Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Oregon 83, UNLV 63
When: 11:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 17, 2016
Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Officials: # Michael Irving, # Bob Staffen, # Rick Randall
Attendance: 9728

PORTLAND, Ore. -- With UNLV adjusting to new coach Marvin Menzies, Oregon coach Dana Altman wanted to "take advantage of that and get them before they get better as the season progresses."

The Ducks did just that.

Dillon Brooks made his first start of the season in place of injured Chris Boucher and scored 20 points as No. 22 Oregon led wire to wire in an 83-63 win over UNLV on Saturday night at Moda Center.

Brooks missed the first three games of the season after offseason foot surgery and came off the bench in his first eight appearances before starting against the Rebels.

"I think that set the tone from the jump," Jordan Bell said of Brooks' move to the starting lineup. "You could see we started with a lot of energy. He brings energy and having him back in the starting lineup helps a lot."

Tyler Dorsey added 18 points and Bell had a career-high 16 points and 12 rebounds for Oregon.

"In practice, we really emphasized defense and rebounding and coach told us if we focused on that, the offense would come," Bell said. "Tonight, the offense just came. We passed the ball a lot and got easy shots."

Oregon shot 53.3 percent from the field and had 39 rebounds compared with 23 for UNLV.

"That is the rebounding difference you like to see as a coach," Altman said. "Beating anyone by 16 on the boards and going without one of your best rebounders is encouraging."

Boucher leads Oregon with 14.1 points and 3.2 blocks per game while ranking second with 7.8 rebounds. He suffered a sprained ankle in practice on Thursday. He sat on the bench with a walking boot on his left leg.

"The X-rays were all OK. Nothing is broken, but he's got a good sprain," Altman said.

Oregon won its eight straight to improve to 10-2 with one nonconference game against Fresno State left before opening Pac-12 play on Dec. 28 against No. 2 UCLA. Altman said he expected Boucher to miss Tuesday's game against Fresno State but hoped to have him back to face the Bruins.

Jovan Mooring scored 20 points to lead UNLV (6-5) and Tyrell Green had 18.

Oregon led by four at halftime but opened the second half on a 10-0 run as Bell scored, Brooks made a 3-pointer, Bell scored again and guard Payton Pritchard scored to put the Ducks up 47-33.

Cheickna Dembele ended the run before Dorsey and Bell hit back-to-back baskets and Brooks added a score to put Oregon up 53-35.

Pritchard started the game with a 3-pointer for Oregon and Bell added four straight points as the Ducks took a 7-0 lead.

Jalen Poyser scored the first points for UNLV before forward Kavell Bigby-Williams had four in a row for Oregon to take an 11-2 lead.

Kris Clyburn made a jumper for UNLV and Green hit a 3-pointer to get the Rebels within 13-9 before Dorsey scored for Oregon. Dylan Ennis hit a jumper and Brooks scored as Oregon went ahead 19-9.

Green scored five points in a row to cut the lead to 19-14 before forward Roman Sorkin scored for the Ducks and Dorsey followed with a bucket.

Forward Troy Baxter Jr. scored to get UNLV within 23-18 before Bell and Dorsey scored for Oregon. Ennis and Bigby-Williams added free throws to put Oregon ahead 30-19.

Poyser capped six straight points for the Rebels to close within 32-27 before Ennis scored and Dorsey hit a 3-pointer for Oregon to take a 37-29 lead. Baxter made a free throw and Green hit a 3-pointer to get the Rebels within 37-33 at halftime.

NOTES: Oregon junior F Dillon Brooks scored 20 points to move into 26th place in school history with 1.166 points. ... Oregon improved to 2-1 at Moda Center under coach Dana Altman. ... Oregon leads the all-time series with UNLV 4-2.
Top Game Performances
 
UNLV   Oregon
Jovan Mooring 20 Scoring Dillon Brooks 20
Jovan Mooring 3 Assists Dylan Ennis 5
Tyrell Green 8 Rebounds Jordan Bell 12
Kris Clyburn 6 Free Throws Made Kavell Bigby-Williams 3
Jovan Mooring 2 Steals Dillon Brooks 3
Troy Baxter 1 Blocks Jordan Bell 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
UNLV 63 32.7 8-21 19-24 7 19 2 5 16
Oregon 83 53.3 5-17 14-17 17 36 8 7 14