Pilot senior Darren Cooper reaches double figures for the fourth straight game

EUGENE, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots dropped a 76-49 decision to the undefeated and 20th-ranked Oregon Ducks Thursday night at McArthur Court in front of an announced crowd of 8,505. Junior Maarty Leunen led all scorers with 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Ducks (12-0), who remain one of four unbeaten teams in the country. Senior guard Darren Cooper reached double figures for the fourth consecutive game and led the Pilots (3-12) with 12 points.

It looked like a rout was on early as Oregon jumped out to an 8-0 lead, but the Pilots used a 9-0 run to gain their first lead of the game. After some back-and-forth scoring, Portland gained an 18-16 edge with 6:43 remaining on a jumper by Sherrard Watson. Oregon responded with a 14-0 run as Cooper was relegated to the bench with two personal fouls.

The Ducks led 34-21 at the half, mainly because of an 11-2 edge in second chance points. Oregon had 14 first-half offensive rebounds and held a 31-16 edge on the boards for the period. UO freshman Joevan Catron had 13 himself and finished the night with a career-high 17 total.

The Pilots came out of the half and cut the lead to 34-25 on a free throw by Cooper, but Ducks senior Aaron Brooks drilled a pair of threes and a runner in the lane to push the margin to 46-27. Leunen erupted for 21 points in the second stanza as the Ducks pushed the margin into the 20s.

Cooper, who had shot 61 percent from the field in his three previous games since returning from a strained hamstring, struggled to a 2-for-13 shooting day from the field and just 1-of-5 from three-point range. He made 7-of-8 from the foul line.

Portland freshman point guard Taishi Ito, who missed the last five games while visiting an ill family member in Japan, played 28 minutes off the bench and finished with a career-high nine points. He also drew four offensive foul calls.

The Pilots shot 25 percent from the field, while Oregon finished at 38 percent. The Ducks controlled the rebounding by a 54-33 margin. Portland entered the game having outrebounded opponents in 10 of the first 14 games this season.

“To be dominated (in rebounding) was a surprise,” Portland head coach Eric Reveno said. “I think as the game went on (Oregon) turned it up in terms of effort. Fatigue played a role for our guys, but I think their athleticism, quickness to the ball, and how they spread the floor offensively made it difficult on us.”

Brooks finished with 19 points for the Ducks, while Adam Zahn added 10 points and seven boards.

Portland will conclude its non-conference schedule with a home game against Lewis and Clark College on Sunday, Dec. 31 at 2 p.m. The Pilots will then host the Pepperdine Waves at the Chiles Center on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. in the West Coast Conference opener for both schools. The game will be televised in the Portland area on KPDX (PDX49).