Many felt that the Pac-12 Tournament champion Oregon Ducks deserved better than a 12 seed. If the Ducks have proven anything over the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, it's that they are, in fact, better than advertised.
Freshman Damyean Dotson scored a carrer high 23 points and Arsaian Kazemi had 16 rebounds as Oregon blew out the No. 4 Saint Louis Billikens 74-57, Saturday evening in Third Round action. That win came two days after Oregon upset No. 5 Oklahoma State, making it two wins in three days over teams that finished the regular season in the Top 25.
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With the win, Oregon advances to the Sweet 16 to face No. 1 overall seed Louisville next Friday in Indianapolis.
After the Billikens opened the game on a 7-2 run, the Ducks answered back with an 8-0 spurt of their own. Oregon then used a 14-2 stretch later in the half to open up a double-digit lead by halftime. The Ducks shot 8-11 from three for the game, and never let Saint Louis threaten in the second half.
Though Dwayne Evans opened the second half for the Billikens with two quick layups and Kwamain Mitchell hit a three to close the deficit to 11, Oregon quickly responded. Dotson hit three from downtown over a seven minute span midway through the second period and the Ducks' lead soon ballooned to as many as 24.
Mitchell had 18 points and Evans had 16 to lead Saint Louis as the only two Billikens in double figures. Their 3-21 shooting from three and inability to stop Dotson was ultimately too much for the Billikens to overcome.
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