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Eugene, OR – The Oregon Ducks needed a basket from Takai Simpkins with 2.5 seconds remaining to get past Hawaii 60-59 in front of 5,627 fans in Eugene in the Ducks’ home opener. Simpkins led Oregon with 18 points while center Nate Bittle added 12 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. Hawaii was led by former Oregon player, Isaac Johnson, with 13 points.
This was not a well-played game. The teams combined for 39 turnovers, 21 of them by Oregon, 13 of them in the first half. The teams also combined for 7-of-43 shooting on three-pointers. Oregon shot 2-for-16 (12.5%). The Ducks had trouble getting the ball into Bittle in the post. By late in the game, he had only three field goal attempts. He ended the night shooting 3-of-8 in 31 minutes of play. Bittle appeared a bit lethargic and in the final minutes he had a shot blocked at the rim by Johnson, on a play that he didn’t get much lift.
The end of the game sequence highlighted the type of game Oregon was playing. First Wei Lin missed a layup, then got his own rebound. Bittle them missed a three-pointer and got his own rebound. Lin then missed a three-pointer but the team retained possession. Drew Carter then substituted in for Lin and missed a three-pointer but Simpkins got the offensive rebound and subsequently made the game-winning shot.
Simpkins generally played well for Oregon ending the night shooting 7-of-12 overall but shot only 1-of-6 from deep. He added three rebounds and two steals, and showed a willingness to take the important shot. With Jackson Shelstad out with a hand injury, Chinese import Wei Lin started at point and had a poor game. In 17 minutes of pay he scored only two points, both from the free throw line, shot 0-of-7 overall, missing his four three-point attempts and added four turnovers. Through most of the second half Coach Altman went with the walk-on Carter at the point as he lost confidence in Lin. Lin was the leading domestic scorer in the Chinese Basketball Association last season, so the talent is there and will likely come out after an adjustment period.
Kwame Evans Jr. had some nice moments early in the game, finishing with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting and added three rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Evans suffered a lower leg injury early in the second half and did not return. The initial reports were that the injury is likely not serious, but he will probably miss some time.
Hawaii’s Isaac Johnson put up the best performance in the game. Despite fouling out after playing only 12 minutes, Johnson scored 13 points and added eight rebounds, three steals and a block. If he weren’t in such serious foul trouble throughout the game Hawaii would have likely won.
Oregon returns to action at home on Friday night against Rice. Hopefully they will show some improvement.
This article was written by Carl Berman, Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram on twitter.
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