The Oregon Ducks (1-0) got their season underway by defeating the UC Riverside Highlanders (0-1), 91-76. Despite looking shaky at times, Oregon was able to pull through late and win by double digits. Leading all scorers was sophomore forward Kwame Evans Jr. with 23 points. He was 8-15 from the field with six rebounds. Brandon Angel, TJ Bamba and the veteran Nate Bittle also scored in double figures.
1st HALF
Thanks to strong shooting from UC Riverside, the game started off a lot closer than Duck fans might have wanted. The first three baskets for the Highlanders were all 3-pointers. The game remained close until the 8-minute mark. The score was tied 28-all at the media timeout, then the Ducks went on an 8-0 run over the next few minutes. They continued to pull away and had a 15-point advantage heading into the break.
Oregon’s strengths and weaknesses were obvious from the jump. In this half, it had a 24-8 advantage in the paint and a 22-16 rebounding advantage. It also shot 85% from the line. However, 3-point shooting appeared to be a weakness, as the Ducks only made 29% of such shots in the first half. In his postgame presser, head coach Dana Altman noted outside shooting as a weakness. The Ducks shot well overall, as they were 49% from the field. Evans Jr. emerged early, as he scored 12 in the first half alone. Angel, Bamba, and Bittle had nine points each.
2nd HALF
The latter half was much less eventful, but much more comfortable for the Ducks. They held around a 10–15-point lead for most of the period, as UC Riverside was unable to sustain consistent success. UCR’s largest run was a 6-0 blip near the beginning of the half. Altman believed that this stretch might have allowed UCR to regain confidence. Lucky for Oregon, the Highlanders were unable to keep the run going.
It’s worth noting that Oregon was unable to put the game fully out of reach until the final minutes. Altman was disappointed at times in the lack of intensity, noting the need to keep pressing. He would have liked to see more physicality, even if it resulted in fouls. Both teams scored 40 points in this half, which was disappointing considering the Ducks’ stellar play to end the first.
Oregon continued their paint dominance, as they outscored the Highlanders by 10 in the second half. They increased their three-point percentage by reducing their attempts. Their controlling lead throughout the half allowed them to take less risks. Evans Jr. and Bittle put the team on their back in the second, as their combined 18 points and 11 rebounds stood out from the rest.
RISING STARS
A couple of players had a coming-out party for the Ducks. The Stanford transfer Angel scored 17 points; going 5-6 from the field and a perfect 7-7 from the line. In the presser, Angel noted how the positive team environment allowed everyone to help each other improve while building team chemistry. It was important for him as a transfer to gain a sense of belonging within the team and learn how his attributes can complement those of his teammates.
Villanova transfer Bamba scored 12 points with an impressive seven rebounds. He also had three assists and a strong second half from the line. Both players were key contributors at their previous schools, but there were questions surrounding how they would fit in Altman’s system. I would argue that those questions were answered tonight, as both players were critical of Oregon’s win.
OUTLOOK
Oregon’s season will resume at 7 p.m. on Friday against Montana at home. That game will be another low-pressure opportunity for the Ducks to work out any issues and prepare for the road ahead. Notable games soon include a trip to Corvallis to play Oregon State on Nov. 21 and a Las Vegas matchup with Texas A&M in the Players Era Festival on Nov. 26. The Aggies lost today to UCF, but they should be the Ducks’ toughest test until the new year.
From Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon. Griffin Bowes and Ian Valleau, KWVA Sports.