University of Oregon
Portland State
Ducks Shut Down Vikings, 68-49
12/06/10 | Men's Basketball
EUGENE – A solid defensive effort from start to finish propelled the Oregon men's basketball team to a 68-49 victory over Portland State at McArthur Court on Sunday.
UO snapped a two-game losing streak to improve to 5-3 on the season while handing PSU (4-2) its second loss of the year.
Defense was the story for both teams in the opening stanza, which featured 49 combined points. Oregon came out with a 22-11 spurt in the first 15:04, but Portland State closed the frame with an 11-5 run of its own to close UO's lead to five points, 27-22, at the break. The Ducks shot 12-of-33 from the floor (36.4 percent) and held the Vikings to 8-of-27 (29.6 percent) shooting in the first half.
The opening moments of the second half went back and forth with the Vikings cutting the Ducks' lead to four at 38-34 with 13:15 remaining. UO created some separation at the midway point of the final frame, opening up a 53-41 lead with less than seven minutes to go. After a pair of PSU free throws cut the lead to 10, Oregon went on a 9-1 run to take a commanding 62-44 lead.
The Ducks led by as many as 21 points and only trailed once. UO shot 41.5 percent from the floor and held PSU to 29.6 percent shooting, the lowest mark the Ducks have held any opponent to this season. Oregon drained 7-of-17 three-pointers (41.2 percent) and stymied the Vikings to a 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) mark from beyond the arc. UO held a 41-36 advantage in rebounding and forced 17 PSU turnovers while only turning it over 12 times.
Three players scored in double figures for Oregon, led by Joevan Catron's 15 points. Garrett Sim scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting and Jay-R Strowbridge poured in 11 points. Catron also led all players with 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
The Ducks are back in action on Saturday when they host Willamette.
OREGON – PORTLAND STATE GAME NOTES
- The Ducks went on a 20-5 run over a six-minute span in the second half, building their largest lead of the game (67-46) with 2:49 remaining in the game.
- Garrett Sim scored 14 points, the first time he'd been in double figures since the Nov. 20 game against San Jose State where he scored 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting.
- Joevan Catron registered his ninth career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. It was the sixth time in eight games this season he's led the Ducks in scoring.
- The Ducks allowed a season-low 49 points, the fewest their defense has yielded since holding USC to 44 points in a 54-44 victory on the road Feb. 25 last season.
First half numbers…
- The Ducks scored their first basket at the 17:05 mark in the first half.
- Over the first five minutes of play, the two teams combined to shoot 3-of-17 (17.7 percent) on FGs.
- Midway through the first half the teams combined for 15 points (Oregon led 11-4).
