EUGENE, Ore. – The University of Oregon flexed their size and athleticism on Monday night, topping NCU 124-72 in the annual exhibition game at Matthew Knight Arena.
 
Junior Guard Kenny Blackwell (pictured) came out strong and focused for the Beacons, scoring 11 of the team's first 13 points. Led by Blackwell, NCU hung around with Oregon for the first eight minutes of play.
 
NCU took an early 4-0 lead and later battled back from a six-point deficit to tie the score at 19 with just under 12 minutes to go in the first. Oregon Guard Payton Pritchard came off the bench to give the Ducks a spark, hitting threes on back-to-back possessions as the Ducks quickly ran up a ten-point margin, never looking back.
 
Pritchard had a game-high 25 points in 20 minutes, going 76% from the field and 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. As a team Oregon shot 62%, dominating inside with 66 points in the paint. They out-rebounded NCU 44-30, 31-17 off the defensive glass. Oregon's bench played big for them, scoring 75 for the green and yellow.
 
After the game, NCU Head Coach Luke Jackson spoke of the value playing a team of Oregon's caliber gives to his team. "Obviously Oregon is a big-time program with elite athletes. Facing adversity early in the year and playing against a team that's going to be the best we'll see all season is a positive thing for us. There are a lot of teaching moments that come from a game like tonight. We'll learn from those and move forward a better team because of it."
 
The Beacons had some shining moments in the game, often times playing up to the level of a team that reached the NCAA Final Four last season. Blackwell put up 22 points for NCU, going 6-7 from the line and playing with a level of leadership matched by few on the court. Michael Loomis had 11 points, knocking down three buckets from long-range while grabbing a team-high seven boards. Reece Robinson contributed 11 points off the bench to go along with three rebounds and two assists. Eugene native Austin Tyner also landed in double digits with ten points.
 
Northwest Christian next returns to the hardwood on November 14 when they welcome Lane Community College to the MEC for a scrimmage at 7 p.m.