Oregon Doesn’t Give UC Riverside a Break

After a 108-67 thrashing of UC Riverside on Saturday, Oregon’s Luke Ridnour proclaimed the Ducks recovered from the holiday break and ready for Pacific 10 Conference play.

Ridnour scored 24 points and Luke Jackson had 20 as No. 11 Oregon beat the overmatched Highlanders for its school record-tying 23rd straight home victory.

Robert Johnson added 12 points and 12 rebounds for Oregon (9-1), which opens its Pac-10 schedule Thursday night against No. 4 Arizona.

“That game right there was to get us back in rhythm,” Ridnour said. “It was a good chance to run and get ready for the Pac-10 season.

“Once the Pac-10 starts, it’s a whole new season.”

Oregon’s lone loss this season came against Cincinnati on Dec. 17 in the Jimmy V Classic. The Ducks had been ranked as high as No. 5 after a victory over then-No. 14 Kansas on Dec. 7.

“We got done what we needed to accomplish in the nonconference season,” Oregon Coach Ernie Kent said. “We have been thoroughly tested.”

Nate Carter and Kevin Butler each had 14 points for UC Riverside (1-5), which dropped its third straight. Coach John Masi kept his players in the locker room long after the game with a loud lecture.

With 23 straight wins at historic McArthur Court, Oregon matched the school record set from Feb. 13, 1937, to Jan. 6, 1939. That team, dubbed the Tall Firs, won the 1939 national title.