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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Mike Moser had 14 points and nine rebounds, and No. 15 Oregon remained unbeaten with a 71-64 victory over Illinois on Saturday night.
Joseph Young added 14 points for the Ducks in the game at Portland's newly renamed Moda Center, home of the NBA's Trail Blazers. Oregon improved to 9-0 in its best start since it won its first 13 games in the 2006-07 season.
Rayvonte Rice scored 16 points for the Illini (9-2).
Illinois led by as many as nine points in the second half, but Oregon rallied to a 58-54 advantage on Moser's layup and Young's short jumper.
The Illini responded with five consecutive points, retaking the lead on Nnanna Egwu's 3-pointer with 3:37 to go. The Ducks then took over for good.
Elgin Cook's layup put Oregon back in front, and Moser added a 3-pointer to make it 63-59. Johnathan Loyd's long jumper with 30 seconds to go helped the Ducks hold on for the victory.
The Ducks were coming off a 115-105 overtime victory at Mississippi last Sunday. Oregon went into the game ranked fourth in the nation with an average of 91.4 points per game.
The Illini's only other loss this season was a 67-64 decision against Georgia Tech on Dec. 3. Illinois bounced back with wins against Auburn and Dartmouth.
Both teams advanced to the NCAA tournament last season.
The game was tied at 32 at halftime. Tracy Abrams had 10 points at the break for Illinois.
The Illini opened a 50-41 lead on Rice's layup, but Oregon's Jason Caliste made a jumper to tie it at 54 with 7:02 left.
Oregon played without guard Dominic Artis and forward Ben Carter, who are serving NCAA-mandated suspensions for selling team apparel. Both players were suspended through the Illinois game and they must donate the value of the apparel to charity.
Artis, a sophomore, averaged 8.5 points and 3.2 assists last season and was projected as a potential starter at guard alongside Loyd. Carter, also a sophomore, averaged 2.4 points and 2.3 rebounds. The two will be eligible to return Tuesday when the Ducks host UC Irvine.
The Illini have a connection to the Pacific Northwest in guard Ahmad Starks, who played last season at Oregon State. Starks transferred to Illinois in the offseason to be closer to his ailing grandmother, but the NCAA denied his hardship waiver and he must sit out this season.
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