SPOKANE, Wash. – So much for the little guys.
The ones from Winthrop, at least. There’s one from Oregon still standing mighty tall in the NCAA Tournament.
Diminutive but destructive Tajuan Porter, the shortest man on the floor at 5-foot-6, broke open a close game by making his first four shots of the second half Sunday, all from long range. That spurt, Aaron Brooks’ 22 points and a smothering defense led Oregon over the frazzled Eagles and eliminated the last remaining double-digit seed from the tournament.
The third-seeded Ducks (28-7), who have won more games than any Oregon team since the 1944-45 squad won 30, will play seventh-seeded UNLV in the semifinals of the Midwest Regional in St. Louis.
“I can’t be more happy,” Coach Ernie Kent said of Oregon’s first appearance in the round of 16 since 2002.
“We’re going to see the arches – and not the McDonald’s arches.”
The 11th-seeded Eagles (29-5), who upset Notre Dame in the first round, lost for the first time in 20 games to end their most successful tournament in seven tries.
“When this magic carpet ride comes to an end, it ends rather abruptly. And it’s not an easy thing to accept,” Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall said.
| WINTHROP (29-5) |
P.Williams 3-6 1-2 8, Bradshaw 3-6 3-4 10, Gaynor 5-9 0-0 12, Jenkins 3-10 0-0 7, Martin 6-18 1-2 15, Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Adams 1-3 0-0 2, McCullough 3-9 0-0 7. Totals:24-61 5-8 61.
| OREGON (28-7) |
Leunen 5-7 2-2 12, Brooks 8-15 1-1 22, Hairston 4-11 4-4 13, Taylor 3-9 1-2 8, Porter 5-11 0-0 14, Oguchi 0-0 0-0 0, Zahn 0-1 0-0 0, Catron 2-2 2-3 6. Totals:27-56 10-12 75. Halftime-Oregon 33-29. 3-Point Goals:Winthrop 8-31 (Gaynor 2-5, Martin 2-11, Bradshaw 1-3, P.Williams 1-3, McCullough 1-4, Jenkins 1-5), Oregon 11-23 (Brooks 5-9, Porter 4-8, Hairston 1-3, Taylor 1-3). Fouled OuT-None. Rebounds:Winthrop 38 (Martin 12), Oregon 31 (Hairston, Porter 6). Assists:Winthrop 13 (Adams 4), Oregon 8 (Catron 3). Total Fouls:Winthrop 14, Oregon 13. A-NA.
