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University of Oregon Athletics

Dorsey
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

Ducks Tip Off Holiday with Matinee

11/25/15 | Men's Basketball

Oregon wraps up the Global Sports Shootout by hosting Arkansas State Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Matthew Knight Arena. The Ducks are 3-0 in the round-robin tournament thus far with wins against Jackson State, Baylor and Savannah State.

THE STARTING FIVE
1 - In exceptionally early RPI reports - which will fluctuate dramatically the first few weeks of the season - the Ducks are among the top 10 nationally. Oregon is currently No. 7 in both the ESPN and CBS Sports indexes. By means of comparison, Cal State Bakersfield tops the ESPN poll and Colorado State leads CBS. Valparaiso, which Oregon defeated on Sunday, is currently one spot ahead of the Ducks in each poll.

2 - Common opponents. Arkansas State defeated Jackson State 78-69 and lost to Savannah State 76-75.

3 - The Ducks are second in the Pac-12 and rank 44th nationally in scoring defense at 61.2 points per game. The Ducks also are committing just 14.5 fouls per game, sixth fewest in the nation.

4 - Valparaiso was the second of four 2015 NCAA Tournament teams the Ducks will play during the non-conference season. The other three are Baylor, Boise State and UC Irvine.

5 - Rare ranked win. When Oregon knocked off No. 22 Baylor last Monday, it was the Ducks' first regular season win over a non-conference ranked team in three years (at No. 18 UNLV, 83-79, Nov. 23, 2012), as well as the first regular season non-conference win over a ranked foe in Eugene in almost 13 years (No. 25 Mnnesota, 90-81, Dec. 22, 2002).

Bench - The Ducks are 79-13 (.859) all-time at Matthew Knight Arena since the building opened in 2011.

BROOKS STEPS UP
Sophomore Dillon Brooks had his best game of the season Sunday versus Valparaiso. He recorded his third career double-double with 26 points - a personal best - and 13 rebounds. He scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half to lead the come-from-behind win.

CONSISTENT COOK
Not to be outdone by his younger teammates, senior Elgin Cook is the only Duck to reach double figures in all four games this season.

EARLY RETURNS
Newcomers Tyler Dorsey and Chris Boucher are already polling well in early returns. Dorsey had his second 20-point game of the season Sunday against Valparaiso, chipping in 21 on 7-of-9 shooting. Boucher had his best night as a Duck Friday against Savannah State. He scored 11 of his 17 total points in the second half to lead the Ducks in scoring. He also added seven rebounds and two blocks in 23 minutes. That was after he scored 15 points with a team-best eight rebounds and two blocks in the win over No. 20 Baylor. Dorsey added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists in that game. Dorsey also scored 20 points - 18 in the first half - in the season opener against Jackson State on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting from the floor (4-of-5 on threes). Boucher filled the JSU stat sheet with 10 points, five rebounds and five blocked shots.