Looking to bounce back from deflating losses to UNLV and Boise State over a three-game road trip, Oregon did just that in a 78-63 victory over UC Irvine on Tuesday.
The Ducks faced a tall task, literally, in the form of 7-foot-6 UC Irvine center Mamadou Ndiaye. But after Ndiaye easily dunked home the first two points of the game, he was a non-factor.
Chris Boucher and Jordan Bell, in only his second game back, held Ndiaye to just 10 points, five of which came from the free throw line. Boucher’s 13 rebounds and four blocks, to go along with Bell’s three steals, epitomized the effort and physicality that the Ducks sorely lacked against UNLV and Boise State.
“[Jordan] is our most physical player, which gives us a presence out there,” head coach Dana Altman said. “Chris gives us a presence with his shot-blocking … We looked like a different team tonight.”
The Ducks led by as many as 16 in the middle of the first half, but let off the gas just enough to give UC Irvine a chance. The Anteaters cut the lead to 44-36 going into halftime and the Ducks had lost some key momentum.
But on the opening three possessions of the second half, Elgin Cook singlehandedly restored a comfortable Oregon lead. Cook led the Ducks with a career-high 26 points, seven of which came to start the second half.
“That was a really critical four or five minute stretch,” Altman said.
With Cook’s father, Alvin Robertson, a former NBA all-star, recently visiting his son, Cook played his most complete offensive game of the season.
“Obviously he listens to his dad a lot better than he listens to me,” Altman joked. “He played a heck of a game.”
All three of Cook’s baskets to open the second half were set up by Casey Benson, who had a career-high 9 assists to go along with no turnovers. As a whole, the Ducks had 19 assists on 27 made field goals, the best ratio so far this season. Altman stressed the importance of ball-movement after two road losses, and it showed Tuesday.
“That was definitely a point of emphasis in practice – moving the ball around,” Dillon Brooks said. “We were just trying to make plays for our teammates and just get our assist-to-turnover ratio up. That just increases our chances of winning.”
Bell had a career-high 12 points, displaying a polished mid-range jump shot that he didn’t have last season. Bell’s foot injury limited his ability to practice, though he was still able to work on his shot while recovering.
“When I was hurt I couldn’t do anything but lift and shoot, so I got bigger and worked on that shot,” Bell said.
Though his numbers often don’t jump off the stat sheet, Bell’s presence on both sides of the ball might be exactly what the Ducks had been missing.
“I just want him to play his game,” Altman said. “He was working really hard when that foot went out last spring.”
The Ducks finish their non-conference schedule with games against Long Beach State, Alabama and Western Oregon. Tuesday’s win offered a glimpse of how good this team can be, but the never-satisfied Altman is looking for the Ducks to take the next step.
“There’s still so much more there,” Altman said.
Follow Will Denner on Twitter@Will_Denner