Las Vegas, Nevada - The University of Oregon's men's basketball team kicked off the 2023-24 season with a spectacular performance at T-Mobile Arena, clinching an 82-71 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs. N'Faly Dante emerged as the star of the show, leading the Ducks to their victory with a remarkable 16 points and a staggering 21 rebounds, marking a milestone for the Oregon team not witnessed in nearly half a century.
Dante's sensational performance in the paint was complemented by his teammates, with Nate Bittle contributing 13 points and nine rebounds. Together, the Ducks secured a resounding 48-20 advantage in points scored in the paint and a dominant 63-41 edge in rebounds. This level of dominance had not been seen for the Oregon men's basketball team since 1974, when Gerald Willett also achieved 21 rebounds against Duquesne.
Brennan Rigsby and Jermaine Couisnard were vital contributors on the offensive end, both chipping in with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Couisnard also showcased his playmaking skills with five assists. However, it's worth noting that the Ducks were without the services of freshman guard Jackson Shelstad, who was sidelined due to a knee injury.
From the onset, the Oregon men seized control of the game, embarking on an 11-0 run after conceding the first point to Georgia. Couisnard was instrumental in this early surge, bookending the run with buckets, while Bittle added two baskets, including a three-pointer. Despite a brief pushback from the Bulldogs, Oregon continued to assert their dominance, culminating in a 28-11 lead during the first half, thanks to a well-timed three-pointer by freshman Kwame Evans Jr.
Georgia eventually found their three-point shooting rhythm, mounting a 17-4 run to narrow the deficit to 32-28. Nevertheless, the Ducks managed to secure a 40-30 advantage going into halftime, courtesy of a buzzer-beating running bank shot by Keeshawn Barthelemy. In the second half, Oregon extended their lead to 67-47, with Rigsby delivering a thunderous two-handed dunk that ignited a 9-0 run.
Despite Georgia's late resurgence, the Ducks managed to hold on for a convincing 82-71 win. They forced a crucial turnover, leading to a dunk from Couisnard, securing the final points of the game and the victory.
Notably, Dante's 21-rebound performance was a historic achievement, marking the first time a Pac-12 player achieved 20 rebounds in a regular-season non-conference game against a major conference opponent since 2001. The last Oregon men's player to secure at least 20 rebounds in a game was Mike Moser in 2014. While Dante's feat fell just short of the single-game rebound record of 32 held by Jim Loscutoff in 1955, it was an extraordinary accomplishment in its own right.
Looking ahead, the Ducks are set to continue their season with their regular-season home opener against Montana at the Matthew Knight Arena on Friday, with the game scheduled to air on the Pac-12 Network at 6 p.m. The team and its fans eagerly await what the remainder of the season has in store, hoping to build upon this impressive victory and make their presence felt in the world of college basketball once again.
