Written Story by Maddie Lang
Oregon Men’s Basketball had the crowd on their feet Saturday night when they took down the ninth ranked Arizona Wildcats. N’Faly Dante opened the game for the Ducks with back-to-back slam dunks. Oregon kept up the momentum and ended the first half with a 43-37 lead over the Wildcats. When the second half came around Oregon only stepped on the gas even more. The Wildcats made their best effort but it wasn’t enough to combat Oregon’s strong force on both ends. Oregon ended their statement performance against the Wildcats 87-68.
Key to Oregon’s big win was their top notch defense. They were able to hold the Wildcats to just 68 points which is 17.8 points below their season average of 85.8 points per game. They kept Arizona shooting just 38% and 36% from beyond the arc. Coach Dana Altman said he was proud of his team’s defensive performance and turnaround from their disappointing Thursday night loss against Arizona State. Altman’s squad is back to full force with its complete roster and he feels this better aids his team in bringing their full intensity without being wary of having to play a full 40 minutes. This mindset of intensity on the defensive end aided the Ducks in forcing 16 turnovers which they were able to convert into 19 points on the offensive end. Oregon also outrebounded Arizona by 10, ending the game with a total of 42 rebounds.
Jermaine Couisnard had himself a standout night, earning the title of the game’s MVP. He led the Ducks in scoring with a total of 27 points. His most notable play was an intended lob from half court that ended up in the basket, counting for a three-pointer. This was his first three-pointer of the night and certainly not his last. He went 6-9 from beyond the arc, leading both teams in three-point scoring. This is Couisnard’s first season as an Oregon Duck and in just three games played he is proving to be a force for the Ducks. After the game he described his mentality of looking for and filling his role on the team. He hopes to only make more of an impression as the season unfolds.
N’Faly Dante also gave an outstanding performance for the Ducks tonight. He was second in scoring on the team with 22 points. Dante’s two opening dunks gave the team the early momentum they needed to take down the Wildcats. Dante was not only dominant on the offensive end but on the defensive as well. He had 10 rebounds, two blocks, and three steals. However, when asked how he felt after this win, Dante was hesitant. He expressed how bittersweet it is for him. Dante is proud of his teammates for such a strong performance but a little disappointed that they can’t bring the same intensity every night. He hopes the team will take the momentum from this win and use it to push them in their upcoming games.
The Ducks will have a few days off before traveling to the Bay Area to take on California and Stanford. Both matchups have a lot riding on them as Oregon approaches the middle of their conference play. Oregon will take on California first on Wednesday, January 18th at 7:00 PM PST in Haas Pavilion.