In their highest-scoring performance of the season, the Oregon Ducks (23-9, 13-5 Pac-12 Conference) blew by the LSU Tigers (18-15, 7-9 Southeastern Conference) 96-76 Tuesday night at Matthew Knight Arena, buoyed by a 58 percent shooting performance and five different players in double-figures.
The Ducks were led by senior guard Devoe Joseph, who scored 25 points on 11-for-17 shooting with six assists, and junior center Tony Woods, who scored a career-high-tying 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting and added four rebounds. Senior guard Garrett Sim also had a hot night for the Ducks, finishing with 15 points and perfect 3-for-3 three-point shooting. @@http://www.lsusports.net//ViewContent.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&CONTENT_ID=188639@@
“We sped them up and played our style of game,” Joseph said. “We knew that with their size and strength down low, we wanted to speed the game up and have a high-scoring game.”
After Woods sustained a shoulder injury against Colorado in Oregon’s second-to-last regular-season game, the transfer from Wake Forest has had two straight 14-point games and says his increasing confidence has led to his higher point totals.
Oregon head coach Dana Altman was pleased with his team’s play in its first National Invitation Tournament game since the 2003-04 season, cracking jokes in the press conference about Joseph’s second-half dunk and Woods’ increased presence inside.
“Guys were popping the ball around and making plays for each other,” Altman said. “Because of that, you just don’t take many bad shots, with ball movement that like that.”
His team finished with 20 assists and only eight turnovers while generating 10 steals, a product of the team’s unselfishness with the ball and effective pressure against the Tigers’ backcourt.
“If we share the basketball and play defense, we’re going to play our style of game,” Joseph said. “When we get stops and can run out, then we’re going to share the basketball and get good looks.”
The Ducks led the Tigers 50-33 at halftime after a 55 percent shooting performance, and Joseph leading the team with 12 points and reserve junior forward Carlos Emory chipped in 10 points. The Tigers never closed the deficit to fewer than 10 points in the second half, allowing Oregon to coast into the second round of the NIT.
In a losing effort, LSU was led by junior center Justin Hamilton, who registered 21 points, nine rebounds and shot 9 for 9 from the free-throw line. Tigers sophomore guard Ralston Turner was second on his team with 14 points and 4-for-7 three-point shooting
Despite the Ducks’ disappointing loss to Colorado in the second round of the Pac-12 Tournament, Joseph has chosen to look forward to what he can accomplish in the rest of his senior season.
“It’s always going to be a little bit disappointing, but we have opportunities to still do something big,” Joseph said. “We want to try and get to New York and that can be another great experience.”
In the second round of the NIT, Oregon will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes at Knight Arena at 2 p.m. Sunday.