Portland State fell to the University of Oregon in Eugene on Monday night, after eight turnovers in the first four minutes paved the way for a 32-12 lead for the Ducks early in the first half. The slow start was just too much for the Vikings to overcome.
Portland State fell to the University of Oregon in Eugene on Monday night, after eight turnovers in the first four minutes paved the way for a 32-12 lead for the Ducks early in the first half. The slow start was just too much for the Vikings to overcome.
All Photos Karl Kuchs/VANGUARD STAFf
Home Stretch: Seniors Renado Parker and Lateef McMullan look to finish strong in their final season at PSU.
Sophomore guard Dre Winston Jr. and senior forward Renado Parker led the Vikings’ offensive attack with 15 points each. After a poor first half, the Vikings found themselves down by 18 points. The team came out stronger in the second half but trailed throughout, failing to find an answer for the Ducks’ relentless attack.
A combination of full-court pressure and a wave of three-pointers sparked Oregon’s early run. The Ducks hit seven shots from behind the arc on 70 percent shooting in the first half. They cooled somewhat after the break, but maintained a rhythm on offense that the Vikings were unable to match.
At one point in the second half, PSU went on a run and found themselves within nine points after a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Gary Winston. That was as close as the Vikings would get, as Oregon senior E.J. Singler responded immediately with a three-pointer and the Ducks coasted from there.
The loss against Oregon dropped PSU to 1-1 on the young season, while the Ducks improved to 2-0. The Oregon matchup was the first in a four-game road trip for PSU. The team will face off against their crosstown rivals at the University of Portland on Nov. 21, followed by games against Oklahoma State University and Loyola Marymount University before returning home to the Stott Center.
