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Taylor leads Oregon in rout of Pepperdine

Nov 11, 2007 - 4:22 AM EUGENE, Oregon (Ticker) -- Oregon picked up right where it left off last season.

Bryce Taylor, Malik Hairston and Tajuan Porter scored 17 points apiece as 13th-ranked Oregon hit nine 3-pointers en route to a 100-70 drubbing of Pepperdine in the season opener for both schools on Saturday.

"We played a great basketball game," Porter said. "We shared the ball well and the new guys played well also. We're just glad we got the first game out of the way and now we have to move on."

Oregon set a school record last season with 350 3-pointers en route to a Pac-10 tournament title, and the Ducks were only one win away from their first Final Four appearance since 1939 when they lost to eventual champion Florida in the Elite Eight last March.

Oregon jumped out to a 24-5 lead, making four shots from the arc, and cruised to a 53-23 halftime advantage.

"A lot of top 25 teams lost this week and we didn't want that to be us," Porter said. "We're just glad we got the first-game jitters out."

The Ducks' four returning starters did not seem to miss point guard Aaron Brooks, who had led the team in scoring last season before entering the NBA.

Taylor scored all 17 of his points in the first half as Oregon held Pepperdine to 26 percent shooting (7-of-27) in the opening 20 minutes.

The sophomore Porter - last season's Pac-10 tournament MVP - scored 15 points in the second half and made 3-of-8 shoots from the arc for the game. He also added a career-high nine assists.

"My role has changed a little bit from last year," Porter said. "This year, I have to score and share the ball."

"I thought he had a terrific floor game and making plays for us against their press," Oregon coach Ernie Kent said.

Maarty Leunen also added nine points and 14 rebounds for Oregon, which has won four of its five meetings all-time with Pepperdine.

Malcolm Thomas - one of seven true freshman on the roster - led the Waves with 22 points.

"Oregon has one heck of a team," Pepperdine Coach Vance Walberg said. "This isn't the kind of place where you usually want to start the season. Hopefully in a couple of years we'll be a lot more like they are."