Couisnard scores 18 as Oregon rallies from 18 down to beat California 80-73
Oregon center N'Faly Dante (1) celebrates with Oregon guard Jadrian Tracey (22) against California during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. Credit: AP/Thomas Boyd
EUGENE, Ore. — Jermaine Couisnard sank five 3-pointers and scored 18 points to help Oregon rally from an 18-point deficit and beat California 80-73 on Saturday night for its sixth straight victory.
Couisnard had four misses from beyond the arc for the Ducks (13-3, 5-0 Pac-12 Conference). He was 0 for 4 on his 2-point attempts. Jadrian Tracey had 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting off the bench. Jackson Shelstad pitched in with 12 points and six rebounds. Reserve Keeshawn Barthelemy hit two 3-pointers and score 12 with five assists.
Jaylon Tyson totaled 20 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Golden Bears (6-11, 2-4). It was his fifth double-double of the season. Fardaws Aimaq finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. Keonte Kennedy had 11 points, while Jalen Cone scored 10 on 2-for-9 shooting, including 1 of 8 from beyond the arc.
Aimaq had 10 points, Tyson scored nine and California led 32-19 with 7:31 left in the first half. Aimaq had back-to-back layups to push the Golden Bears' advantage to 41-23 with four minutes to go. Couisnard hit three 3-pointers in a 16-2 run to close out the half and Oregon pulled within 43-39 at intermission.
Cal maintained its lead until Shelstad followed a successful jumper with a 3-pointer to put Oregon on top 46-45 with 15 minutes left to play. Tyson made two free throws coming out of a TV timeout and Rodney Brown Jr. sank a jumper as the Golden Bears regained the lead.
Barthelemy and Kario Oquendo sandwiched 3-pointers around a bucket by Cal's Grant Newell and the Ducks took a 54-51 lead with 11:34 remaining and never trailed again.
Oregon beat the Golden Bears for a third straight time and for the 14th time in the last 16 matchups.
Oregon center N'Faly Dante (1), pulls down a rebound against California during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. Credit: AP/Thomas Boyd
The first-place Ducks are the only team without a Pac-12 loss this season. Oregon swept UCLA and Southern Cal at home and then swept Washington and Washington State on the road for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Cal's first-year coach Mark Madsen led Utah Valley to a 77-72 road win over the Ducks last season.
Oregon travels to play Colorado on Thursday. California returns home to play Washington on Thursday.
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California forward Fardaws Aimaq (00), looks for a pass under heavy pressure during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oregon in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. Credit: AP/Thomas Boyd
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