Oregon's Couisnard drops 40 points on old school in 87-73 March Madness win over South Carolina
PITTSBURGH (AP) Jermaine Couisnard swears it wasn't personal and he wasn't seeking revenge against South Carolina.
He got some anyway.
Couisnard scored a career-high 40 points - the most for an Oregon player in NCAA Tournament history - and he haunted his former team while leading the Ducks to an 87-73 victory in the first round of the Midwest Region on Thursday.
Couisnard, who spent three years at South Carolina before transferring in part because of a coaching change following the 2022 season, made five 3-pointers, dropped all seven free throws and went 14 of 22 from the field to pace the 11th-seeded Ducks (24-11).
“He was really feeling it,” said Oregon coach Dana Altman. “He had a couple 3s that were tough, and that really got him going. He got in the paint and finished some tough shots. He just had it going. Those are games every player dreams of, getting it going and getting it going in the NCAA Tournament is a really good feeling.”
With his grandmother and parents watching from the front row, Couisnard put on quite a show while also exchanging a few words with some former teammates.
“It was fun, man,” the smooth guard said. “Those guys kind of made me. I grew a lot. I learned a lot when I was there. So I appreciate those guys more than anything.”
Oregon, which has been reduced to eight scholarship players due to injuries, advanced to the second round to face No. 3 seed Creighton, a 77-60 winner over No. 14 seed Akron in the first of four games at PPG Paints Arena.
The Creighton-Oregon matchup will have a family feel, as it will reunite Altman and Creighton, where he spent 16 years and built the Nebraska school into one of the nation's best mid-major programs.
“There’s not much separation,” Altman said. ”I still love the school. It’ll mean a lot. But it means a lot to those guys. It’s for my team. It’s bittersweet because only one of us is going to move on. But we’ll battle our tails off."
Altman has done OK for himself while coaching out West as well. The Ducks improved to 8-0 in first-round NCAA Tournament games under him.
Oregon center N'Faly Dante added 23 points, some of them coming on backboard-shaking dunks for the 6-foot-11 big man who had knee surgery earlier this season.
The sixth-seeded Gamecocks (26-8) had too many offensive droughts to keep up with the Ducks, who beat top-seeded Arizona last week on the way to a surprising Pac-12 tourney title.
However, South Carolina did provide this tournament's first viral moment, as guard Ta'Lon Cooper dropped a shot from beyond half court as the halftime horn sounded.
While that shot was memorable, Couisnard's were more meaningful.
With Oregon leading by nine points early in the second half, Couisnard hit consecutive 3-pointers. Following his second long-range make, the native of East Chicago, Indiana, yelled toward the green-and-gold-clad Oregon fans sitting nearby and they screamed back at him.
At least one of the Gamecocks chirped at him, but Couisnard said he wasn't looking for any payback.
“It wasn’t them,” he said. “It was just me being competitive. I know those guys have a great team over there. Coach Lamont (Paris) did a wonderful job this year. It was just me just showing my will, just trying to compete to win.”
Whenever South Carolina made a push in the second half, Oregon had an answer and it was either Couisnard or Dante, who made 70% of his shots this season.
Meechie Johnson scored 24 and Cooper 15 for the Gamecocks, who made a major turnaround in Paris' second season after winning just 11 games last season.
Paris tried different defenses to contain Couisnard. Nothing worked.
“Wish we had found a way to slow him down better,” he said. “But he went 5 for 9 from 3, once in transition as he’s dribbling up right in front of us, and 7 for 7 from the free-throw line. And he was aggressive, going to the basket. I mean, he hit a floater against the zone that we fouled him on. He makes tough shots. He doesn’t average 40, but he makes tough shots.”
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While Altman has been away from Creighton for some time, his heart remains.
“You spend 16 years at a place, and I got great feelings about Creighton,” he said. “You can leave a place but that doesn’t mean you still don’t love the place. And I’ve had 14 great years at Oregon, and I love this place. And when I’m done, I’ll feel the same way about Oregon as I do about Creighton. I’m the luckiest guy. I’ve coached 30 years at two great schools.”
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | N'Faly Dante vs. Collin Murray-Boyles (Gamecocks gains possession) | |||
19:32 | Kwame Evans Jr. blocks B.J. Mack's two point jump shot | |||
19:30 | Kwame Evans Jr. defensive rebound | |||
19:23 | +3 | Jackson Shelstad makes three point jump shot (Jadrian Tracey assists) | 3-0 | |
18:55 | Zachary Davis misses two point layup | |||
18:53 | Jadrian Tracey defensive rebound | |||
18:39 | Jermaine Couisnard turnover (bad pass) | |||
18:17 | Collin Murray-Boyles turnover (bad pass) (Kwame Evans Jr. steals) | |||
17:50 | +2 | Kwame Evans Jr. makes two point layup | 5-0 | |
17:38 | Ta'Lon Cooper turnover (out of bounds) | |||
17:21 | Ducks turnover (5-second violation) | |||
16:55 | +2 | B.J. Mack makes two point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists) | 5-2 | |
16:32 | Jackson Shelstad misses three point jump shot | |||
16:30 | Collin Murray-Boyles defensive rebound | |||
16:17 | +3 | B.J. Mack makes three point jump shot (Ta'Lon Cooper assists) | 5-5 | |
16:03 | +2 | N'Faly Dante makes two point layup (Jermaine Couisnard assists) | 7-5 | |
16:03 | B.J. Mack shooting foul (N'Faly Dante draws the foul) | |||
16:03 | N'Faly Dante misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
16:03 | Meechie Johnson defensive rebound | |||
15:44 | Collin Murray-Boyles misses two point jump shot | |||
15:42 | Josh Gray offensive rebound | |||
15:36 | Ta'Lon Cooper misses three point jump shot | |||
15:34 | N'Faly Dante defensive rebound | |||
15:32 | Jackson Shelstad turnover (lost ball) | |||
15:32 | TV timeout | |||
15:22 | +2 | Collin Murray-Boyles makes two point jump shot (Zachary Davis assists) | 7-7 | |
15:01 | Zachary Davis blocks Jermaine Couisnard's two point jump shot | |||
14:59 | Zachary Davis defensive rebound | |||
14:55 | +2 | Ta'Lon Cooper makes two point layup (Jacobi Wright assists) | 7-9 | |
14:38 | N'Faly Dante turnover (out of bounds) | |||
14:13 | Josh Gray turnover (lost ball) (Jadrian Tracey steals) | |||
14:10 | Jadrian Tracey turnover (bad pass) | |||
14:00 | Zachary Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
13:58 | N'Faly Dante defensive rebound | |||
13:53 | N'Faly Dante turnover (bad pass) (Zachary Davis steals) | |||
13:45 | +2 | Zachary Davis makes two point layup | 7-11 | |
13:38 | Zachary Davis personal foul (Jermaine Couisnard draws the foul) | |||
13:30 | Jadrian Tracey turnover (lost ball) (Jacobi Wright steals) | |||
13:24 | B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot | |||
13:22 | Jackson Shelstad defensive rebound | |||
13:14 | +2 | N'Faly Dante makes two point layup (Jermaine Couisnard assists) | 9-11 | |
13:00 | +2 | Jacobi Wright makes two point layup | 9-13 | |
12:31 | +2 | Jermaine Couisnard makes two point jump shot | 11-13 | |
12:11 | Jackson Shelstad personal foul (Meechie Johnson draws the foul) | |||
12:11 | Meechie Johnson offensive foul (Jackson Shelstad draws the foul) | |||
12:11 | Meechie Johnson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
11:47 | Jackson Shelstad misses three point jump shot | |||
11:45 | Myles Stute defensive rebound | |||
11:30 | B.J. Mack misses two point jump shot | |||
11:28 | Mahamadou Diawara defensive rebound | |||
11:03 | +2 | Brennan Rigsby makes two point jump shot | 13-13 | |
10:43 | Brennan Rigsby blocks Meechie Johnson's two point jump shot | |||
10:41 | Kwame Evans Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:28 | Kario Oquendo misses three point jump shot | |||
10:26 | B.J. Mack defensive rebound | |||
10:10 | Jacobi Wright misses two point layup | |||
10:08 | Jacobi Wright offensive rebound | |||
10:04 | B.J. Mack misses three point jump shot | |||
10:02 | Myles Stute offensive rebound | |||
10:02 | Mahamadou Diawara shooting foul (Myles Stute draws the foul) | |||
10:01 | TV timeout | |||
10:01 | +1 | Myles Stute makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-14 | |
10:01 | Myles Stute misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
10:01 | Zachary Davis offensive rebound | |||
10:00 | Zachary Davis misses two point layup | |||
9:58 | Kario Oquendo defensive rebound | |||
9:56 | Zachary Davis personal foul (Kario Oquendo draws the foul) | |||
9:35 | Kario Oquendo misses two point jump shot | |||
9:33 | N'Faly Dante offensive rebound | |||
9:28 | Myles Stute shooting foul (N'Faly Dante draws the foul) | |||
9:28 | +1 | N'Faly Dante makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-14 | |
9:28 | N'Faly Dante misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:28 | Myles Stute defensive rebound | |||
9:03 | +3 | Jacobi Wright makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists) | 14-17 | |
8:40 | Jermaine Couisnard misses three point jump shot | |||
8:38 | Zachary Davis defensive rebound | |||
8:24 | +3 | Meechie Johnson makes three point jump shot (Jacobi Wright assists) | 14-20 | |
7:56 | +3 | Jermaine Couisnard makes three point jump shot (Kario Oquendo assists) | 17-20 | |
7:31 | Zachary Davis turnover (lost ball) (N'Faly Dante steals) | |||
7:25 | +2 | Jermaine Couisnard makes two point jump shot | 19-20 | |
7:05 | Collin Murray-Boyles turnover (bad pass) (Brennan Rigsby steals) | |||
7:04 | Meechie Johnson personal foul (Brennan Rigsby draws the foul) | |||
7:04 | TV timeout | |||
6:56 | +2 | N'Faly Dante makes two point layup (Jermaine Couisnard assists) | 21-20 | |
6:31 | Kwame Evans Jr. blocks Meechie Johnson's two point layup | |||
6:29 | Gamecocks offensive rebound | |||
6:27 | Kwame Evans Jr. shooting foul (Myles Stute draws the foul) | |||
6:27 | +1 | Myles Stute makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 21-21 | |
6:27 | Myles Stute misses regular free throw 2 of 3 | |||
6:27 | +1 | Myles Stute makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 21-22 | |
6:04 | Jermaine Couisnard misses three point jump shot | |||
6:02 | Meechie Johnson defensive rebound | |||
5:55 | Jacobi Wright misses three point jump shot | |||
5:53 | N'Faly Dante defensive rebound | |||
5:23 | Jackson Shelstad misses three point jump shot | |||
5:21 | Josh Gray defensive rebound | |||
5:20 | Jadrian Tracey personal foul (Josh Gray draws the foul) | |||
5:00 | Meechie Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
4:58 | Jadrian Tracey defensive rebound | |||
4:50 | +2 | Jermaine Couisnard makes two point layup | 23-22 | |
4:17 | Gamecocks turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
4:15 | TV timeout | |||
4:00 | +3 | Jadrian Tracey makes three point jump shot (Jackson Shelstad assists) | 26-22 | |
3:48 | Zachary Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
3:46 | Kwame Evans Jr. defensive rebound | |||
3:23 | +2 | Jermaine Couisnard makes two point jump shot (Jackson Shelstad assists) | 28-22 | |
3:23 | Josh Gray shooting foul (Jermaine Couisnard draws the foul) | |||
3:23 | +1 | Jermaine Couisnard makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 29-22 | |
2:57 | Kwame Evans Jr. personal foul (B.J. Mack draws the foul) | |||
2:43 | Ta'Lon Cooper misses three point jump shot | |||
2:42 | Kario Oquendo defensive rebound | |||
2:41 | Kario Oquendo offensive foul (Jacobi Wright draws the foul) | |||
2:41 | Kario Oquendo turnover (offensive foul) | |||
2:21 | Jadrian Tracey blocks B.J. Mack's two point jump shot | |||
2:19 | Jadrian Tracey defensive rebound | |||
2:13 | Collin Murray-Boyles personal foul (N'Faly Dante draws the foul) | |||
2:13 | +1 | N'Faly Dante makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-22 | |
2:13 | N'Faly Dante misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
2:13 | B.J. Mack defensive rebound | |||
1:59 | Ta'Lon Cooper misses two point jump shot | |||
1:57 | Jermaine Couisnard defensive rebound | |||
1:50 | +2 | Jermaine Couisnard makes two point layup | 32-22 | |
1:34 | Jackson Shelstad personal foul (Collin Murray-Boyles draws the foul) | |||
1:34 | +1 | Collin Murray-Boyles makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-23 | |
1:34 | +1 | Collin Murray-Boyles makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-24 | |
1:20 | N'Faly Dante misses two point layup | |||
1:18 | B.J. Mack defensive rebound | |||
1:05 | Jadrian Tracey shooting foul (Zachary Davis draws the foul) | |||
1:05 | +1 | Zachary Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-25 | |
1:05 | +1 | Zachary Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-26 | |
1:05 | Ducks 30 second timeout | |||
0:44 | N'Faly Dante turnover (traveling) | |||
0:32 | Zachary Davis misses two point layup | |||
0:30 | Kario Oquendo defensive rebound | |||
0:03 | +2 | Jackson Shelstad makes two point jump shot (Jermaine Couisnard assists) | 34-26 | |
0:00 | +3 | Ta'Lon Cooper makes three point jump shot (Meechie Johnson assists) | 34-29 | |
0:00 | End of period |