Oregon forward Ian Crosswhite finished with 12 points Monday during the Ducks’ 79-75 victory against New Mexico at McArthur Court. The junior’s three-pointer two minutes into the second half gave Oregon a lead it
A strong defensive effort in the second half helped the Oregon men’s basketball team hold off a tough New Mexico squad and hand the Lobos their first defeat of the season, 79-75 at McArthur Court Monday night.
Led by strong defensive efforts from freshmen Maarty Leunen and Ray Schafer off the bench, the Ducks (2-0 overall) held the Lobos (4-1) to 25.8 percent shooting in the second half.
“We thought defense would be the key to this game,” Oregon head coach Ernie Kent said. “Our goal was to keep them under 35 percent, and we kept them under 39 percent. I’m proud the way this team stepped up and played defense against a very good basketball team.”
The defense, combined with Oregon’s 50.0 percent shooting led by Aaron Brooks’ career-high 22 points and eight assists, appeared to be the difference for the Ducks.
While Oregon never trailed after junior Ian Crosswhite, who had 12 points, hit a three pointer early in the second half, New Mexico was within striking distance to the end.
With less than 17 seconds left in the game and trailing 78-75, the Lobo’s junior point guard Mark Walters sprinted up the court. Driving down the left side of the lane, his footing slipped out from under him and the ball trickled out of bounds, giving possession to Oregon.
Despite shaky free-throw shooting at the end of the game, the Ducks secured the victory.
In the first half, Oregon had troubles guarding New Mexico forwards Danny Granger and David Chiotti down low. They combined to score 22 of the Lobos 43 first-half points.
Kent said going to a zone defense in the second half was essential for the Ducks’ to slow down Granger and Chiotti.
“We had a hard time shutting down their big guys, so we wanted to take the inside away and make them a one-dimensional team,” Kent said. “When Ray (Schafer) was in the game, he caused them both some problems, and Maarty Leunen also gave us some serious minutes.”
The Lobos struggled from behind the arc all game, shooting 24.1 percent, a sharp contrast to their previous games. New Mexico was connecting 44.8 percent of three-point shots coming into the game, which is why head coach Ritchie McKay said his team hasn’t faced a zone this year.
“Teams haven’t zoned us because we’ve been shooting 44 percent from the three,” McKay said. “I will promise you that we won’t shoot 7 for 29 again.”
New Mexico’s main problem all night was slowing down the speedster Brooks.
“Aaron Brooks is like no other point guard in the Pac-10,” McKay said. “He affects the game like Jason Kidd. His ability to get the ball from the free-throw line to the other end compromises so many defensive matchups.”
Brooks’ play of the game wasn’t on offense, but on defense.
New Mexico’s Tony Danridge, a 6-foot-5 guard, went up for a dunk when Brooks, listed at 6-foot, came out of nowhere to swat the ball away and get the crowd of 9,087 on its feet.
“It opened up and he looked at me like I as short or something,” Brooks said. “He went soft, and I got the block.”
The Ducks travel next to West Virginia to play Marshall Saturday.
