In a span of three days this weekend, the Oregon men’s basketball team conjured up a desert paradox.
Two nights after blowing out No. 14 Arizona for the second time this season, the Ducks lost a close game to Arizona State in Tempe.
Oregon’s 95-88 loss to Arizona State on Sunday was the Ducks’ fourth loss by less than 10 points, and moved them to 10-4 on the season, 3-1 in Pacific-10 Conference play. The Sun Devils improved to 9-4 and 2-2 in conference play.
Arizona State jumped on Oregon early and never jumped off. The Ducks made runs, and even led late in the first half, but never found a rhythm and never overcame the Sun Devils’ intensity.
“We were able to settle down a little bit midway through the first half,” Oregon coach Ernie Kent told KUGN-radio after the game. “But the damage was already done.”
Arizona State led 26-15 with 12 minutes left in the first half after a Justin Allen 3-pointer. The teams traded baskets, and then Oregon mounted its most impressive comeback of the game with seven minutes left in the first frame.
Ducks point guard Luke Ridnour, who scored a career-high 23 points against Arizona on Friday, hit four foul shots and a long 3-pointer to lead Oregon on an 11-2 run and a 37-36 lead.
Arizona State answered back, though, and led 44-41 at halftime. In the second period, the Ducks made several runs, but never led. Still, the game was close heading into the final minute, after Oregon guard Luke Jackson hit two free throws at the 1:05 mark to cut Arizona State’s lead to 89-88.
Sun Devil guard Curtis Millage converted a three-point play with 25 seconds left, and the Ducks missed three treys down the stretch, giving ASU the seven-point victory.
“It came down to the fact that they had more energy than we did,” Kent said.
The Oregon players may have been tired after Friday night’s win over Arizona. The Ducks toppled the Wildcats 90-80, and the game was not nearly as close as the score indicated.
Oregon led by as many as 22 points and never let Arizona get close at the McKale Center in Tucson. For the Ducks, the win in Tucson was their first since 1985, and completed their first season sweep of the Wildcats since 1982.
“We conquered the road with a big, big win down at Arizona,” Kent said Sunday night. “Hey, we’re 3-1, and we don’t have to play these two teams again, while everyone else still has to go through them.”
Oregon returns to McArthur Court on Thursday to face Pac-10 foe California before taking on No. 13 Stanford on Saturday.