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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 2004)
Sports Editor: Hank Hager hank hager@dailyemerald.com -Oregon Daily Emerald SPORTS Best bet ^ NCAA basketball: Syracuse vs. Missouri 6 p.m., ESPN Monday, January 12,2004 Olshansky announces early entry into draft The defensive lineman leaves after 146 career tackles in an Oregon uniform By Hank Hager Sports Editor After being ranked in the top 20 in the nation for most of the season in rush defense, Oregon was looking at 2004 as possibly an,even better season. _ That was until Igor Olshansky 1 1 announced Friday he is leaving UP school early for the 2004 NFL FOOTBALL »«•. -—- He became the fourth player in the program's history — fol lowing Kenny Wheaton in 1997 and Ontario Smith and George Wrighster last season — to leave after their junior season. "I feel I am ready for the next challenge," Olshansky said at a press confaence at the Casanova Center. "These last four years at Oregon have been the greatest experi ence of my life I have so many people to thank for that I am really going to miss Oregon." Olshansky helped lead a defensive line that was decimated early on by the loss of sophomore Haloti Ngata. The Salt Lake City native went down with a torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral liga ments during the Ducks' first game of the season, a 42-34 defeat of Mississippi State. Oregon also was without the services of Quinn Dorsey for the first five games of the season after he was suspended for illegally exchanging game tickets prior to the 2002 season. "(Olshansky) took on an even greater role this year as a verbal and vocal leader on the team," Ore gon head coach Mike Bellotti said. "I think arguably he was one of the best defensive linemen, not just in (the Pacific-10) conference, but in the nation. I think he is passing up the opportunity to be a first round draft choice next year, but I'm sure he will make it this year." Olshansky ends his career at Oregon with 146 tackles, 11 1/2 sacks and three fumble recoveries. In Oregon's 31-30 loss to Minnesota in the 2003 Sun Turn to DRAFT, page 9 Erik Bishoff Photographer Igor Olshansky (right) became the fourth player in Oregon’s history to leave early for the NFL Draft. Beavers spoil Jackson’s 39 in upset The Beavers defeated Oregon on Saturday for the first time in 10 tries, forcing both teams into 1-2 records in Pac-10 play By Hank Hager Sports Editor CORVALLIS — Luke Jackson scored a career-high 39 points and grabbed a personal-best 16 rebounds. The Ducks still lost. It was that kind of a night for Oregon. Oregon State allowed its fans a _ chance to witness the first victory against the Ducks since 1999. The Beavers outlasted * Oregon, scoring the game's final 13 points for the 90 81 victory. MEN’S BASKETBALL "We got outplayed," Oregon for ward Ian Crosswhite said. "We made some key mistakes down the stretch." Oregon State's win ruined a 39 point night by Jackson, the most points in a single game by a Duck since Orlando Williams scored 40 against Washington State on Feb. 12, 1994. The forward scored 23 points in the second half and was perfect from the free-throw line at 14 of 14. It just wasn't enough against the Beavers. "I thought my teammates were looking to me to make plays," said Turn to UPSET, page 10 Danielle Hickey Photo Editor Oregon State players Vic Remmers (left) and Angelo Tsagarakis (right) celebrate their Civil War win after Oregon had won the last nine meetings. It was the Beavers’ first Pac-10 victory of the season. Ducks start off slow with Brooks on bench Oregon's season-low 10 assists was just one statistic that proved Oregon missed Aaron Brooks against OSU By Jesse Thomas Sports Reporter CORVALLIS — He was missed. Freshman point guard Aaron Brooks sat at the end of the Oregon bench in his warmups Saturday night. His right wrist fully encased in a cast, Brooks could do nothing to help his Ore gon team as it lost 90-81 to Oregon State. "We miss Aaron," senior Luke Jackson said. "We miss his quickness and the energy that he brings. At the same time, we've got to move on past that. We're just going to have to learn how to play without him." Oregon's first taste of a Brook-less offense was no stunning accomplishment. Sophomore Brandon Lincoln earned his first career start for Oregon, and he is expected to continue as the starting point guard with Brooks out six to eight weeks. "Coming out it was kind of an adjustment for me," Lincoln said. "I'm used to coming out and getting a feel for the game by seeing how it's going from the bench." Lincoln struggled early. In the first half, he had no rebounds, no points, one assist and two turnovers in his 12 minutes. "It took me until the second half to shake all that stuff off," Lincoln said. Lincoln found his game in the second half. Three minutes in, Lincoln drove up under the hoop and scored his first two points on a re verse layup. Lincoln scored six points and earned two steals in the second half. All his points were from close range; he went 0 for 3 from the three-point line. But Lincoln did not turn the ball over in the second half. "With Aaron going down last week every body knew they had to step up," Lincoln said. "They just have to make the adjustment and this game we didn't make the adjustment." Senior James Davis alternated on the point with Lincoln. When Oregon kept to a small lineup — which was often — both were in the game. Turn to OFFENSE, page 9 Final shot lands UO victory over OSU The Ducks win their first Pac-10 game of the season; Oregon breaks a five-game losing streak as Brandi Davis sinks a final shot By Jon Roetman Sports Reporter Brandi Davis and Chelsea Wagner gave the Oregon women’s basketball team the offensive boost it so desperate ly needed Saturday. The duo came off the bench to corn win over Oregon State at McArthur Court. After the Ducks (9-6 overall, 1-4 Pacif ic- 10 Conference) ran more than 20 sec onds off the dock during their final pos session, Davis ran around several screens and buried the long two-pointer as she faded to her right. The Mac Court crowd empted as the Beavers called a time out. "I can't believe it went in, honesdy," Davis said. "I was really off-balance." Oregon State (9-5, 3-2) had one final chance, but Leilani Estavan's jumper at the buzzer was no good. The win was Oregon's first in Pac-10 play and snapped a five-game losing streak. "We didn't spend much time talking about the game because I think our play ers basically said it on the court," Oregon head coach Bev Smith said. "We had a tough week with all the ice, the snow and the big freeze. Hopefully we lifted the big freeze in the Pac-10 standings." Both teams struggled offensively as nei ther team managed to shoot 40 percent for the game. It was the timeliness of Ore gon’s baskets that helped the Ducks pull out the much-needed win. After being relegated to the bench for most of the season, Davis experienced an offensive explosion over the final nine minutes. The junior guard scored 12 of her 16 points down the stretch to help WOMEN'S BASKETBALL bine for 31 points, including a 19-foot jumper by Davis with 4.9 seconds remaining, lifting Oregon to a 56-54 Turn to FIRST WIN, page 9
