What to know about Oregon Ducks men's basketball's home matchup with UTEP Miners
Oregon (5-2) vs. UTEP (6-3)
Time/date: 6 p.m. Saturday
Site: Matthew Knight Arena
TV: Pac-12 Network. Radio: KUJZ-FM (95.3).
About the matchup: Oregon will try and build some momentum coming off its thrilling overtime win against Michigan on Dec. 2. Saturday's game will be one of four left on the nonconference schedule before the Pac-12 season begins for the Ducks at home against USC (Dec. 28) and UCLA (Dec. 30). The Miners come into Matthew Knight Arena having ended a three-game losing streak with a 90-62 win against Western New Mexico on Monday night. One of their victories this season was a 75-72 win against California on Nov. 20.
About the Ducks: Oregon has now had four full games without injured centers N'Faly Dante and Nate Bittle, and its last performance was its best yet in the win against the Wolverines. Though they were outrebounded by Michigan, 38-31, the Ducks' smaller lineup still had success scoring in the paint (44 points), either on drives to the basket or on second-chance opportunities. Oregon has six active players averaging nearly double-digits in scoring — all guards — led by Jermaine Couisnard at 12.6 points per game. Jackson Shelstad is scoring 10.7 per game, followed by Keeshawn Barthelemy (10.1), Jesse Zarzuela (10.0), Brennan Rigsby (10.0) and Kario Oquendo (9.9). First-year reserve center Mahamadou Diawara made his first start of the season against Michigan and had six points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal in a season-high 25 minutes.
About the Miners: UTEP has six wins but three of those have come against NAIA University of Science and Arts Oklahoma, Division III McMurry and Division II Western New Mexico. Senior guard Tae Hardy is the Miners' leading scorer at 14.1 per game.
Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon Ducks men's basketball set to host UTEP Miners in Eugene
