The odds were stacked against them going into the game, with the Oregon Ducks having to play the first game of the NIT without three starters: Will Richardson, N’Faly Dante, and Jermaine Couisnard.
On top of that, they were playing UC Irvine, a team that gave them one of their worst losses of the season back in December. After missing out on the NCAA Tournament, with so many things working against you, it would have been easy for the Ducks to come out flat and not work hard to advance. Instead, they dispatched with the Anteaters easily at Matthew Knight Arena.
It was an opportunity for some guys lower on the depth chart to get good run and show what they’re capable of. Guys like Rivaldo Soares and Tyrone Williams showed out, posting their first career double-doubles with the Ducks, and some late-game heroics from Nate Bittle brought down the house.
In the end, it led to a blowout victory and moved the Ducks on to the second round of the NIT. Here’s how it all went down.