oregon looked to hold onto a 10 point lead. Oregon State missed an easy lay-in and the Beavers fouled on the other end putting Paul White on the line. White extended the Ducks lead to 12. The Ducks would hit a four-minute scoring drought allowing Oregon State to get within single digits.
"When he’s shooting it good he adds a big dimension offensively.Head Coach Dana Altman On Elijah Brown’s Game vs Oregon State"
Both teams missed three-point attempts in the final three minutes. Kenny Wooten went to the line to push the Ducks lead back to 10 points. He missed the first and made the second for a 61-52 lead. Oregon struggled in the second half hitting just 6 shots and 25 percent from the floor.
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In the end, Oregon picked up the win 66-57 to even the season series with Oregon State. The Ducks are back to .500 in Pac-12 play and now ht the road. The Ducks face the California Golden Bears on Thursday night. (6 pm PT, Pac-12 Network,)
Quotes obtained firsthand at Oregon Postgame vs Oregon State