SEATTLE — When Luke Jackson stepped into the Oregon locker room after the Ducks beat Washington, 85-73, Saturday night at Bank of America Arena, he found out something amazing.
Oregon head coach Ernie Kent told the freshman forward that he had just tallied a triple-double against the Huskies, a feat no Oregon player had accomplished since 1972.
“To see him do that goes beyond a special game,” Kent said. “It’s just a special moment for Oregon basketball.”
Jackson’s post-game line was remarkable: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, two steals and five fouls in 30 minutes of play. The freshman notched the statistical accomplishment in only his fourth start of the season.
“He got the stat I’ve always wanted,” Oregon junior guard Freddie Jones said.
The last Oregon player to score a triple-double was Ron Lee, against Montana State on Dec. 7, 1972. Lee was one of the famed “Kamikaze Kids,” along with Kent.
“When you say the first time since ’72, and you say the last guy was Ronnie Lee, I don’t think you need to say anything more,” Kent said. “He was one of those special, gifted players.”
Lee holds the all-time Duck career scoring record by more than 100 points, and had games scoring 41, 34 and 33 points.
Jackson downplayed the triple-double, saying the win was more important than the achievement.
“It feels good to have success as an individual and as a team,” Jackson said. “We’re all really clicking right now, and it feels good.”
Jackson completed the triple-double with 9:25 left in the contest, with a fast break assist to Chris Christoffersen, who laid it in for his only field goal of the game. The points gave Oregon an 18-point lead, its second-largest of the game.
The Creswell native got most of his points the way he has all season — fighting for rebounds, tipping in shots and generally hustling around the court for his teammates and himself.
Jackson also contributed from long range, ending an Oregon 3-point barrage in the second half when he hit a trey from the right side with 12:17 left to put the Ducks up by 18. The three-pointer was Oregon’s fifth in a run that turned a five-point Duck lead into an 18-point gap.
“I guess sometimes when the ball is in your hands, it just goes your way,” Jackson said.
Not everything went Jackson’s way Saturday night. The freshman fouled out of the game for only the second time this season. Jackson committed his fifth foul with 2:31 left in the contest.
But despite the foul-out, Jackson marveled at his accomplishment Saturday night.
“Everybody wants a triple-double,” Jackson said.
Well, now Jackson has one to add to his growing list of feats in an Oregon uniform, with still three more years to try to do it again.