Bad start ends year for Ducks

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS

Blame Oregon’s poor start for its disappointing finish.

The Ducks missed eight of their first 11 shots and got outscored by Russ Smith through the first 10 minutes Friday night. They came back to make a game of it late, but the Ducks never could overcome that early hole in a 77-69 loss to top-seeded Louisville.

“If it wasn’t for the beginning, it would have been a completely different game,” Johnathan Loyd said. “We just came out, we weren’t ready and we got smacked. If we were playing the way were playing in the second half the whole game, it’s a completely different story.”

Five Ducks (28-9) scored in double figures, led by E.J. Singler’s 15. Oregon is only the second team to be within single digits at the buzzer during Louisville’s 13-game winning streak, and the 12th-seeded Ducks handled that nasty press with ease. Their 12 turnovers were the fewest by a Louisville opponent since March 5, and were one less than the Cardinals had.

But the combination of Smith and Kevin Ware was simply too much for the Ducks. Smith matched his career high with 31 points, and Ware made a layup to end Oregon’s late rally that pulled the Ducks within 70-64 with 5:12 to play.