Despite a horrific end to regulation, the Oregon men’s basketball team picked up a hard earned 68-67 victory over Arizona State in overtime at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe.
Elgin Cook led the Ducks (15-7, 5-4) with 23 points, but Joseph Young’s late game heroics pushed Oregon over the top.
In the first half, the Ducks attempted just one free throw, but committed only three turnovers and shot 50 percent from the field. Oregon also outscored ASU 15-0 in points off of turnovers to establish a bit of separation early on.
A well played first half gave Oregon a 34-29 lead at halftime, but a slew of Shaquille McKissic three pointers to start the second half put ASU right back in the game. McKissic finished with 24 points, five rebounds, one assist, two steals and a blocked shot.
Following McKissic’s fifth three pointer at the 15:13 mark in the second half, ASU went cold. The team went 2-14 from beyond the three-point line. The Sun Devils also shot just 46 percent from the free throw line, but found a way to lock down its defense.
ASU forced nine turnovers and pushed the Ducks’ shooting percentages below 45 percent in the second half.
With both teams struggling on offense, the two teams’ playmakers had to step up in the stretch run.
ASU called a timeout with 1:06 left in regulation, down by one. The Ducks executed well on defense and forced a Sun Devil miss, but Cook touched the rebound last as it ricocheted out of bounds, giving ASU a chance to win the game with the shot clock off.
Instead, McKissic attempted a quick shot off of an inbound pass and missed. Bell collected the rebound and pushed the ball up to Young, who promptly knocked down two clutch free throws to give Oregon a 60-57 lead.
ASU moved the ball up-court quickly and got a clean look at a three, but missed, giving Ahmad Rorie a chance to ice the game at the free throw line.
With the stadium roaring, Rorie missed the front end of the one-and-one, giving ASU the ball back down three points with 14 seconds left. The Sun Devils passed the ball around the perimeter and McKissic wound up with it.
From the left elbow, McKissic rose above two defenders and drained an off-balance three, tying the game.
In overtime, the teams could only muster four field goals. But, Oregon went 6-6 from the free throw line in overtime, keeping them right alongside the Sun Devils in the final moments.
With a minute remaining in overtime, McKissic and Young traded baskets, giving ASU a chance to win the game on the final possession, but the Ducks played strong defense and kept the Sun Devils on the perimeter. Before ASU could set a play up, the clock ran out.
Young and Cook scored each of Oregon’s points in overtime, with Young scoring the final four points that helped Oregon stretch and regain its lead in the late going.
After a string mistakes nearly cost it the game, Oregon emerged victorious. The win marks Oregon’s first Pac-12 road win.
Follow Josh Schlichter on Twitter @joshschlichter
