The No. 12 Oregon Ducks secured a decisive 81-67 victory against the USC Trojans in a Pac-12 Conference clash at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene on Saturday, January 16, 2021. The Ducks’ offense was powered by a remarkable 24 points from senior guard Chris Duarte, who shot 8-of-14 from the floor and connected on 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. This victory marks the Ducks’ seventh straight win, improving their overall record to 12-4 and 5-2 in conference play.
The Trojans, despite a strong performance from Evan Mobley, who led USC with 21 points and 12 rebounds, struggled to keep pace with Oregon’s fast-paced offense. Oregon’s head coach Dana Altman expressed his satisfaction with the performance, stating, ‘I thought we played really well. Our guys were locked in on both ends of the floor. The defense created offense for us.’
The game featured a competitive start with both teams trading leads. However, Oregon pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Trojans 45-33. The Ducks shot 51.8% from the field, displaying their offensive efficiency.
Additionally, the Ducks benefited from the contributions of other players, including LJ Figueroa and Will Richardson, who added 15 and 14 points respectively. The bench also played a critical role, providing valuable minutes and maintaining the momentum.
USC falls to a record of 14-4 and 8-2 in the Pac-12, looking to bounce back in their next match. Following the game, USC’s coach Andy Enfield remarked, ‘We need to learn from this and continue to improve. There are things we can control that we didn’t do well tonight.’
The game was loaded with intensity, showcasing talented players on both sides, and has significant implications for the upcoming Pac-12 tournament.
