MBB Recap: Oregon defeats the Trojans in a game that has to be won
The Oregon Ducks were in dire need of a victory over the USC Trojans after dropping three of their previous four games, and Dana Altman’s squad delivered it.
On offense, both the Trojans and the Ducks got off to a strong start. In less than seven minutes of play, both sides had scored twenty points or more. However, Oregon was able to hold onto their offensive for a longer period of time than the Trojans, and they prevailed.
Keeshawn Barthelemy, a senior guard for Oregon, had a season-ending leg injury against Arizona last weekend. This was his first game without him. The duties of guards Brennan Rigsby and Karin Oquendo will be more intense in his absence, and they both performed well on Thursday.
Oregon hopes to win its second game of the Los Angeles road trip when it plays the UCLA Bruins on Saturday.
Final Score: USC Trojans 69, Oregon Ducks 78 Oregon defeated the Trojans for the second time this season, despite a late charge from USC.
Essentials for the Game
Jackson Shelstad spearheaded the Ducks’ explosive offensive opening burst in the game. The freshman point guard converted his first six field goal tries as Oregon scored 19 points in the first five minutes of play.
For the opening twenty minutes, Oregon’s defense looked unsteady, giving up 39 points to the Trojans in the first half. After trailing USC by just 30 points on 37.5% shooting in the second half, Oregon’s defense tightened up considerably. It appeared as though they would be headed for another game in which they allowed 80 points.
On Thursday, Oregon forced a lot of turnovers, which generated a significant amount of their offense. Furthermore, it hindered the Trojans from establishing a strong offensive rhythm.
The Ducks gave up an 11-0 run in the closing minutes, allowing USC to tie the score. While a win is a win, Oregon had a lot more room to win than nine points.
Highest Achievers
- Jack Shelstad: 20 points, 6 assists, 4 of 6 three-pointers
- Jermaine Couisnard: 6/8 FTs, 7 rebounds, and 11 points
- N’Faly Dante: 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 4/6 FGs
- Kwame Evans Jr.: 8 points, 2 blocks, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal
- Kario Oquendo: 12 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds
Important Stats
Eight of USC’s fourteen turnovers came from Oregon thefts. The Ducks frequently reached the foul line and converted 18 of their 21 (85.7%) free throw attempts. USC scored six points.
With 14 blocks, USC had good rim protection. Oregon had to shoot more threes, and they did so with an effective 38% because of that formidable inside defense.
The Ducks ended with 14 second-chance points and 17 offensive rebounds. On offense, the Trojans had twelve boards.
The Oregon Ducks will take on UCLA in the second game of their road trip to Los Angeles on Saturday. The Bruins have won five of their previous six games, despite their overall 9-11 record. The Ducks will return to Eugene for games against Washington and Washington State the following week.