Final Score: Oregon 77 Duquesne 75
Oregon earned a semifinal berth in the CBI Tournament, and assured themselves of a non-losing season, with an exciting 77-75 win over Duquesne Monday night. As Beaver fans know, the CBI can produce exciting basketball, and the matchup tonight at Matthew Knight Arena was no exception.
Garrett Sim led the Ducks with 20 points, E.J. Singler sank two free throws with 7 seconds left, and after the Duke's Sean Johnson made only one of three free throws with 2 seconds left, Joevan Catron pulled down the win-clinching rebound.
Catron had a 14 point, 11 rebound double double, Singler added 11 points, on 6 of 7 free throw shooting, and Malcolm Armstead had 10 points for Oregon.
The Dukes, who finished tied for fourth in the AtlanticOregon (17-17) trailed for the first 12 minutes, but once the Ducks took the lead, they took a 43-34 halftime lead, and opening it to a 10 point lead two minutes into the second half. Oregon had to hold off a Duquesne rally, but though the Dukes got within one point twice, the Ducks never gave up the lead.
Oregon joins Boise St., the WAC runnerups, Creighton, and Central Florida in the CBI semifinals Wednesday night. The matchups include a Boise St. (22-12) at Oregon showdown at 7 PM. The Broncos shot 51% to defeat Evansville of the Missouri Valley Conference 75-69 tonight in Boise. It was the Broncos' 10th. win in their last 11 games.
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com