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Oregon hopes to end Pac-10 slump at Arizona State

Jan 10, 2009 - 11:56 AM Oregon (6-9) at No. 16 Arizona State (13-2) 2:00 p.m. EST

TEMPE, Arizona (Ticker) -- Oregon is still seeking its first win in the Pac 10.

If they want to end their drought against 16th-ranked Arizona State on Saturday, the Ducks better find their scoring touch against a scorching defense.

Oregon is averaging 72.4 points per game but has surpassed that total only once in its last three games. After suffering an 83-62 loss to Southern California on January 2, the Ducks (6-9, 0-3 Pac-10) managed 74 points against then-No. 9 UCLA during a nine-point setback on Sunday.

Oregon followed that loss with its lowest output of the season, dropping a 67-52 decision to Arizona on Thursday.

The Ducks' struggles could spell disaster against the Sun Devils, whose James Harden nearly outscored the opposition during their last game.

With 12 minutes left in the second half of Thursday's 69-38 win over Oregon State, Harden had nine baskets to the Beavers' eight.

Harden finished with 22 points on 10-of-12 shooting as Arizona State (13-2, 2-1) scored more points in the second half - 39 - than Oregon State posted in the entire game. The defensive effort was the Sun Devils' best in a conference game since joining the Pac-10 31 years ago.