Jermaine Couisnard Scores 40, Oregon Rolls South Carolina 87-73 to Advance In NCAA Tournament

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – MARCH 21: Jermaine Couisnard #5 of the Oregon Ducks reacts in the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 21, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

750 The Game

Jermaine Couisnard was cooking against his former team, N’Faly Dante dominated down low once again, and the 11-seed Oregon Ducks rolled past 6-seed South Carolina 87-73 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday in Pittsburgh, Penn.

Oregon advances to Saturday’s second round where they face 3-seed Creighton as Midwest regional action continues. Ducks coach Dana Altman will coach against his former program as he coached the Blue Jays for 16 seasons before coming to Oregon.

Thursday, it was Couisnard facing his former teammates with the South Carolina Gamecocks, where he played three seasons. Couisnard poured in 40 points, a career-high, setting a new record for points in an NCAA Tournament game by an Oregon Duck.

It was also the most points scored by a player on a double-digit seed in the NCAA Tournament since Steph Curry scored 40 points for 10-seed Davidson in the first round of the 2008 tourney.

Dante contributed some highlight-reel dunks in the second half and continued his strong play with 23 points on 7-of-9 shooting, with 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals and 2 assists.

Freshman Jackson Shelstad was the only other Duck in double-figures with 11 points. The Ducks led for 29:06 of the contest.