If USC wrote a theme song for the 2002-03 season, it would be titled “Folding Time.”
It turns out the tune didn’t change in the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament like everybodythought.
Oregon built a large lead in the second half, and USC stormed back but didn’t score a point in thefinal 2:25 as the Ducks held on to take the game and the tournament title, 74-66. Oregon, mostlikely headed to the NCAA Tournament before the game started, erased any doubt by securing thePac-10’s automatic bid with the win.
Luke Ridnour was named as the MVP of the Pac-10 Tournament after scoring a team-high 18 points inthe title game. Luke Jackson added 17 points, and four Ducks scored in double figures. Ridnour,Jackson and James Davis were named to the six-member All-Tournament team after the game.
Ridnour said the team was the theme for the Ducks.
“After playing two tough games (Thursday and Friday), our team really responded,” Ridnour toldKUGN-AM after the game.
The Ducks, who beat Arizona State and UCLA by one point each to get to the title game, openedSaturday’s contest with eight-straight points and led 14-4 at the 15:46 mark. But USC respondedwith a 15-0 run to make the game close.
The teams remained deadlocked until Oregon opened the second half with a 10-2 run to take a 47-37lead with 17:01 left in the game. The Ducks pushed the lead to as many as 15 points with 8:37left, but USC employed a full-court press that flustered Oregon’s normally sure-handed guards. Thetactic was reminiscent of what Oregon did to UCLA on Friday, as the Trojans forced the Ducks intoturnovers and bad shots. USC capitalized, and fought its way to within four points, at 70-66. Butthe Ducks dominated the final two and a half minutes, the Trojans missed several shots, and Oregoncame out with the win.
“We knew we were going to get it done,” Ridnour said.
Oregon will now turn its attention to the NCAA selection show, which will be broadcast nationallyon CBS at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Duck fans will also have a chance to congratulate their team Sunday. Oregon will fly back Sundaymorning and will arrive at the Casanova Center at approximately 1:30 p.m.
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