Field Level Media
Dec 21, 2021
Will Richardson saved 10 of his game-high 19 points for the second half Tuesday night as Oregon withstood a challenge from visiting Pepperdine for a 68-59 nonconference victory in Eugene, Ore.
Richardson also found time for a game-high seven assists and Jacob Young chipped in with 10 points for the Ducks (7-6), who successfully rebounded from a home loss to top-ranked Baylor on Saturday.
Jade' Smith and Jan Zidek had 13 points apiece and Victor Ohia Obioha 10 for the Waves (5-9), who lost for a seventh straight time away from home this season.
Seeking a fourth consecutive win, Pepperdine led by as many as seven in the first half and was still within 49-48 at the midpoint of the second period before Oregon gradually took control.
Nate Bittle slammed down two dunks to extend Oregon's lead; and, when he assisted on a Richardson layup with 4:13 remaining, the Ducks had a 59-53 advantage.
Richardson's assist on Quincy Guerrier's 3-pointer with 1:18 remaining was the dream-ender for the Waves, giving the Ducks a 64-55 lead.
Richardson made 7 of 14 shots for Oregon, which outshot the visitors 42.6 percent to 35.4 percent.
The 59 points allowed were the third-fewest by the Ducks this season. They have won all three games in which the opponent failed to reach 60.
Guerrier finished with nine points, while Bittle and De'Vion Harmon had eight each for the Ducks, who improved to 6-2 at home. Guerrier completed a productive all-around game with a game-high nine rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Bittle had four of the game's six blocks.
Keith Fisher added eight points and Maxwell Lewis six points for Pepperdine, with all of Lewis' scoring coming on two 3-pointers. There were just nine 3-pointers made in the game in 44 attempts.
The 59-point total was Pepperdine's third-lowest of the season. The Waves fell to 0-6 when failing to score more than 64.
--Field Level Media