:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/25552407/20131221_ajl_aa8_400.0.jpg)
It took just 11 seconds for the first points of the game to be scored. Damyean Dotson's lay-up gave the Ducks a 2-0 lead, which turned out to be their only of regulation.
Tyler Haws was hot early for the Cougars. His first basket of the game, a three pointer less than 40 seconds in, gave the Cougars the lead. By the first media timeout, he had totaled nine points. Between the two teams, 25 points were scored by that timeout.
The Ducks were unable to reclaim the lead, though the Cougars were unable to pull away, for most of the first half. A three pointer by Jason Calliste made it 18-all, but that was as close as the Ducks were able to pull.
Skyler Halford, a junior transfer from Salt Lake Community College, came into the game just before that Calliste three pointer. Halford, who is a three point sharpshooter like Calliste, needed some time to get used to the speed of the Division I game.
He's up to speed now, chipping in ten points off the bench in that half. Behind Halford and Haws, who had 18 points in the half, the Cougars were able to get some separation between themselves and the Ducks. When the teams left the floor at the break the scoreboard read BYU 47, Oregon 41.
The second half picked up right where the first left off. The Cougars extended their lead to 10, 56-46 with 15:27 left to play.
Oregon's intensity picked up mid-half. A Damyean Dotson lay-up brought the Ducks within two, 61-63, with 11:31 left to play. Fortunately for all the fans in mid-major land, the Cougars' intensity matched the Ducks. Both times the Ducks pulled within two, the other was with 4:21 remaining, they failed to get a stop on the ensuing defensive possession.
The Ducks mounted one final push in the final two minutes. Three times they pulled within one possession. The third time proved to be the charm, as they picked up a stop and then tied the game, 84 all.
Oregon had a chance at the final shot, but Eric Mika fouled Elgin Cook before he could get a good look. Mika fouled out and Cook went to the line for two. With just over one second remaining, Cook missed both free throws.
There was free basketball in Eugene. The extra period was different than the first two in one key way, Oregon was the better team.
The two teams traded leads and ties for the first four minutes, until a questionable foul call with 48 seconds remaining. Frank Bartley had a lay-up waved off when he was called for a charge, a call that even the Pac 12 Networks announcers questioned. Instead of a 96-94 BYU lead, it was 94-94 and Ducks' ball.
Lay-ups by Damyean Dotson and Joseph Young gave Oregon a three point lead. The Cougars had a chance to stay within one possession, but both times they were sent to the line in the final half minute, they missed one of two free throws.
In the end, Oregon completed the comeback for a 100-96 victory.
This game was all BYU until the very last moment, of both regulation and overtime. The Ducks trailed for nearly all the game, except for when the score mattered.
BYU falls to 8-5 on the season while Oregon stays undefeated.
