Duck mbxb, Dec. 31

SAN FRANCISCO – Oregon guard Chris Duarte was named Pac-12 Player of the Week on Monday after scoring a career-high 31 points in Sunday’s 98-59 win against Alabama State. The junior from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, made 12-of-15 field goal attempts, including 6-of-9 three-pointers. He also had six assists and five rebounds. The 31 points was the most by a Duck since Bol Bol scored 32 last December against Texas Southern and is the fourth-best scoring performance in the Pac-12 this season. Duarte is the second Duck to earn Pac-12 player of the week honors in 2019-20. Payton Pritchard earned the honor two weeks ago following the Ducks’ 71-70 overtime win at No. 5 Michigan. Oregon is No. 4 in this week’s Associated Press poll, which matches Ducks’ all-time highest ranking by the A.P. The Ducks were also No. 4 in the Nov. 14, 2016, poll. That Oregon team would eventually reach the 2017 Final Four and send four players – Jordan Bell, Dillon Brooks, Chris Boucher and Tyler Dorsey – on to the NBA. Oregon opens Pac-12 play at Colorado Thursday night at 6 p.m. (ESPN2).