Montana @ Oregon preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 13, 2016 ) Montana 67, Oregon 81

Tenth-ranked Oregon gets a chance to exhale a little bit as it begins a three-game homestand on Wednesday night against Montana. The Ducks, who have played arguably the nation's toughest schedule with five games against teams ranked in the top 15 (Michigan, Gonzaga, North Carolina, Memphis and Seton Hall) at the time they played them, come in off the biggest non-conference win in school history.

Oregon's 71-70 victory over then-No. 5 Michigan on Saturday marked the first regular-season non-conference victory over a top-five opponent in school history. Senior point guard Payton Pritchard, throwing himself into the conversation for national player of the year honors, scored 23 points, including 15 of the Ducks' final 17 points, to go along with four assists and three steals en route to Pac-12 Player of the Week recognition. "To be honest, it's all the hard work I've put in," Pritchard told oregonlive.com about his performance down the stretch. "I'm ready for moments like that and for the game to be in my hands sometimes. ... Players have to make plays, and I trusted my abilities. I think my teammates trusted my abilities." Oregon now tunes up for Pac-12 play which begins Jan. 2 at Colorado with a homestand that also includes Texas Southern and Alabama State and begins with a Montana team playing for the first time in 12 days after defeating North Dakota, 77-70.

TV: 11 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT MONTANA (4-5): The Grizzlies have won three of their last four games after starting the season 1-4, and according to KenPom.com, have played the nation's seventh toughest schedule so far this season. The defending Big Sky Conference champions are led in scoring by senior guard Sayeed Pridgett, a returning first team All-Big Sky pick who is averaging 18.9 points per game and also leads the team in rebounding (7.7), assists (3.2) and steals (2.3). Senior guard Kendal Manuel, who was named the conference's co-newcomer of the year last season, is the only other player averaging in double figures (13.4).

ABOUT OREGON (8-2): Pritchard leads the team in scoring (19.2) and assists (5.9) while also grabbing 4.1 rebounds per game and is one of only three players nationally averaging 19 points, four rebounds and five assists. Anthony Mathis, a senior grad transfer from New Mexico, is second in scoring (11.6) and made six 3-pointers in the win at Michigan. Chris Duarte, a highly-touted junior-college transfer, also is averaging in double-digits (10.4 points) while UNLV grad transfer Shakur Juiston leads the team in rebounds (6.5) and also averages 8.8 points per game.

TIP-INS

1. Oregon leads the series with Montana, 23-3, including a 81-67 victory in the last meeting on Dec. 13, 2016 in Eugene, Ore.

2. Mathis ranks second in the Pac-12 and sixth nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (52.6 percent).

3. Pritchard has scored in double figures 72 times in his career, including 17 games with 20 or more points.

PREVIEW: Oregon 78, Montana 65