Bears Pull Off Surprising Oregon Road Sweep With Dominating 78-64 Win Over Ducks

EUGENE, OR -Buoyed by a 24-0 first half run and 33 Jordan Shepherd points, the Bears controlled the tempo and game for a big road sweep in Eugene over the 9-4 (16-8) previously second place Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena this afternoon. The win followed their dramatic 63-61 win in Corvallis Thursday which broke a 10-game losing streak a4fter jumping out to a 9-5 (2-1) start to the season.

The game got off to a shaky start as the Bears fell behind early, 12-5 4:23 into the game but Cal’s defense put on the clamps for the next eight minutes, keying their amazing 24-0 run on a surging Ducks team that had been playing some of the best ball in the conference. 

Senior guard Jordan Shepherd, who had a Cal career high 33 points on the day, keyed the run with a trio of buckets, going 9-for-15 from the field and 13-for-15 from the line for the game. Shepherd ended the half with an impressive driving slam to put the Bears up 38-22 at the break.

Not content to sit on their lead, the Bears did a masterful job of running down the clock on each possession, waiting for a quality shot late in the possession, while putting the clamps on Oregon’s offense, often forcing rushed and ill-advised shots throughout the game. The Bears held Oregon to just 38% from the field and a dreadful 19% from three for the contest. The closest the Ducks were able to get at any point in the second half was 11 with 7:55 left before the Bears stretched their lead to a game-high 19 points with 2:31 left before coasting to the victory.

Senior point guard Mikale Foreman gave the Bears a boost off the bench with a pair of threes and eight points overall. Soph wing Jalen Celestine also had a solid game with eight points on 3-for-4 from the field and six rebounds. Oregon point guard Will Richardson led Oregon with 22 points and eight rebounds but also had a costly seven turnovers for the contest.

The Bears shot an impressive 52% from the field and 83% (20-for24) from the line for the game and also outreboundd the Ducks, 36-31. They also won the turnover battle, 17-11.

Cal moves to 4-11 (11-15) for the season and past ASU for ninth place in the standings after the sweep. They’ll next face off at home at Haas Wednesday night at 6:30 vs. Colorado.

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