EUGENE, Ore. — Freshman Victor Bailey Jr. hit 7 of 8 3-pointers and scored 23 points, both career bests, and Oregon rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Rider 99-86 in a first-round NIT game on Tuesday night.
Payton Pritchard also scored 23 points and Elijah Brown added 18 for the Ducks (23-12), a three-seed that had no problem with one of the NIT experimental rules. The 3-point line was moved back 20 inches to match the international line and the Ducks were 14 of 25 from distance. Kenny Wooten had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
After taking a 3-2 lead, Oregon didn’t lead again until a Pritchard layup made it 57-56 at 2:24 of the third quarter — quarters being another NIT rule.
Rider (22-10), a six seed, which led by 12 in the third quarter before an 11-0 Oregon run, took a 65-61 lead into the fourth quarter but the Ducks hit 11 of 12 shots, including five 3s, and 11 of 14 3-pointers in the last 10 minutes. Oregon shot 77 percent in the second half and 59 percent for the game to advance to the second round against the winner of Wednesday’s Harvard-Marquette game.
Dimencio Vaughn led the Broncs, who shot 39 percent in the second half, with 25 points. Tyere Marshall added 18, Jordan Allen 17 and Frederick Scott 16.
