Written Story by Austin Ota
The No. 21 Oregon Men’s Basketball team continued their early-season home stretch in a non-conference matchup against a Big West Conference foe in the University of California, Irvine Anteaters. After a dominant season opener against unranked Florida A&M, the Ducks displayed many of the flaws that had relegated them to a second round NIT exit the year prior. After a halftime deficit that had ballooned all the way into the teens, Oregon was unable to string points together in the second half and fell, 69-56.
Oregon’s first half was plagued by poor shooting, inefficient passing, and turnovers. With a halftime shooting line of 29.2% from the field, 57.1% from the free throw line, and 0-7 from deep range, the Ducks were only able to put 22 points on the board. And that doesn't even scrape the surface of the eight turnovers to just four assists. The lone bright spot of the first half was veteran center N'Faly Dante. The 6’11” big man ended the first twenty minutes as the only Duck in double digit scoring to go with seven rebounds and a trio of blocks that had Matthew Knight Arena rocking. Last year's leading scorer, Will Richardson, was kept off the board in the first half and attempted only two shots. Oregon went into the halftime locker room trailing 35-22 and searching for adjustments.
Unfortunately for the Ducks, they did not. A trio of late three balls make the percentages look better than the eye test, but still, a putrid 19% haunted the Ducks. It seemed they were lifeless on both sides of the ball in the second half. Dante continued his nice night and ended with a near double-double, but he was met with no help. Richardson turned the ball over five more times, including two travels. The big man duo of Kel’el Ware and Quincy Guerrier combined to shoot 0-6 from the floor and 0-4 from deep in the second frame.
Oregon will take a quick hiatus before returning to Matthew Knight Arena to face Montana State on Tuesday the 15th.
AUDIO STORY By Trace Geller
https://soundcloud.com/kwva/dana-altman-postgame-11-11?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing