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Bad turned worse for the Oregon Ducks (6-6) in the preseason finale against Portland State (6-6) on Tuesday.
With 4 of 24 shooting from three-point range and a 36.4 (20 of 55) shooting percentage from the field, the Ducks lost 54-52 to the Vikings in front of 8,052 at McArthur Court. It was the Ducks’ sixth loss in their last eight games.
“We didn’t make shots,” point guard Aaron Brooks said. “The defense was there the whole game. We just didn’t score the ball. We shot 36 percent â?” you don’t win games like that.”
The silver lining for the Ducks, however, following two straight losses to in-state rivals, is that the only way to go is up. That trek will begin Saturday in the Pacific-10 Conference opener against rival Oregon State.
“It’s obviously a tough blow for us to take another loss here at home,” Oregon coach Ernie Kent said. “But at the same time – I thought there was some growth in some areas in this game, particularly the defensive end of the floor. We just didn’t shoot the basketball.”
Despite holding the Vikings, now winners of four straight games, to 38.5 (20 of 52) percent shooting from the field and 11.8 (2 of 17) from three-point range, Oregon could not overcome the poor shooting night and the inside presence of 6-foot-11 Scott Morrison, who finished with 15 points and six rebounds in 23 minutes.
Morrison’s 10 first-half points helped Portland State take a 26-24 lead into the break after both teams experienced shooting difficulties. The Ducks shot 10 of 28 from the field and 3 of 16 from three-point range, while the Vikings shot slightly better (10 of 27 from the field and 2 of 10 from three-point range).
After trading buckets in the second half, Oregon’s Ivan Johnson made a jumper â?” his only one of the game after fouling out after six minutes of action â?” to give the Ducks a 32-31 lead early in the second half. Oregon then went on a 9-2 run to take its largest lead at 41-33.
But Oregon lost its rhythm and hit a dry patch, including a stretch in which the Ducks scored only eight points over the last eight minutes of the game.
With the game tied at 49 after a basket by Oregon’s Bryce Taylor, Adam Zahn’s dunk gave the Ducks a 51-49 lead with 2:19 left in the game. But two free throws by the Vikings’ Ryan Sommer tied the game and two more from Portland State’s Jake Schroeder gave the Vikings a 53-51 lead.
Oregon’s Maarty Leuenen was fouled on the ensuing possession but made only one of two free throws with 23 seconds to play, forcing Oregon to foul with 12 seconds to play. Sommer made one of two free throws to give Portland State a 54-52 lead.
In the Ducks’ final possession, the Vikings switched to a zone and Leunen passed to Zahn in the post, but a double team forced Zahn to pass the ball to Brandon Lincoln on the perimeter. His off-balance jumper in the waning moments fell short and the Vikings’ bench erupted.
“They ran the right play. We’ve won games off of that play,” Kent said of the last possession. “I thought Adam Zahn should have shot the basketball.”
Juma Kumara added nine points and eight rebounds for the Vikings, who made 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch.
Taylor led the Ducks in scoring with 11 points and Brooks added 10. Oregon did not have the services of its leading scorer, Malik Hairston, who sat out with a toe injury that he suffered against Portland.
“The truth is, we are in a slump. Something needs to spark them,” Kent said. “It’s just about confidence right now. The best way to finish the preseason is to move it behind now.”
The Beavers and Ducks will tip off the Civil War at 1 p.m. today at McArthur Court.
Bad turned worse for the Oregon Ducks (6-6) in the preseason finale against Portland State (6-6) on Tuesday.
With 4 of 24 shooting from three-point range and a 36.4 (20 of 55) shooting percentage from the field, the Ducks lost 54-52 to the Vikings in front of 8,052 at McArthur Court. It was the Ducks’ sixth loss in their last eight games.
“We didn’t make shots,” point guard Aaron Brooks said. “The defense was there the whole game. We just didn’t score the ball. We shot 36 percent â?” you don’t win games like that.”
The silver lining for the Ducks, however, following two straight losses to in-state rivals, is that the only way to go is up. That trek will begin Saturday in the Pacific-10 Conference opener against rival Oregon State.
“It’s obviously a tough blow for us to take another loss here at home,” Oregon coach Ernie Kent said. “But at the same time – I thought there was some growth in some areas in this game, particularly the defensive end of the floor. We just didn’t shoot the basketball.”
Despite holding the Vikings, now winners of four straight games, to 38.5 (20 of 52) percent shooting from the field and 11.8 (2 of 17) from three-point range, Oregon could not overcome the poor shooting night and the inside presence of 6-foot-11 Scott Morrison, who finished with 15 points and six rebounds in 23 minutes.
Morrison’s 10 first-half points helped Portland State take a 26-24 lead into the break after both teams experienced shooting difficulties. The Ducks shot 10 of 28 from the field and 3 of 16 from three-point range, while the Vikings shot slightly better (10 of 27 from the field and 2 of 10 from three-point range).
After trading buckets in the second half, Oregon’s Ivan Johnson made a jumper â?” his only one of the game after fouling out after six minutes of action â?” to give the Ducks a 32-31 lead early in the second half. Oregon then went on a 9-2 run to take its largest lead at 41-33.
But Oregon lost its rhythm and hit a dry patch, including a stretch in which the Ducks scored only eight points over the last eight minutes of the game.
With the game tied at 49 after a basket by Oregon’s Bryce Taylor, Adam Zahn’s dunk gave the Ducks a 51-49 lead with 2:19 left in the game. But two free throws by the Vikings’ Ryan Sommer tied the game and two more from Portland State’s Jake Schroeder gave the Vikings a 53-51 lead.
Oregon’s Maarty Leuenen was fouled on the ensuing possession but made only one of two free throws with 23 seconds to play, forcing Oregon to foul with 12 seconds to play. Sommer made one of two free throws to give Portland State a 54-52 lead.
In the Ducks’ final possession, the Vikings switched to a zone and Leunen passed to Zahn in the post, but a double team forced Zahn to pass the ball to Brandon Lincoln on the perimeter. His off-balance jumper in the waning moments fell short and the Vikings’ bench erupted.
“They ran the right play. We’ve won games off of that play,” Kent said of the last possession. “I thought Adam Zahn should have shot the basketball.”
Juma Kumara added nine points and eight rebounds for the Vikings, who made 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch.
Taylor led the Ducks in scoring with 11 points and Brooks added 10. Oregon did not have the services of its leading scorer, Malik Hairston, who sat out with a toe injury that he suffered against Portland.
“The truth is, we are in a slump. Something needs to spark them,” Kent said. “It’s just about confidence right now. The best way to finish the preseason is to move it behind now.”
The Beavers and Ducks will tip off the Civil War at 1 p.m. today at McArthur Court.
