Will Richardson’s 20 points led No. 13 Oregon to a season-opening 83-66 win over Texas Southern Tuesday late afternoon in Eugene, Ore.
The Ducks (1-0) overcame a day of poor shooting to hand the defending SWAC champion Tigers a loss. Oregon also got 15 points from guard De’Vion Harmon, who made his debut with the team after transferring from Oklahoma.
Jacob Young, a transfer who joined the program from Rutgers, scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half to help Oregon enter halftime with a 36-26 lead.
Texas Southern (0-1) kept it close early, but the Ducks used a 21-9 run over the first 8 minutes, 42 seconds of the second half to take control of the game for good.
Richardson, the longest-tenured returning player for Oregon, scored 10 points in that stretch, hitting a pair of 3-pointers as Oregon took a 57-35 lead.
Oregon, a Sweet Sixteen participant last season, lost several players from that team but reloaded with transfers and recruits. The Ducks made just 26 of 65 shots for the game, but knocked down 12 3-pointers and 19 of 21 free throw attempts.
Junior college transfer Rivaldo Soares had 10 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes of action.
John Walker III led Texas Southern, which made the NCAA tourney last season and won a play-in game to get into the field of 64, with 19 points and six rebounds.
The Tigers trailed by three, 24-21, after a layup by Yahuza Rasas with 3:41 left in the first half. But they would get no closer the rest of the way.
Harmon and Richardson hit 3s before halftime to give the Ducks a 12-point lead before the halftime score of 36-26.
Quincy Guerrier, another transfer for Oregon who came over from Syracuse, led the Ducks with 12 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
