Nate Bittle’s 2nd career double-double sends Oregon men’s basketball past UCF; Ducks to host Wisconsin

One other Oregon participant had the most effective scoring efficiency of his profession and the Geese held one other opponent to a putrid taking pictures share to advance within the NIT.

Nate Bittle scored a career-high 21 factors and had 13 rebounds to steer the No. 1 seed Geese in a 68-54 rout of UCF within the second spherical of the NIT on Sunday night time at Matthew Knight Enviornment.

It was the second profession double-double for Bittle, who went 7 of 14 from the sector, together with 1 of three from three-point vary, and made 6 of 8 free throws. The sophomore is taking pictures 52.3% from the ground and averaging 10.7 factors and 5.5 rebounds over his final six video games.

“They didn’t have anyone within the paint that would cease us,” Bittle stated. “Coach stated after the sport that we owned them within the paint and that’s the place we bought them. We did a very good job, got here out, executed our stuff within the paint and coach all the time talks about inside-out threes, and I believe that’s what we did tonight.”

Bittle matched his profession greatest in rebounding from Jan. 26 towards Colorado, which additionally got here with out N’Faly Dante within the lineup.

“I believed his rebounding early actually set a tone for us,” Oregon coach Dana Altman stated. “I believed he actually went after boards. The factors are nice, however 13 rebounds — I believed 25 minutes is type of his excessive for the 12 months and I believed he did a extremely good job.

“When Dante’s been out, he’s responded. It’s good to see, enjoying with a bit confidence, little air that he type of completed the season with. I preferred his effort. I believed he challenged photographs inside. I believed he set a tone each halves along with his rebounding.”

Bittle stated he’s extra comfy enjoying at middle than he was at energy ahead when paired with Dante, who has missed the NIT video games as a consequence of a proper ankle damage.

“I’m simply completely satisfied to be enjoying, truthfully,” Bittle stated. “That’s all I need; I simply need to preserve enjoying. I don’t need my season to return to an finish.”

Oregon (21-14) advances to host No. 2 seed Wisconsin within the quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN) and the standing of Dante and guard Jermaine Couisnard (left shoulder) is undetermined, in accordance with Altman.

C.J. Kelly had 13 factors for UCF (19-15), which led 15-9 halfway by way of the primary half, however Oregon went on a 14-3 run to take management and went into the break up 33-24.

Quincy Guerrier scored 16 factors and Kel’el Ware added 11 for Oregon, which opened the second half with a 14-2 run and cruised from there apart from a turnover-filled remaining 11 minutes.

The Knights shot 30.6% from the sector, together with a season-low 16.7% from three. UCF main scorer Taylor Hendricks, who got here in averaging 15.3 factors on 48.3% taking pictures, went 3 of 10 from the sector, 1 of 5 from three, and a pair of of three on the free-throw line for 9 factors and 9 rebounds.

“(Rivaldo Soares has) executed a extremely good job,” Altman stated. “Quincy I believed actually took the problem tonight. Taylor Hendricks is a extremely good participant; there have been NBA folks right here to see him. Main rebounder for his or her staff, main scorer. He had one subject aim at half. I believed Quincy actually took the problem and did an incredible job.”