Full Array Of New Talent On Display In Exhibition Win Over NCU

Monday, October 30

Eugene, OR

7:00 PM

University of Oregon

124

Northwest Christian (EX)

Northwest Christian

Oregon

124

Full Array Of New Talent On Display In Exhibition Win Over NCU

10/30/17 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Oregon-NCU Box Score

The Ducks started five new players in their second preseason game in three days, and played all 10 available scholarship players at least 16 minutes in a 124-72 win over Northwest Christian on Monday.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Payton Pritchard scored 25 points to lead six players in double figures Monday as the Oregon men's basketball team topped Northwest Christian in an exhibition game at Matthew Knight Arena, 124-72.

How It Happened: The Ducks got at least 16 minutes for all 10 available scholarship players, and started a fresh five different then the starting group from Saturday's scrimmage against Idaho. The teams went back and forth in the opening minutes before Oregon took the lead for good with 11:25 left in the first half on a three-pointer by Pritchard.

Oregon led 59-39 at halftime, after shooting .622 and limiting the Beacons to .412. The Ducks pulled away even more over the course of the second half, shooting .634 to finish at .628 for the game. And they improved on the defensive end, limiting Northwest Christian to 12-of-36 shooting (33 percent).

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Who Stood Out: Pritchard showed an improved three-point shot, making 4-of-5 from deep and 10-of-13 attempts overall. Elijah Brown also was 4-of-5 from three-point range and scored 22 points, adding six assists. Kenny Wooten added 15 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots, and fellow freshman Troy Brown dished out nine assists while scoring five points.

What It Means: Head coach Dana Altman will now begin to streamline his rotation as the regular-season approaches, though he said it may be conference play before the Ducks finalize a regular starting lineup.

Quotable:
Dana Altman, UO head coach
On his impressions overall
"I think we can have a good offensive team if we make shots for each other. We've got to move it, look for creases, look for places we take advantage of. And our guys haven't figured that out yet. But Troy getting nine assists is a good start. … Defensively, I think it showed how far we have to go. The first half, we didn't take anything away; we just wanted to outscore them. I thought out defensive intensity was better in the second half."

MiKyle McIntosh, senior forward
On the new roster jelling
"It was a good learning experience for us, to play in front of a crowd first of all, and getting another game under our belt, playing as a team. We have so many new people, it was good to get out there and play another team. … The chemistry here is really good for a team that's just coming together. I really like the way we're getting along."

Troy Brown, freshman wing
On his nine assists
"I love passing the basketball. That's something that makes me happy, seeing my teammates get buckets. Hopefully I can keep on being aggressive and making plays for my teammates."

Notable: The starting group against Idaho on Saturday included Pritchard, Elijah Brown, Keith Smith, Paul White and Roman Sorkin. On Monday, Altman started Victor Bailey Jr., Abu Kigab, Troy Brown, McIntosh and Kenny Wooten. … The fivesome on the court to open the second half looked like a potential starting lineup in the not-too-distant future — Pritchard, Elijah Brown, Troy Brown, McIntosh and Wooten. … Walkons Evan Gross and Will Johnson got off the bench for the closing minutes of the game. … Northwest Christian is coached by UO legend Luke Jackson.

Up Next: The Ducks open the regular season at home against Coppin State on Nov. 10 (9 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network).