For the previous seven matchups, Oregon was ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s kryptonite.Â
The third-ranked Wildcats outlasted the Ducks 84-81 Saturday night at McKale Center and moved to 24-2 on the season.Â
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ shot 53% from the field and 48% from 3-point range en route to the win and were led by guard Bennedict Mathurin, who finished the night with 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists.Â
With second-ranked Auburn falling to Florida on Saturday, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will most likely move up one spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll alongside the top-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs, the team ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ head coach Tommy Lloyd assisted under Mark Few for 22 years.Â
After the UA-Oregon game, Lloyd discussed the benefits of the win over Oregon and what it means to be alongside Gonzaga heading into the final stretch of the regular season; here's what he said:Â
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Embracing close, hard-fought battles
“When you end up in them, you welcome it.†— Tommy Lloyd on ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ finally getting into a nail-biter
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Message to the Wildcats after beating Oregon
Tommy Lloyd on his message to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ after the win over Oregon:
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Perks of nail-biters
Tommy Lloyd on the benefits of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ playing in close games: “Live bullets are a great teaching tool.â€
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Giving Kerr Kriisa the green light
“‘If you got a 28-footer, let ‘er rip.’†— Tommy Lloyd on his message to Kerr Kriisa, who made a clutch 3-pointer late in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s 84-81 win over Oregon
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Ducks' best shot
Tommy Lloyd expected Oregon’s best game plan especially after the Ducks’ loss to ASU.
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Overcoming Oregon's tough defense
Tommy Lloyd on Oregon’s “handsy†defense against ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, which forced 9 steals:
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Sticking to the script
“I was proud of guys for hanging in there and finding a way to win a close game. We haven’t had a lot of those.†— Tommy Lloyd after No. 3 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s 84-81 win over Oregon
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Side-by-side with the former team
Gonzaga and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will be the top-two teams in the AP poll on Monday. What does that mean for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ head coach Tommy Lloyd, who spent the previous 22 years with the Zags? “Weird. Cool. Awesome. … They’re family and I think they’re happy for us.â€
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports)
Contact sports producer Justin Spears at 573-4312 or jspears@tucson.com. On Twitter: @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
