Ducks eke out win over Bruins
Payton Pritchard scored 25 points, capped by four free throws in the final 6.7 seconds, to help host Oregon hold off UCLA for a 94-91 win on Saturday night.
MiKyle McIntosh and Victor Bailey Jr. had 18 points each for the Ducks (13-7, 3-4 Pac-12), who led by as many as 18 points in the second half. Troy Brown added 17 points.
Aaron Holiday launched a half-court shot at the buzzer that could have forced overtime but bounced off the rim for the Bruins (13-7, 4-4), who lost their third consecutive game. Kris Wilkes led UCLA with 21 points, and Thomas Welch had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bruins trailed 88-77 with 2:55 to play before Wilkes scored five points in a 10-0 run to cut the lead the one with a minute left. Oregon staved off the rally by hitting six straight free throws in the final minute.
“It shows growth for sure,” McIntosh said of the finish. “The last games we were fouling and making bonehead decisions in the last four minutes of the game, the last minute. I think it shows growth and the team coming together, listening to Coach. Even though some things didn't go our way, we ended up pulling it out.”
The Ducks had three players in double figures by halftime and led 52-38 at the break. They shot 55.6 percent (20-for- 36) from the field and had zero first-half turnovers.
Holiday, UCLA’s leading scorer at 19.1 points per game, was called for his third foul with 8½ minutes to go in the first half, but the Bruins were able to keep contact by hitting 17 of 22 free throws. Holiday finished with 14 points and five assists.
USC 74, Oregon State 67: Elijah Stewart had 18 points and the visiting Trojans (15-6, 6-2 Pac-12) topped the Beavers (11-8, 3-4) for their fourth straight victory. Jordan Usher added 14 points for USC, which has won four straight in the series. With their victory at Oregon on Thursday, the Trojans won both games in the state for the first time since 2008. Tres Tinkle had 21 points and seven rebounds for the Beavers. Tinkle is the only player in the Pac-12 who has reached double figures in every game this season. The Beavers closed within 69-63 on Stephen Thompson Jr.’s jumper with 1:48 left, but got no closer. Thompson finished with 16 points.
Washington 72, Colorado 62: Jaylen Nowell scored 19 points, Matisse Thybulle added 18 points and 10 rebounds, and the visiting Huskies (14-6, 4-3 Pac-12) overcame a miserable start from the field to beat the Buffaloes. Noah Dickerson added 10 points and 14 rebounds for Washington. David Crisp had 14 points, two on a breakaway dunk in the final minute that all but secured the win. The Huskies shot a respectable 42 percent despite starting the game 4-for-20 from the floor and outrebounded the Buffaloes 50-34. Tyler Bey scored 14 points to lead Colorado, (12-8, 4-4).