Duck seniors say goodbye during dramatic win
It was an emotional day
for four Oregon seniors
who played their final games
at McArthur Court on Saturday
By Jesse Thomas
Sports Reporter
MEN’S
BASKETBALL
It was emotional. It was special. It was
everything all in one.
_ It was senior
day for Oregon.
"I didn't sleep
at all last night,"
- senior James
Davis said after
the UCLA game. "It was like the night
before Christmas. I was just real happy
and couldn't wait to play."
Twenty minutes before tip-off against
the Bruins, seniors Luke Jackson, Jay An
derson, Andre Joseph and Davis were
honored by the McArthur Court crowd.
The Pit Crew chanted the names of
each individual while the players hugged
and shook hands with all the younger
Ducks. The pit crew also chanted "thank
you seniors" throughout the day.
"I've played so many games here and its
just been a really special place for me —
just to come in at night you imagine all
the tans in there screaming and big games
that you've played," Jackson said. "I've had
a great four years here and I don't have any
regrets. I'm really thankful for everything
I've been in position to do."
Each player was presented with a
framed Pit Crew T-shirt that was signed by
every member of the student cheering
section. And then it was time to begin
possibly the final game of their Oregon
careers at McArthur Court pending a pos
sible NIT game in Eugene.
When it began, it was sloppy. It was
something Oregon head coach Ernie
Kent expected.
"I've not been at a senior game yet at
home that they have not turned the ball
"I've not been at a senior
game yet at home that
they have not turned the
ball over, air balled it,
kicked it around, kicked it
some more in the first five
or 10 minutes of the game
— it was no different in
this game."
Ernie Kent
Oregon head coach
over, air balled it, kicked it around,
kicked it some more in the first five or
10 minutes of the game — it was no dif
ferent in this game," Kent said.
"Probably my best coaching was stay
ing calm with them and let them kick it
all over the place, and at half-time very
calmly tell them, we've got that out of our
system, let's go play basketball now."
For Jackson, the gut-wrenching win as
he scored the final points in the dwin
dling seconds of the game couldn't have
been better.
Jackson's two free-throws gave Ore
gon the 60-59 win over UCLA.
"We all had confidence in him," Davis
said. "We definitely had no doubts that he
was going to win the game for us, getting
the foul or making the shot."
After the Pit Crew mobbed the play
ers during the post-game huddle, Jack
son walked off the floor, giving one fi
nal wave to all his fans.
"1 know so many people at these
games," Jackson said. "I know a couple
thousand people that come to the
games. I've made a lot of great friends
and a lot of great memories here. I just
kind of waved one last time."
Jackson said he had a great time,
adding that he dedicated it all in the
memory of his grandfather, Dean Eust
ed, who passed away before the season
began. It was difficult for Jackson that
his grandfather wasn't there to walk be
side him in his introduction.
"Before the game I just looked up
into the stands and I tried to, during the
National Anthem, try to imagine him
sitting in the third balcony up there
somewhere just looking down on me,"
Jackson said.
After it was all over, they all knew it
was a great way to end.
"I'm just truly happy and blessed,"
Davis said. "It just takes me a minute to
take perspective on all four years, every
thing we've accomplished as a program,
as a team. It was just good to get this win."
Contact the sports reporter
at jessethomas@dailyemerald.coni.
Andre
Joseph
finished with
a career-high
seven assists
in his final
game in an
Oregon
uniform at
McArthur
Court. He is
one of four
seniors to
leave the
program
at the
conclusion of
the season.
Erik R. Bishoff
Photographer
SINK
continued from page 7
but Cedric Bozeman couldn't get a fall
away jumper to go through the hoop.
The guard drove the length of the
floor, caught the attention of Ore
gon guard Andre Joseph and at
tempted an 8-foot jumper. But he
had four Duck defenders collapse
on him as he shot the ball.
Not exactly a clear lane to the basket.
"He got pretty deep into the paint
and went up for a shot," Crosswhite
said. "It was good there was a lot of guys
around him to put pressure on and
make him think a little, 'Well I might
have to shoot off the backboard or I
might have to do this.' He made a tough
shot a couple plays before."
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Everything Oregon did Saturday
against UCLA was in the name of
momentum.
That included a 9-0 scoring run to
start the second half, 21 points from
Jackson and a defensive effort that
had escaped the Ducks this season
prior to the game against the Bruins.
Momentum, though, isn't always
pretty.
The last couple of possessions for
both teams were simply an exclama
tion point to a game dominated by
turnovers and missed opportunities.
The teams combined for 22
turnovers in the first half. The
Ducks shot 33.3 percent from the
field in the first half and held UCLA
to 29 points.
Oregon came alive in the first two
minutes of the second half. The
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Ducks outscored the Bruins 9-0 by
"(Cedric Bozeman) got
pretty deep into the paint
and went up for a shot. It
was good there was a lot of
guys around him to put
pressure on and make
him think a little... He
made a tough shot a
couple plays before."
Ian Crosswhite
Oregon forward
the 18:30 mark and extended that to
18-5 en route to a 41-34 lead with
I
15:57 to play.
"That's when we get momentum
and being down, we know it's really
crucial we get off to a good start in
the second half," Oregon guard
James Davis said. "That 9-0 run was
key to getting the victory."
For the second straight .game, the
Ducks contributed a strong defen
sive effort throughout the game for
the win. The Bruins shot 46.2 per
cent in the first half and bested that
by 1 percent in the second.
But Oregon took advantage of 20
UCLA turnovers — nine coming in
the second. The Ducks scored 29
points off of turnovers. Conversely,
the Bruins posted 15 points off 15
Oregon turnovers.
"Definitely, defense was key for
us," Davis said. "I think as the score
shows it was a defensive game and
we were fortunate to get the win."
Jackson's 21 points — 14 of which
came in the second half — were
good enough to pace the Ducks. He
also had three steals, moving him
past Luke Ridnour for second place
on Oregon's career list.
Davis ended his career at
McArthur Court with 11 points and
Joseph finished his with a career
high seven assists.
Dijon Thompson scored 14
points to lead UCLA, and T.J. Cum
mings pitched in with 12 before
fouling out with 54 seconds left
to play.
Contact the sports editor
at hankhager@dailyemerald.com.
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