This is definitely more what Dana Altman was looking for.
Oregon played a lot better on both sides of the court in its second game of the year as the Ducks sank the Pirates of Seton Hall 83-70 in Omaha, Neb. Friday night.
Eugene Omoruyi led Oregon once again with 22 points and four rebounds. Eric Williams, Jr. added 15 points and Chris Duarte poured in 14.
But unlike in the loss to Missouri two days earlier where it was basically a two-man show (Omoruyi and Duarte), the Ducks were able to get more contribution from others such as point guards Amauri Hardy and Jalen Terry.
Each point guard scored nine points. Hardy was 4-of-5 from the field and Terry knocked down three treys in a game where each guard played more within themselves. They are also trying to hold down the fort until Will Richardson comes back in six weeks from a thumb injury.
Also, guard/forward LJ Figueroa made his Oregon debut and was a force on both sides of the floor. The transfer from St. Johns, was finally granted his NCAA transfer eligibility just yesterday and while he scored just six points, he grabbed nine rebounds and was credited with four steals. His energy was able to disrupt a lot of what the Pirates wanted to do on the offensive end.
“LJ Figueroa is a heck of a player,” Altman said. “He gave us so much energy tonight. He was the difference in the game. If we didn’t have him, I’m not sure we would be successful again.”
Oregon shot the ball at a much better clip in Game 2 than in the season opener. The Ducks were able to knock down 31-of-58 shots for 53.4 percent, including 9-of-21 from behind the arc. The Ducks also pounded the glass, outrebounding the Pirates 38-22.
“If we beat people like that on the boards, you’re going to win games,” Altman said.
“I thought that was more to our identity that we want to have. This is an athletic group and we ought to be able to rebound the ball.”
It was a back-and-forth game for much of the first half and Oregon went into the halftime locker room with a 34-28 lead.
The Ducks maintained that lead until the 13-minute mark when they started to create some space between them and their Big East counterparts.
An Omoruyi lay-in gave the Ducks their first double-digit lead at 54-43 at the 10:43 mark. Oregon really clamped down on the defense for a good 10 minutes, allowing the Ducks to build a 70-54 lead with just 4:53 left.
Seton Hall (1-3) point guard Shevar Reynolds led the Pirates with 17 points on 4-of-5 from behind the three-point line. Tyrese Samuel and Miles Cale each scored 11. But Seton Hall was plagued with 17 turnovers, which Oregon turned into 13 points … the margin of victory.
Coming up for the Ducks is the Pac-12 opener at Washington December 12th unless Oregon schedules a game between now and then.
Because of the pandemic, schedules are being made on the fly and teams are adding games whenever and where ever possible.
But as of now, the Ducks and Dawgs will open up conference action in Seattle on the Pac-12 Network.
POST GAME; DANA ALTMAN DISCUSSES WIN OVER SETON HALL