Recap: Oregon MBB Wins Season Opener
The Ducks defeated the UC Riverside Highlanders by a score of 91-76 on Monday night. This marked the first game and win of the 2024-2025 season for Oregon. Unfortunately for Ducks fans, the availability report wasn’t empty with both JUCO transfer Dezdrick Lindsay and Georgetown transfer Supreme Cook being out with injury. Andre Warren and International freshman Oleksandr Kobzystyi were out as well.
The game airing on BTN+ started off slow with the Ducks showing some obvious rust. Kwame Evans Jr was on fire in the first ten minutes of the half with 7 quick points and he would finish the half with 12.
In the second ten minute frame of the first half, the Ducks really started to find their groove. Their defensive effort also picked up considerably and ended the half on a 25-8 run over the final 7:48. Several newcomers, including Brandon Angel (Stanford), TJ Bamba (Villanova), and Ra’Heim Moss (Toledo), recorded their first points as Oregon Ducks. Remarkably Oregon shot 11/13 from the FT line in the first half, which hopefully Oregon fans can be happy about.
To start the second half, the Ducks allowed UC Riverside to go on a bit of a run and lacked poise defensively. However, they didn’t fall into the dry spell on the offensive side like they did at times last season. Ra’Heim Moss had several positive possessions offensively and showed his experience. Kwame Evans Jr was really the player of the game for the Ducks and had 23 with nearly 8 minutes to go.
Top 10
- 1Live
CFP 12-Team Bracket set
Controversy is HERE
- 2
How BCS would've looked
12-team playoff field using BCS formula
- 3New
Alabama over SMU?
Both polls rank Tide ahead of SMU
- 4
Kirk Herbstreit weighs in
Who should be in, out in CFP field
- 5
Top 25 shakeup
AP Poll released
I was incredibly impressed with all three key transfers that were active for this game, Angel, Bamba and Moss. Moss’ statline won’t be one that pops out too much on the stat sheet with 4/4/4, but he impacted the game far more than that. TJ Bamba had 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal in a nice showing for the senior. Brandon Angel is traditionally a three-point shooter, however didn’t attempt one tonight. Despite this, Angel still scored 17 points Bittle recorded a double-double with a statline of 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. Kwame Evans Jr recorded a career high 23 points, and also had 5 rebounds.
As a team, the Ducks shot 33/66 (50%) from the field, 6/19 (31.6%) from three, and 19/25 (76%) from the charity stripe. Defensively, the Ducks had 5 steals and 4 blocks tonight, but forced UC Riverside into only 8 turnovers. The Ducks matched this total with 8 turnovers of their own.
Oregon did struggle to pull fully away from UC Riverside but they were above 90 points in this contest. I think the biggest piece to work on going forward will be the playmaking, 3-point shot, and defense. The Ducks next matchup is against Montana at home on Friday night.
