EUGENE — Dana Altman, in his usual cadence, said he got emotional Saturday afternoon.
When you have seniors like Chris Boucher and Dylan Ennis playing in their final game at Matthew Knight Arena, it’s hard not to, he said.
Then he paused and turned the talk to walk-on senior Charlie Noebel.
“Charlie,” Altman said. “You talk about an unselfish young man, he’s been unbelievable.”
But there was a moment on Saturday in Oregon’s 101-73 win over Colorado, a victory that avenged a loss from three weeks ago and secured the Ducks’ second-straight undefeated season at home, where Noebel was pretty selfish.
Because with three minutes left in the first half, it didn’t look like Matthew Knight Arena’s favorite player had a chance of getting in.
The Ducks only led by three points with 3:06 to play. Colorado was shooting nearly as well as it had against the Ducks in Boulder and a 42nd-straight win at home looked like it would take a full Oregon effort.
At the time, it was not a game suited for a walk-on.
“They had the lead and I thought it was going to be a 40-minute fight,” Noebel said, before motioning to Boucher and Ennis. “These guys, I told them let’s try and get some stops so I can get in. That’s the ultimate goal.”
Noebel might have a future career as a motivational speaker, because for the rest of the way the Ducks did just that. Oregon closed the first half on a 10-0 run. They opened the second half on a 17-2 run.
By the time Noebel checked into the game with 4:19 to play, Ennis and his 20 points and six rebounds was seated three chairs down from Boucher and his 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
The Ducks led by 33 points at the time, as what once looked like a tough rematch against Colorado turned into about as good of a Senior Day as the Ducks could have hoped for.
“It was like a movie to me,” Boucher said, “because after two hours it was done.”
Boucher turned in several highlight-reel plays, pointing to his family — visiting for the first time from Canada — in the stands after each wowing dunk. Ennis, who took part in last year’s Senior Day festivities when he was injured and unsure about his eligibility for this season, keyed the important three-minute stretch for the Ducks at the end of the first half.
The sixth-year senior had two offensive rebounds and four points during Oregon’s 10-0 run a game after Dana Altman criticized the Ducks for their play on the glass. The Ducks had eight of their 38 rebounds during those three minutes — including four offensive boards.
“That was a big stretch. I think (Colorado) went 0 for 5 offensively to finish the half and then 1 for 7 to start the second half,” Altman said. “So that 1 for 12 section there is where we got the lead and the boards really changed around. We won by 14 on the boards, which I was getting on them the last couple days with film, and I thought everybody was coming back and the guards did a good job of coming back and getting the ball.”
On the other end, the Ducks shot the lights out of MKA for the final time this season. Dillon Brooks led all scorers with 23 points and the Ducks shot 58 percent on the afternoon. Oregon’s 101 points marked the first time since 2002 that the Ducks have reached triple digits in a conference game.
“Our last game at Matthew Knight, I couldn’t predict that we would have a game like that,” Ennis said. “Me and Chris, in our last game, and luckily Chuck was able to get in as well. It was a great way to end here.”
Ennis and Boucher will end their Oregon careers without ever losing at home. Now, they leave Eugene for their final three games of conference play on the road. The Ducks entered Saturday a game behind Arizona, who played later in the day, in the conference standings. If Oregon wants to repeat as Pac-12 champions, they’ll have to do so on the road.
“Well, since we haven’t won very many, (conference titles) are important,” Altman said. “I wish we’d have it in our control, but we don’t. We have to get some help. Arizona is a very tough ball club, so they’re not going to give it up. We’ve got to take care of our own business.”
— Tyson Alger
talger@Oregonian.com
@tysonalger
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