Oregon Ducks vs Utah Utes Match Player Stats On Jan 09, 2021

Chris Duarte delivered a stellar performance at both ends with 25 points and six steals to help No. 17 Oregon outlast host Utah 79-73 in a Pac-12 game in Salt Lake City on Saturday night.

Duarte's effort followed up his 27-point output earlier this week against Colorado and helped the Ducks (9-2, 4-1 Pac-12) avoid back-to-back conference losses to unranked opponents.

The Utes (4-4, 1-3), who were led by Timmy Allen's 23 points and Mikael Jantunen's career-high 20 points, lost their third consecutive game despite shooting 55.8 percent (29 for 52).

Duarte was one of four Ducks who scored in double figures; four Oregon starters accounted for 72 of its points.

Surprisingly, Oregon's leading scorer Eugene Omoruyi, who came into the game averaging 18.6 points per game, went scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting.

Eric Williams Jr. finished with a season-high 19 points, six rebounds and three blocks. LJ Figueroa finished with 15 points, three rebounds and two steals and Amauri Hardy finished with 13 points and four assists.

Chandler Lawson made a key put-back inside to push Oregon's lead to 72-68 with 1:17 left. After Jantunen missed a layup at the other end, Hardy drew a foul and made two free throws as the Ducks, who trailed by 10 at halftime, pulled away over the final minute. Oregon made 13 of its 16 free-throw attempts.

Despite the Utes' sharp shooting, they committed 18 turnovers and Oregon finished with 10 steals to Utah's two.

Oregon shot 45.2 percent from the field but made 10 of 22 3-pointers and moved the ball well throughout with 15 assists.

Oregon shot 55.2 percent (16-for-29) in the second half after shooting only 36.4 percent (12-for-33) in the first half, and prevailed despite being outrebounded 36-27.

Allen was held to six points in the second half and the Utes went 11-for-25 shooting in the second half after shooting 66.7 percent (18-for-27) in the first half with 13 assists. Pelle Larsson finished with 15 points, five rebounds and five assists before fouling out.

--Field Level Media