Dillon Brooks' Game-Winner Lifts Oregon Over Undefeated UCLA | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Thursday / March 28.
  • Dillon Brooks’ Game-Winner Lifts Oregon Over Undefeated UCLA

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    By MIKE McCURRY

    UCLA is no longer undefeated, and that’s a direct result of Oregon’s Dillon Brooks no longer being restrained.

    Brooks, who missed the first three games this year and was limited in many others due to a foot injury, logged season-highs in minutes (35), points (23) and rebounds (9) on Wednesday.

    His game-winning, off-balance three-pointer with 0.8 seconds left was the difference in No. 21 Oregon’s thrilling, come-from-behind 89-87 victory over No. 2 UCLA, handing the Bruins their first loss in the process.

    UCLA led 87-83 on a Lonzo Ball layup with 24 seconds to go.

    Oregon responded by scoring the final six points of the game via a pair of three-pointers.

    The first of those was by freshman Payton Pritchard, who turned in his best collegiate performance to date: 15 points, 9 assists, and 1 turnover.

    Then, after Bryce Alford (20 points, 6-10 3FG) back-rimmed the front end of a one-and-one with UCLA clinging to a one-point advantage, it was Brooks who got the rock, created all the separation he needed on a Jordan Bell ball-screen, and buried the triple that sent Matthew Knight Arena into a frenzy.

    “A sold-out crowd, a No. 2 team,” said Brooks postgame on SportsCenter. “I really wanted to get on the right foot in the Pac-12, and it just feels really good.”

    It’s ironic that Brooks, the first Duck to ever appear on the preseason All-America team, used the word “foot” during his state of euphoria. After all, it was that July foot surgery that inhibited the 6-foot-7 wing from being his usual self early on this season.

    Thankfully for Oregon, its star finally appears at or close to 100%.

    “What’s going thru my mind right now is just a lot of success and a lot of greatness,” Brooks said. “I want to do this for all of Oregon, and I wanted to protect home court.”

    Mission accomplished, as the Ducks extended their home winning streak to 34 consecutive games. They also took a major step toward repeating as Pac-12 regular season and tournament champions.

    And oh, by the way, mark your calendars: the Oregon-UCLA rematch is February 9th.

     

     

     

    Photo: Bleacher Report

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