BOX SCORE
SEASON STATS
EUGENE, Ore. ? David Kool scored 24 points and Joe Reitz added 21 points, but No. 12 Oregon held off a late rally to defeat Western Michigan, 97-88, in front of 8,341 at McArthur Court on Monday night.
Reitz was named to the World Vision Invitational All-Tournament Team.
The Broncos (1-2) trailed the Ducks (3-0) by as many as 21 points in the first half, but WMU shot 52.8 percent (19-36) overall in the second half, including 8-of-14 (.571) three-pointers to eventually pull within six points late in the second half.
A pair of free throws by Reitz pulled the Broncos to within six, 76-70, the first time with 7:13 to go in the game, but back-to-back buckets by the Ducks pushed their lead back to 10.
The Broncos couldn't whittle any further into the deficit and the Ducks pushed the lead back to 12, 91-79, on a Malik Hairston three-pointer. Western Michigan continued to fight and pulled within six, 92-86, with 43 seconds remaining on a Kool layup. WMU was then forced to foul and UO connected on 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to hold off WMU.
Oregon scored the first seven points of the game to take immediate control before Kool hit a pair of free throws to put WMU on the board after 2:52, followed by a Reitz layup to make it a three-point game, 7-4. Oregon then started a 13-5 run on a Hairston dunk to build an 11-point lead, 20-9.
Western Michigan stayed within eight to 11 points for the next three minutes until the Ducks staged a 16-4 run to build their largest lead of the game, 41-20, with four minutes left in the half.
Andrew Hershberger scored inside on the next possession to start a 7-0 run. Andre Ricks hit a three-pointer and assisted on a fast break layup by Martelle McLemore. The Broncos had a chance to cut into the lead even further but a turnover led to a dunk and Oregon took a 16-point lead into the locker room, 46-30.
The Broncos shot only 33 percent (11-33) in the opening stanza, while Oregon hit 14-of-26 overall (.538) and 6-of-14 three-pointers. The Ducks also were awarded 18 free throws, hitting 12, to only four for WMU.
Oregon came out after halftime and continued to keep the Broncos at bay, still holding a 19-point lead, 62-43, with 14:05 to go.
Western Michigan started to claw back into the game with a three-pointer by Kool and two Hershberger free throws after a steal by the senior from Goshen, Ind. Kool hit another jumper moments later and WMU was back within 12, 62-50. Shawntes Gary ended the 12-2 run with a three-pointer to get the game back to within single digits, 64-55, for the first time since it was 25-16.
A 7-2 run by WMU over 1:07 ended with Oregon only up six, 76-70, with 7:13 remaining to set up the stretch run.
Derek Drews, the reigning Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week, added 16 points and a team-high six rebounds for Western Michigan. Andre Ricks had nine points, four assists and two rebounds off the bench to outduel his cousin, Oregon point guard Tajuan Porter, who had six points and two assists.
The Broncos shot 43.5 percent for the game and hit 12-of-26 three-pointers. WMU connected on more field goals and three-pointers, but the difference came at the free throw line. WMU was whistled for 32 personal fouls and Oregon was only flagged 17 times. Oregon, therefore, hit 31-of-45 free throws, while WMU had 25 fewer opportunities in hitting 16-of-20 from the stripe.
The Broncos had only 12 turnovers, three in the second half, and outrebounded the Ducks, 35-31. WMU had 14 offensive rebounds to lead 12-3 in second-chance points.
Oregon had four players in double figures, led by 29 points from tournament MVP Hairston and 17 points and 10 rebounds from Joevan Catron.
The Broncos continue their season-opening stretch of six games in 12 days at Loyola (Ill.) on Friday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. ET.
