Over winter break, the Oregon men’s basketball team broke open a few games, broke down once, broke away from the rest of the Pacific-10 Conference, and, finally, broke a home winning streak.
All while the students of the University were on break.
So, in deference to those students, we here at the Emerald will break it down.
Winter break, that is.

Oregon 105, Pepperdine 90
The Ducks came off their big win in the Papé Jam over Kansas with another big win, this one proving Oregon could beat an upstart team on the road; in this case, West Coast Conference troublemaker Pepperdine, in Malibu, on Dec. 15.
Ernie Kent’s 100th career victory came in true Oregon style, with the Ducks running up and down the court, finally wearing out the Waves and ending the game on a 23-11 run.
Oregon forward Robert Johnson led the way for the Ducks, scoring a career-high 19 points and adding 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Ian Crosswhite also scored a career-high 19 points, and Luke Jackson led all scorers with 27.

Cincinnati 77,

Oregon 52
On Dec. 17, the Ducks traveled East to play in the Jimmy V. Classic, in front of a national television audience, in Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey.
But they left their game in
California.
Cincinnati dominated Oregon from the opening tip. The Ducks never found a rhythm, hardly had a shot drop and generally looked lost in the big-time venue.
“We played unstructured, sloppy and without energy,” Jackson said after the game.
The Ducks shot 36.4 percent from the floor and 18.5 percent from three-point land. Discounting the Cincinnati game, Oregon has averaged 93.4 points per contest this season.
For one night, the Ducks weren’t the Ducks; they were some
other team.

Oregon 107,

Florida A&M 66
Oregon returned home and returned to being the Ducks again with a win over Florida A&M on Dec. 20.
Jackson had a triple-double, the second of his career and only the third in Oregon history, with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against the Rattlers.
“I’ve always tried to play as an all-around player,” Jackson said.
Six Ducks scored in double figures in the game as the Ducks returned to the win column.

Oregon 90,

Minnesota 81
The Ducks faced their first ranked opponent since Kansas, and their first ranked opponent at McArthur Court all year, in the No. 25 Golden Gophers on Dec. 22.
Playing its third game in five days, Oregon started slow against Minnesota, going down 19-13 at one point in the first half. But the Ducks, who lost at Minnesota last year, went on a 14-0 run to take the lead for good.
Crosswhite led the Ducks with 18 points, and Oregon had five players score in double figures in the game.
Minnesota tried to mount a comeback in the final minutes of the game, getting within three points with 3:11 to play. But the Ducks rode the free-throw wave to the win.

Oregon 108,

California-Riverside 67
Three days after Christmas, the Ducks gave the Highlanders a rude present in the form of a blowout. In their final tune-up for No. 4 Arizona, the Ducks extended their Mac Court winning streak to a school record-tying 23 games.
“We just took care of what we needed to do,” said Johnson, who scored 12 points and had 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double. “We just wanted to get ready for Arizona.”

Arizona 81,

Oregon 72
And finally, the game that everyone had been waiting for, as the Wildcats rode into town without their star forward, Luke Walton, but still dangerously talented. Oregon fans even had to wait a while Thursday, as the game didn’t tip off until 9 p.m. at The Pit.
That start time may have affected the Ducks’ legs at the end, when Arizona broke away from a 70-70 tie late in the contest to bury Oregon’s chances of an upset.
“We lost our composure,” guard Andre Joseph said.
The Ducks will wait again to get their revenge on the Wildcats. The two teams next meet in the last game of the regular season, on March 8.

Oregon 94,

Arizona State 73
Two days before classes started up and break ended, the Ducks took the Devils to school in the second half after trailing at halftime.
And so, to end it all, the Ducks caught a break.