Oregon Ducks Defeat Bearcats at Mac Court, 100-67

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

EUGENE, ORE. -- The University of Oregon used a full-court press just past the midway point of the first half to pull away from Willamette University during a 100-67 win over the Bearcats in men's basketball action on Saturday, Dec. 11 at McArthur Court. With the win, Oregon improved to 6-3 on the season. Willamette dropped to 3-6.

Oregon competes in NCAA Division I. Willamette is a member of NCAA Division III.

Willamette was very competitive in the early going. The Bearcats held a 9-5 lead at the 15:35 mark following two free throws by Terrell Malley (So., G, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS). Willamette was in front 12-10 after Taylor Mounts (Jr., Wing/Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School) connected on a 3-pointer with 12:59 on the clock, and WU led 19-18 with 10:12 to go in the half on a 3-pointer by Malley.

The game was tied for the third time at 19-19 after the first of two free throws by Joevan Catron of Oregon with 9:36 remaining in the half. Catron sank the second free throw to give the Ducks the lead and UO stayed in front the rest of the way.

Oregon held a slim lead, 25-24, with 7:58 left in the half, but used the full-court press to end the period with a 26-7 run. The Ducks held a 51-31 advantage at the break. E.J. Singler topped the Ducks at halftime with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Mounts tallied 10 points in the first half for the Bearcats.

The Ducks continued to gradually pull away in the second half. Singler led Oregon with 18 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Willamette was led by Mounts, who tallied a game-high 23 points and connected on 9 of 14 field goals. Mounts also led the Bearcats with nine rebounds.

Six Oregon players finished with double-digit scoring. Singler was followed by Garrett Sim with 15 points. Catron and Teondre Williams added 13 points apiece. Malcolm Armstead and Jay-R Strowbridge each contributed 10 points. Johnathan Loyd achieved eight points and earned game-high seven assists.

Mounts topped three Bearcats in double figures. Malley accumulated 15 points and was 6 for 6 at the line. Sean Dart (So., Post, Bend, OR/Mountain View HS/Eastern Oregon Univ.) registered 12 points and hauled down five boards. Dart has earned 10 or more points in all nine games, while Mounts has reached double digits eight times. Trevor Bos (Fr., G, Lakewood, CA/St. John Bosco HS) led WU with four assists.

UO shot 51.3% for the game (39 of 76) and sank 16 of 23 free throws for 69.6%. The Ducks converted 6 of 20 three-point shots. Willamette finished the game 23 of 59 on field goal shooting (39.0%), including 5 of 23 from behind the 3-point arc. WU hit 16 of 25 free throws (64.0%).

Both teams produced their best shooting efforts in the second half, as Oregon connected on 59.5% of its field goals and Willamette shot 44.8%. The Ducks outrebounded the Bearcats, 49-29, and forced WU into 24 turnovers. UO lost the ball 16 times.

The game was a match-up between the two teams that competed in the first-ever game at Mac Court on Jan. 14, 1927. Oregon defeated Willamette, 38-10, in that initial meeting. The teams also met to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Mac Court, with Oregon taking a 71-48 victory over Willamette on Jan. 15, 2002. Oregon leads the all-time series with the Bearcats, 42-12.

UO will play four more games at Mac Court before moving into the new Matthew Knight Arena on Jan. 13, 2010, when the Ducks host the University of Southern California.

Willamette does not play again until Dec. 29, when the Bearcats will take on Texas Lutheran University in the first round of the Mary Hardin-Baylor Tournament. Game time in Belton, Texas, is set for 5:30 p.m. (CST)/3:30 p.m. (PST).