No.10 Oregon Ducks win overtime thriller at No.5 Michigan 71-70

What a game.

After an overtime period that felt like it took an hour with replay reviews, Oregon’s defense held Michigan from scoring a game-winning basket in the final seconds to hold on for the one-point win, 71-70.

Statement win.

Ducks get it done on the road in OT against No. 5 Michigan.#GoDucks | #AlwaysUs pic.twitter.com/tVtwWKyze0

— Oregon Men’s Basketball (@OregonMBB) December 14, 2019

The Ducks nearly won the game in regulation, holding the ball with the final possession and the clock ticking down.  Payton Pritchard went up for a shot and lost control of the ball, but CJ Walker recovered and sent a pass to Anthony Mathis for a long-range three-pointer at the buzzer.  Mathis connected, sending the Ducks bench and fanbase into a frenzy, but only for a moment.  The officials reviewed the shot and accurately ruled the buzzer sounded about a half-second before Mathis released the would-be game-winner.

WE ARE HEADED TO OVERTIME! Anthony Mathis’ game-winning long ball was wiped away after further review showed the ball did not leave his hand before the final buzzer.@OregonMBB | @umichbball pic.twitter.com/cKsjODRsTs

— CBS Sports CBB (@CBSSportsCBB) December 14, 2019

Payton Pritchard led all scorers with 23 points, including a run of 9 straight points in the final 4 minutes of regulation to help the Ducks force OT.  He then scored 6 of the Ducks 8 points in the extra session to help seal the victory.  Fellow West Linn native Anthony Mathis finished with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting, all from 3-point range.  Michigan’s Franz Wagner had 21 points for the home team.

Oregon improves to 8-2 overall, and is now 3-2 against top-15 ranked teams this season.  They have wins over then No.13 Memphis, No.13 Seton Hall, and now No.5 Michigan,with a pair of losses by a combined 5 points to No. 8 Gonzaga and No. 6 North Carolina.

This was Oregon’s first true road game of the season.  They’ll finish the non-conference schedule with three straight home games against Montana, Texas Southern, and Alabama State, before opening Pac-12 play on Jan. 2nd at Colorado.