Brooks scores 30 as No. 16 Oregon beats Utah 76-66

At 9:55 the Buffaloes would take their first lead of the second half with a three, Oregon State would answer back with a three from Langston Morris-Walker to them a one point lead.

Any campaign for Oregon’s Dillon Brooks as Pac-12 player of the year might have to start with an endorsement from a coach outside his own camp. Limiting projected National Basketball Association lottery pick Jakob Poeltl to 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting and the Utes to just 19 points outside of Jordan Loveridge (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Kyle Kuzma (18 points, six rebounds), the Ducks proved once more that their defense wins games. Colorado had a 42-38 advantage on the boards. He has five 20-point games this season. Miller tied his career-high with three blocked shots.

Fletcher may have led all scorers, but junior forward Wes Gordon led all Colorado players in overall effort as he recorded his eighth career double-double and third of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. On offense, the Beavers were aggressive to the basket and also attempted 10 more free throws than the Buffaloes and made seven more.

“I like the progress we’re making. You cut those numbers in half, and you’re right in the ballgame”. The Ducks made six field goals in the quarter — all from 3-point range — and trailed 44-40 entering the fourth. “I don’t know how good we can be or what we’re going to be defined as”. In reality, it was just Rueck’s first conference win, deep into an abysmal initial season at the helm of the Beavers.

First Dwayne Benjamin missed a three-pointer and Elgin Cook grabbed the rebound.

Payton finished with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and seven steals. “We’ve grown a little road tired”. Boucher and the rest of the Ducks have been playing great defense as of late. His two free throws sealed the game. For Brooks, it was his second of the season. There’s not really anything much more that needs to be said. That’s not who we are. We’re going to get back to work. We’re a mediocre, average Pac-12 team.

Utah saw a 5 game winning streak come to an end at Oregon State on Thursday and have a better presence inside than Oregon. “It says something about our guys’ competitiveness and fight and desire”, Colorado coach Tad Boyle said. “I love this team”. Utah, which ranks first in the Pac-12 in fewest fouls committed at 15.9 per game, had nine by halftime, including a technical on Krystkowiak for arguing Poeltl’s second personal foul…. Colorado’s George King went to the line, but could only manage to make one free throw. Beating Utah will just extend that lead.

There was little celebration Friday night after No. 9 Oregon State captured a 61-53 win at No. 24 Washington. That combination has propelled the Ducks to five consecutive wins and eight over a nine-game stretch, including a 77-59 victory over the Utes on January 14. He now has 1,011. Sophomore Jordan Bell had three blocks, upping his school record to 120 in just 51 games.

Colorado plays at Oregon State on Saturday.

After an emotional loss to Oregon State Thursday night, the Utes are eager to get back on track against No. 16 Oregon Sunday afternoon.