By MIKE McCURRY
UCLA is no longer undefeated, and that’s a direct result of Oregon’s Dillon Brooks no longer being restrained.
Brooks, who missed the first three games this year and was limited in many others due to a foot injury, logged season-highs in minutes (35), points (23) and rebounds (9) on Wednesday.
His game-winning, off-balance three-pointer with 0.8 seconds left was the difference in No. 21 Oregon’s thrilling, come-from-behind 89-87 victory over No. 2 UCLA, handing the Bruins their first loss in the process.
Dillon Brooks. Game-winner. Got it. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/NvDjxje3aF
— GoDucks (@GoDucks) December 29, 2016
UCLA led 87-83 on a Lonzo Ball layup with 24 seconds to go.
Oregon responded by scoring the final six points of the game via a pair of three-pointers.
The first of those was by freshman Payton Pritchard, who turned in his best collegiate performance to date: 15 points, 9 assists, and 1 turnover.
Then, after Bryce Alford (20 points, 6-10 3FG) back-rimmed the front end of a one-and-one with UCLA clinging to a one-point advantage, it was Brooks who got the rock, created all the separation he needed on a Jordan Bell ball-screen, and buried the triple that sent Matthew Knight Arena into a frenzy.
“A sold-out crowd, a No. 2 team,” said Brooks postgame on SportsCenter. “I really wanted to get on the right foot in the Pac-12, and it just feels really good.”
It’s ironic that Brooks, the first Duck to ever appear on the preseason All-America team, used the word “foot” during his state of euphoria. After all, it was that July foot surgery that inhibited the 6-foot-7 wing from being his usual self early on this season.
Thankfully for Oregon, its star finally appears at or close to 100%.
“What’s going thru my mind right now is just a lot of success and a lot of greatness,” Brooks said. “I want to do this for all of Oregon, and I wanted to protect home court.”
Mission accomplished, as the Ducks extended their home winning streak to 34 consecutive games. They also took a major step toward repeating as Pac-12 regular season and tournament champions.
And oh, by the way, mark your calendars: the Oregon-UCLA rematch is February 9th.
Photo: Bleacher Report
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