CORVALLIS — It took five guys and 20 fouls, but Oregonwas able to contain Phillip Ricci on Saturday, and indoing so, won its ninth straight over Oregon State.
The Ducks (17-5 overall, 7-5 Pacific-10 Conference)had one of their better team efforts of the seasonbefore 10,400 at Gill Coliseum and held Ricci, theBeavers’ top scorer and rebounder, to nine points andfive rebounds in the 80-63 victory.
Oregon has won 19 of the past 20 Civil Wars. GillColiseum was sold-out for the first time since Jan. 8,2000 — also against the Ducks.
Three Ducks scored in double figures, led by LukeRidnour’s 18 points and nine assists. Ridnourconnected on all four of his free throw attempts toset the conference record with 51 consecutive freethrows; the previous mark was 49.
“This team has not peaked yet, but we made a giantstep toward that (Saturday),” Oregon head coach ErnieKent said. “That was the best defense we’ve played insix or eight weeks. We’re getting back to playing likewe were early on in the year.
“This team is starting to come right now.”
The Beavers (11-10, 4-8), meanwhile, have lost threestraight. They shot a season-low 30 percent from the field, while the Ducks shot 45.5 percent andhit 14 of 28 (.500) of their three-pointers.
“It’s simple: They were able to shoot the basketballand we weren’t,” first-year Oregon State coach JayJohn said. “When (the Ducks) play like that, they’reclearly one of the top teams in the league. They’refabulous.”
Ricci had 24 points and 11 rebounds in Oregon’s Jan.18 win at McArthur Court, but was double teamed nearlyevery time he touched the ball Saturday. The Duckssubstituted their five post players frequently, andfrustrated Ricci with physical play. Brian Helquistfouled out late in the game, three other Oregonposts had four fouls and the other (Jay Anderson) hadthree.
“Ricci is a great player, and we threw a lot ofplayers at him,” Ridnour said. “Our game plan was torotate five guys on him and that made it really toughfor him. Our big guys did a great job.”
In a game of five on two — Oregon’s posts vs. Ricciand Brian Jackson — the Ducks had the edge, includinga 45-40 rebounding advantage. Jackson hit 10 of 13free throws to pace the Beavers with 15 points. Ricciwas just 3 of 14 from the field and finished with fourfouls.
“I think (Ricci) was pretty frustrated,” John said.”They kept bringing their big guys in on him. It’shard to shoot with 500 pounds and four arms on yourbody.”
On a positive note, the Beavers had just sixturnovers, one more than Ridnour had by himself.
The Ducks used a 19-2 run at the end of the first halfto take a 47-28 lead at halftime. Andre Joseph scored14 of his 16 points, including 4-of-5 threes, in thefirst half, and the Ducks had 11 three-pointers in thefirst 20 minutes.
Freshman guard Brandon Lincoln suffered a mild sprainto his left ankle in the first half. He could beavailable for Oregon’s game at Washington State onThursday.
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