Preview: UCLA Looks to Continue Surge Against Struggling Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — The surging UCLA Bruins visit the reeling Oregon Ducks in a Big Ten men’s basketball matchup Wednesday night at Matthew Knight Arena.

UCLA (14-6) enters on a three-game winning streak, including a 71-64 victory over Northwestern last Saturday. The Bruins have won five of their last seven, bolstering their postseason resume. Oregon (8-12), meanwhile, has lost six consecutive games, most recently a 72-57 defeat at Washington.

The Bruins are led by guard Trent Perry, who is averaging 15.3 points over his last seven games. Perry scored 30 points in a win at Penn State on Jan. 14 and had 18 points in the win over Northwestern. He is a focal point of a balanced UCLA attack that saw Tyler Bilodeau and Donovan Dent also score in double figures against the Wildcats.

Oregon’s hopes rest heavily on forward Kwame Evans, who leads the team in scoring during its skid. Evans is coming off an 11-point, four-block performance against Washington. He scored 18 points in a loss to Michigan on Jan. 17 but the Ducks have struggled offensively, failing to reach 65 points in four of their six losses during this streak.

In the first meeting this season, UCLA defeated Oregon 74-63 in Los Angeles on Dec. 6.

The game presents a stark contrast in trajectories. UCLA seeks to solidify its standing in the upper tier of the conference, while Oregon desperately needs a signature win to halt its slide and salvage its season. The Ducks will have home-court advantage, but face a Bruins team playing with confidence.

After this contest, UCLA hosts Indiana on Jan. 31. Oregon remains at home to face Iowa on Feb. 1.

Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. PST Wednesday.