Canzano: Oregon Ducks throwing daggers, dancing on tears, escape Rhode Island

SACRAMENTO -- Paige Mangione is a cheerleader at Rhode Island. She cried when the game was over on Sunday. So did Oregon Ducks guard Dylan Ennis. They wept for the same reason. But let's focus on Mangione first, because after the final horn she stumbled through the tunnel at Golden 1 Arena with her eyes spilling tears and her pom poms draped at her sides like they were cinderblocks.

Oregon beat Rhode Island 75-72. Tyler Dorsey threw the final dagger. Mangione couldn't pull it out of her heart, she just wobbled down the hallway. As a senior, she'd just suited up for the final basketball game of a 15-year run as a gymnast and cheerleader.

Just like that, over and out. For every shining moment,…