Oregon looks to extend series win streak vs. Montana

Field Level Media|published: Fri 8th November, 01:52 2024

Oregon's Kwame Evans Jr., right, maneuvers for position against UC Riverside’s Kaleb Smith during the second half at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene.

Coming off an opening-night win at home on Monday, the Oregon Ducks continue to work on building chemistry between returning players and the several transfers who have joined head coach Dana Altman's basketball program.

The next step in the process is Friday night at home in Eugene, Ore., when the Ducks host Montana.

Oregon (1-0) never led by fewer than seven points in the second half of a 91-76 win over UC-Riverside on Monday night. Forward Kwame Evans Jr. scored a career-high 23 points and Stanford transfer Brandon Angel added 17 as the Ducks made 33 of 66 shots for the game.

Nate Bittle, injured for much of last season, had 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Ducks dominated the post on offense.

"We made a lot of mistakes, but a lot of them are correctable," Altman told the school's athletics website. "We've just got to get everybody on the same page, offensively, defensively, get better connected. And that should happen, if you've got guys that really want to be part of the team and make things happen."

The Ducks are 25-4 all-time against the Grizzlies, with four straight wins in the series. Oregon defeated Montana 75-61 last November in Eugene, where the last five meetings between the two programs have been played.

Big Sky coaches voted the Grizzlies (1-0) the favorite to win the conference title this season, even though Montana has eight transfers, the most ever on a roster in program history.

Montana rolled past Hawaii-Hilo 92-61 in its season opener on Monday. But the Grizzlies are winless in six straight road openers going back to 2017, according to the school's athletics website.

Kai Johnson, a transfer from Western Washington, led Montana with 27 points on Monday. It's the most in a Grizzlies debut in program history.

"The best thing we have with him (Johnson) is his ability to score with high percentages," Montana head coach Travis DeCuire told 406 MT Sports. "He doesn't need a lot of shots, and that's healthy for a team with a lot of versatility."

--Field Level Media

Latest