Big Sky Conference

Boucher, Oregon too much for Montana

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Since coming to Oregon from Northwest College (Wyoming) two years ago, Chris Boucher has become known for his ability to block shots. Boucher, who stands 6-foot-10 and has a wingspan that reaches nearly to Portland, had developed a reputation as one of the most feared post defenders in the nation.

Boucher did his part erasing shots against Montana (3-8) on Tuesday night. The former junior college player of the year did a little bit of everything in the 22nd-ranked Ducks 81-67 win over the Grizzlies at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene. In addition to his five blocks, which matched a season high, Boucher scored 23 points and pulled down 19 rebounds, confounding the Grizzlies in the post throughout the night.

Boucher got little bunnies at the rim, dunked over people and even stepped out to hit 15-foot baseline jumper with 7:45 left that gave the Ducks a seven-point lead and their first sense of separation from Montana since a 10-2 run to start the game.

Asked on Monday what Oregon did to hold its opponents to 37 percent shooting from the field, Montana head coach Travis DeCuire succinctly responded: “They block shots.”

Knowing this, Montana, a team with a considerable size deficiency against the Ducks, relentlessly attacked the rim after they fell behind. During a 19-4 run that flipped their eight-point deficit into a seven-point lead, the Griz scored 12 of their points on either shots within 5 feet of the rim or at the free throw line generated by attacking the basket.

By halftime, Montana scored 20 points in the paint and pulled down eight offensive rebounds.

But it got its spark from a defense that caused 11 first-half turnovers that led to 10 points. Eventually Oregon stabilized itself and went on a 8-0 run that allowed the Ducks to regain its lead for good. After Ahmaad Rorie hit a teardrop to put the Griz up seven with 7:47 in the first half, Oregon hit 9 of its final 11 shots to take a 38-34 lead to the locker room.

Rorie, who scored a team-high 19 in his return to where he began his collegiate career, kept the Griz close with a three, a stop-and-pop 12 footer in transition and a turnaround 14 footer that made it 42-41 less than two minutes into the second half.

It remained that close until Oregon embarked on a 15-6 spurt that was punctuated by Boucher’s emphatic put back dunk over a host of players gathered underneath the rim that gave the Ducks a 10-point lead and the room it needed to keep the Griz at bay.

Montana was able to get the deficit to as little as five on a tip-in by Fabijan Krslovic, honored on Tuesday as the Big Sky’s Player of the Week, but Oregon went on another run that subdued the Grizzlies hopes of beating their first ranked opponent since defeating Nevada in the 2006 NCAA tournament.

Boucher’s baseline jumper started the run and Tyler Ennis, who pitched in 22 points on 10 shots, hit a three that boosted the Oregon lead to 11 with 4:24 to play.

Montana has a few days off and will return to Missoula before setting out for its final road game of the non-conference slate on Dec. 17 at UC-Riverside.

About Kyle Sample

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