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Oregon Basketball: Ducks Come Up Short vs Gonzaga

By Justin Phillips

PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Dana Altman of the Oregon Ducks reacts to a play during the first half of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Moda Center on November 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 12: Head coach Dana Altman of the Oregon Ducks reacts to a play during the first half of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Moda Center on November 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Oregon Basketball had a second game where they were able to come back, but came up just short in overtime vs Gonzaga.

Dana Altman has gone into the Bahamas with a team that is finding chemistry quickly this season. Despite a slow start earlier this month, the Ducks’ Freshman class is starting to show sparks that they get it. Unlike past seasons where it took into Pac-12 play for that to happen.

Oregon ha a 19 point comeback vs Seton Hall and took a top ten team in Gonzaga to overtime with a chance for the win in the final minute, but missed free throws sent Oregon to their first loss of the season 73-72.

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Payton Pritchard and Chris Duarte led Oregon in scoring. Pritchard was again on point from distance, hitting a shot just before halftime pulling the Ducks within six points. Oregon played a similar scheme vs Gonzaga as they did vs Seton Hall, in some cases keeping the Bulldogs to the outside forcing key missed shots down the stretch, hitting just 32 percent from three-point range.

Oregon found 26 points off their bench led by CJ Walker with 12 points. He was 2 for 2 from beyond the arc. Walker will be an important piece as the Ducks face another top ten team in North Carolina on Friday in a Final Four rematch from a few seasons ago.

The Oregon Defense has taken a few steps in the Bahamas. Altman watched as his team come up with 9 steals and 6 blocks against the 8th ranked team in the country. There have been some references to March Madness in November. Despite the loss to Gonzaga, when all is said and done, the Ducks will have faced two top ten teams early in the season which will go a long way come March.

Oregon meets North Carolina on Friday. Tip-off is set for 8:30 am Pacific Time on ESPN.

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