In a nail-biting finale to the PAC-12 regular season, the Oregon Ducks held off a spirited comeback from the Utah Utes to secure a 66-65 victory at Matthew Knight Arena. N’Faly Dante once again showcased his dominance, leading Oregon’s offensive charge with an impressive performance. Dante racked up 19 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and recorded four blocks, maintaining his stellar form by sinking 8 of 9 attempts from the field. His exceptional play has seen him convert 18 of his last 19 shots, providing a crucial spark for the Ducks.
Photo Cred: The Dessert News
Jermaine Cousinard contributed 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while freshman sensation Jackson Shelstad added 12 points to the scoreboard. Despite the Ducks racing to an early double-digit lead, Utah’s star center Branden Carlson spearheaded a valiant Utes’ resurgence. Carlson, fresh off a career-high 40-point performance against the Oregon State Beavers, notched 17 points in the first half alone, including three from beyond the arc.
However, Utah’s momentum was halted when Carlson was forced to exit the game due to an apparent elbow injury after a collision with Dante in the paint. With just under five minutes remaining, a thunderous slam from Dante gave Oregon a 65-59 advantage. Yet, the Ducks struggled to find their scoring touch down the stretch, managing just one field goal in their final eight attempts. Deivon Smith’s free throws narrowed the deficit to one with 38 seconds left on the clock.
Photo Cred: AP
In a tense finale, a missed layup by Cousinard provided Utah with a glimmer of hope, but Ben Carlson’s potential game-winner rattled out as the buzzer sounded, sealing a hard-fought victory for the Ducks. With the regular season concluded, the Ducks now turn their attention to the PAC-12 tournament, where they enter as the No. 4 seed. For Oregon, the tournament presents a final opportunity to bolster their resume and secure a coveted spot in the NCAA tournament amid a season marked by ups and downs.
