Survive and advance. That seems to be Oregon’s motto lately on the hardwood as they were able to squeak by a very game UCLA squad 68-66 and get to the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, where they will face off against the top-seeded Arizona Wildcats, a team that handled them rather easily in the previous two meetings this season.
The first half was a jumble of mistakes and slow play by both teams, and UCLA led 34-29. Head coach Dana Altman lamented the team’s inability to get the ball in to star Center N’Faly Dante, and obviously his words were heeded as the team began to work the ball inside, and were able to grab a 37-36 lead early in the second half.