Oregon's Malcolm Armstead heads for the free throw line
By Tony Solorzano
(Los Angeles) – Oregon’s E. J. Singler lit up UCLA for 24 points as the Ducks knocked off the Bruins 76-59 to advance to the Semifinals of the Pacific Life PAC-10 Tournament Thursday night at Staples Center.
The Bruins (22-10) looked lethargic and unmotivated, which the Ducks (16-16) took advantage of, something not lost on Bruins head coach Ben Howland.
“You have to give Oregon credit, Oregon came out and really did a nice job isolating us and taking us off our dribble,” a dejected Howland said after the game. “They did a good job executing their offense and also defending us. We had six baskets at the end of the first half, which is obviously not going to win many ball games.”
The Ducks took control of the game early on, not only getting the first basket but grabbing the lead twice before pulling away from the Bruins for the remainder of the half. Almost nothing the Bruins offered up seemed to find the cylinder, the Bruins only managed six baskets in 24 attempts, a shooting percentage of 25.0%. In fact, after Garret Sim sank a three to tie the game 14-14 with 12:39 left in the half, the Ducks took over the lead and never trailed again.
The Bruins could not break the double digit lead the Ducks built with 5:22 left in the first half for the remainder of the game. In fact, the Ducks increased their lead to 22 points twice in the second half.
Singler topped all scorers in the game, putting in his 24 points and was a perfect eight for eight at the free throw line. Malcolm Armstead tossed in 13 points and Sim had 10. Tyler Honeycutt was the only Bruin in double figures, scoring 19 points for UCLA. Honeycutt addressed the lack of motivating play early on after the game.
“It just started from the warm-ups. Guys weren’t taking game shots, weren’t being focused,” Honeycutt said. “They had the mentality that they didn’t have anything to lose. We came in here with a ‘too cool’ of an attitude.”
The Ducks will face Washington Friday night in the second semi-final of the Men’s bracket.
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