Oregon basketball takes defensive step in win over UTEP

Oregon and University of Texas El Paso played for just the third time in their history. The Ducks again were shorthanded with eight scholarship players on the floor and played tough defense when it mattered for the win.

UTEP and Oregon started the game with missed shots. Midway through the first half, the Miners had seven turnovers. Oregon was able to take a slight advantage before committing seven turnovers of their own over a six-minute span. It was not a clean start to the game for Oregon with multiple errors on the floor coming from travelling calls.

The first half ended with Oregon leading 28-25 despite not hitting a three-point shot in the first half. The team was 0 for 6 from three-point range. Both teams combined for an ugly 21 turnovers as they headed to the locker room. Keeshawn Barthelemy led with 8 points. Jackson Shelstad had 4 points in the opening half.

Jermaine Coiusnard ended the three-point drought for the Ducks in the opening minutes of the second half pushing the Ducks lead to 33-30.

Oregon would pull away throughout the second half and Couisnard would hit one more three-pointer out of the four made baskets from distance for the Ducks on the night vs UTEP. The Miners did a decent job at defending outside shots most of the night, but Oregon found shots inside to do most of the damage the rest of the way and pull away in the end for a 71-49 win.

Four Ducks scored in double figures led by Cousinard with 18 points. He shot 6 for 11 from the floor. Both teams had 18 turnovers in a night where Couisnard was honestly the difference, especially in the second half which saw 15 of his points scored.

Oregon is in the midst of a stretch where they must continue to win games with key players out with injuries and have games coming up against Syracuse and Kent State before hosting USC to begin Pac-12 play at the end of the month. Now they are 6-3 on the season and host California Baptist on Tuesday night at Matthew Knight Arena.