There is no doubt that Joseph Young is the star of the Oregon men’s basketball team.
But on Wednesday night, it was sixth man Dwayne Benjamin who shined brightest as Oregon came from behind to defeat Cal 80-69 in Berkeley, California.
Although Young led the Ducks in scoring with 25 points, it was Benjamin’s 18-point, 10-rebound performance that helped Oregon win its ninth game in its last 11 tries and keep its postseason hopes alive.
Although the Ducks were leading 39-37 at the end of the first half, the momentum had swung in Cal’s favor.
Cal opened the second half on a 14-8 run to take a 51-47 lead with 15:26 to play, but it was all Oregon from there.
Young’s jumper cut the deficit to two and then Benjamin hit a nifty reverse lay-up for the and-one to give the Ducks a one-point lead. Benjamin made the score 54-51 after he sunk another jumper.
After a Jalil Abdul-Bassit jumper at the 12:33 mark, Young, Benjamin and Elgin Cook combined to score 21 of the Ducks’ 25 final points to clinch the game.
Cal rallied to cut the deficit to six, 73-67, with 4:03 to play. But it was Benjamin who stepped up with the big shot.
Abdul-Bassit missed a three-pointer on Oregon’s next possession, however Benjamin corralled the rebound and promptly hit a three-pointer of his own to put the game away.
Cook finished the game with 17 points, while Dillon Brooks added 10 rebounds.
Oregon returns to action on Sunday when it faces Stanford at 4 p.m. in Palo Alto, California.
Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka
Benjamin and Young lead Oregon men’s basketball to 80-69 win over Cal
Ryan Kostecka
February 24, 2015
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