Football is eating up all the headlines and for good reasons, but the Oregon Ducks basketball team is making some noise of its own.
Dana Altman’s team is 8-0 and will be highly ranked after the Ducks defeated No. 9 Alabama 83-81 to win the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Oregon also beat Texas A&M and San Diego State in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
This one against the Crimson Tide was a close one throughout. It was a one or two-possession game for most of the second half as the two teams traded baskets. But in the end, it was Nate Bittle’s rebound dunk with 4.4 seconds remaining that proved to be the difference.
Ducks vs. Crimson Tide Keys to the Game
- Alabama came into the game as one of the better-scoring teams in the country and since the Ducks don’t mind an up-and-down game, one knew this was going to be a high-scoring affair.
- The Crimson Tide was threatening to pull away early in the second half, but guard Latrell Wrightsell went down with a severe ankle injury, which hampered Alabama and allowed the Ducks to shoot their way back into the game quickly.
- Despite the pace, in some ways, it was a battle of the bigs with Nate Bittle and Alabama’s own 7-footer Clifford Omoruyi Fortunately for the Ducks, Bittle was on his game and outplayed Omoruyi. Bittle wound up with 16 points to Omoruyi’s seven.
- Oregon was up six with less than a minute left, but thanks to a three-pointer, free throws, a turnover and an offensive rebound, the Crimson Tide tied the game at 81-81 with 19.6 left.
- On the Ducks final offensive possession, Keeshawn Barthelemy held the ball before driving the lane. His shot was off the mark, but Bittle was able to come in behind the Alabama’s defense for the put-back dunk with 4.4 seconds remaining.
- Those four seconds are an eternity, but it was just enough time for Oregon. But the Crimson Tide’s attempt at a tie was just after the buzzer and ruled no good for the Duck victory.
Ducks vs. Crimson Tide Players of the Game
- Keeshawn Barthelemy: 22 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds
- Nate Bittle: 19 points, 9 rebounds
- TJ Bamba: 12 points
- Supreme Cook: 11 points
Ducks vs. Aztecs Notable Stats
- Oregon: 29-of-66 FG (44 percent), Alabama: 27-of-64 FG (42 percent)
- 3-point FG: Oregon 5-of-17 (29 percent), Alabama 12-of-38 (32 percent)
- Bench Points: Oregon 38, Alabama 31
What’s Next for Oregon Ducks
- Dec. 4 — at USC
- Dec. 8 — UCLA
- Dec. 15 — Stephen F. Austin
- Dec. 21 — Stanford (San Jose, Calif.)
- Dec. 29 — Weber State
The Ducks will enter Big Ten play undefeated and highly ranked. Oregon will get a little taste of Big Ten action with some familiar faces in USC and UCLA. Non-conference action rules the rest of December before the Big Ten really ramps up after the New Year.
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