Instant Recap: Oregon knocks off #9 Alabama in Las Vegas

The Ducks faced another major challenge early in the season in the form of the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday Evening. Oregon defeated both ranked Texas A&M and San Diego State to reach the Player’s Era Festival Championship. Alabama beat a ranked Houston team, and Rutgers’ freshman duo of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.

First Half:

Alabama beginning the game with Sears, Philon, Wrightsell, Nelson, and Omoruyi. Ducks begin the game with Shelstad, Bamba, Tracey, Angel, and Bittle.

At the first media timeout, Oregon trails Alabama 8-12 with 15:48 remaining in the first half. Ducks struggling to deal with the height of Alabama so far. One foul for each team, Shelstad for Oregon, and Grant Nelson for ‘Bama.

At 11:45 left in the half, the game reached it’s second media timeout. Ducks are hanging in there with Alabama, trailing 16-20 currently. The Crimson Tide have started out hot from deep, shooting 40% so far.

Following Alabama’s 8th turnover of the first half and an Oregon 10-2 run, Alabama would be forced to call a timeout. The Ducks have 11 points off of the Crimson Tide’s turnovers and lead 28-25 with 6:14 to go in the first half.

Ducks find themselves trailing again, 32-37, with 1:52 to go in the half. Oregon is losing the rebound battle but only behind by one offensive rebound. Ducks shooting 40% from the field, and 12.5% from deep while the Tide are shooting 50% from the field, and 35.3% from deep.

Dana Altman calls timeout after the Ducks have cut the lead to 3, down 36-39 with 1:02 left before the break.

Keeshawn Barthelemy’s three pointer falls for Oregon with 10 seconds remaining in the half, and Jadrian Tracey blocks the Mark Sears buzzer beater attempt. Ducks end the half on a 7-0 run and have tied the game 39-39 at the half.

Nate Bittle and Keeshawn Barthelemy lead the team with 10 points a piece, Bamba with another 6. Labaron Philon and Latrell Wrightsell Jr leading the way for ‘Bama with 11, and 10, respectively.

Second Half:

Scary moment with 18:51 left in the half for Alabama, Latrell Wrightsell Jr looks to have gone down with a serious injury. Non-Contact and the announcers seemed to think it was an Achilles injury.

Alabama continues to turn the ball over, with 4 in the second half less than 4 minutes into the half. Grant Nelson also picks up his third foul and heads to the bench. Ducks leading 47-43 with 15:50 left in the game.

Ducks playing really well right now as we reach the under twelve timeout. Oregon leading 56-48 thanks to great games from Barthelemy, and Supreme Cook off the bench.

Alabama goes on a run and Altman calls timeout, Oregon still leads 60-58 with 9:22 left in the game.

Ducks are losing control of this one quickly. Jarin Stevenson has hit three huge 3-pointers for the Tide and is 10% from deep on the season, brutal. Ducks trail 62-63 with 7:29 left in the contest.

Bad defensive focus from the Ducks has led to a 5 point lead for Alabama. The Tide now lead 74-69 over Oregon with 3:50 to go.

Ducks are able to reign it back in, trailing 73-75 with 2:15 left. Bittle hits both free throws at the line, game knotted up at 75 with 2:09 to go. Huge steal from Shelstad leads to a layup, thanks to a goaltend from Jarin Stevenson. Ducks up 77-75 with under 1:30 to go. Oregon is in the midst of an 8-1 run with 58.4 seconds to go, still the same score.

Ducks have shot 27/63 (42.9%) from the field, and 5/17 (29.4%) from beyond the arc tonight. Shooting 18/23 (78.3%) from the charity stripe and have turned Alabama over 15 times tonight. Regardless of the result, the Ducks are legit.

Keeshawn Barthelemy hits a floater with 42.2 seconds left to give Oregon the 79-75 lead over Alabama. A quick shot and miss from Mark Sears leads to a rebound from Barthelemy who is subsequently fouled. Keeshawn Barthelemy hits both at the line to make it an 81-75 game. Aden Holloway hits a quick three for Alabama to cut it to a 3 point game. 81-78 Ducks lead with the ball and 25.1 seconds to go.

Oregon inbounds to Keeshawn Barthelemy who passes to Brandon Angel, he is stripped by Mark Sears and Angel fouls him. Angel fouls out of the game with that one and sends Sears to the line.

Sears goes 1/2 from the line and somehow Diabate grabs the board, and is fouled. I think it was a phantom foul, but he is at the line. He makes both free throws and the game is tied.

Keeshawn Barthelemy drives and misses the layup, but Nate Bittle follows it and slams it home with 4.5 seconds remaining. Oregon leads 83-81, Alabama to inbound with a final shot opportunity. Alabama gets it into Sears and drives, kicking to Grant Nelson but he gets the shot up too late. Oregon is 8-0 and has won the Player’s Era Festival. Wild times for a team that narrowly escaped Portland and Oregon State.

Ducks will be back in action on Wednesday, December 4th to begin Big Ten play at USC. The game will begin at 10:30pm EST/ 7:30pm PST on Big Ten Network.