Young leads Ducks over Oklahoma State

OMAHA, Neb. – With just over 4 minutes remaining in the first half Friday night, Oregon star Joseph Young had missed every time he shot the ball and managed just two points.

By halftime, he had made a mockery of Oklahoma State’s stingy defense.

The Pac-12 player of the year scored 15 of his 27 points in a dazzling flurry, leading the eighth-seeded Ducks to a 79-73 win over the Cowboys in their NCAA tournament opener.

“It’s just my teammates trusting me,” Young said. “They found me, got me the ball, set good screens, and I knocked down open shots. But I really commend my team for getting me open.”

Elgin Cook added 18 points and Dillon Brooks had 17 for the Ducks (26-9), who got a win for Dana Altman in his return to Omaha, where he once coached Creighton.

Up next for Oregon is top-seeded Wisconsin.

“We have a lot of guys who have made contributions,” Altman said, “but Joe and Elgin are our one-two punch most nights. And down the stretch, since we’ve been playing better in February and March, it has been those two guys leading us.”

Le’Bryan Nash had 18 points before fouling out in his final game for ninth-seeded Oklahoma State (18-14). Senior transfer Anthony Hickey added 17 points in his NCAA tournament debut, and Phil Forte and Tavarius Shine finished with 12 points each.

“Give them credit, they’re a tough team to stop,” said Cowboys coach Travis Ford.