Courtesy: GoDucks.com
LAS VEGAS – The Oregon men’s basketball team’s seven-game win streak was snapped Saturday night in the Pac-12 Tournament Championship game with an 80-52 loss to No. 5 Arizona. The loss drops the Ducks to 25-9 on the year, and Arizona improves 30-3.
How It Happened: Oregon used two baskets from Joseph Young to sprint out to a 10-4 lead, but Arizona responded with a 14-0 run to take an 18-10 lead at the 11:44 mark in the first half. The Wildcats rode the momentum from that initial run and expanded their lead to a 36-21 halftime advantage.
Brooks managed eight points in the first half despite picking up his second foul with 14:15 left in the first. UA owned the paint in the first half and out-rebounded the Ducks 25-13 in the first frame, including eight offensive rebounds that were converted to six second-chance points.
The Ducks managed to cut the lead to a dozen after a three from Brooks one minute into the second half, but Oregon would not get any closer for the rest of the night.
Arizona eventually built a 20-point lead at the 7:19 mark (67-47) and the Ducks were unable shift the game back into their favor despite 19 points from Joseph Young. Brandon Ashley led the Wildcats with 20 points, Stanley Johnson had 14 and T.J McConnell chipped in 12.
What It Means: With the win, Arizona claims their first Pac-12 Tournament Championship since 2002. Oregon was denied their fourth tournament title (2003, 2007 and 2013), but the Ducks are a virtual lock for making their third NCAA Tournament in a row.
Who Stood Out: Young was named to the All-Tournament team and finished the weekend with 75 points. Brooks turned in another solid game with 13 points, and Elgin Cook finished with eight.
