Pacific-10 Roundup : Arizona St. Defeated in Its Opener

Guard Anthony Taylor scored 25 points to lead the Oregon Ducks to a 77-69 victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils in a Pacific 10 Conference basketball game Friday night at Eugene, Ore.

It was the first league victory after two losses for the Ducks while it was the Pac-10 opener for the Sun Devils.

Oregon took a 12-10 lead on a Taylor basket and remained ahead until the Arizona State grabbed a 40-39 lead with 17:39 to play on a rebound basket by center Tarre Isiah.

The Ducks moved back in front for good with 15 minutes to play when guard David Girley hit a three-point basket to give them 46-43 edge.

Arizona State made one more bid to regain the lead when the guard Steve Beck hit two quick baskets to cut the Ducks’ lead to 50-49 with 9:45 left. But three free throws by reserve forward Jesse Nash and a basket by center Sven Meyer gave Oregon a 55-49 margin, and the Sun Devils never got close again.

Beck led the visitors with 25 points to share scoring honors with Taylor, who had three three-point baskets without a miss.

Guard Arthur Thomas had 17 for Arizona State.

Other Ducks in twin figures in were Girley with 14, guard Rich Osborn with 13 and Meyer with 12.

Oregon improved to 7-5 overall while while Arizona State slipped to 4-5.

Arizona 54, Oregon State 48--Sean Elliott scored 18 of his game-high 23 points in the second half to rally the Wildcats at Corvallis, Ore.

Arizona, 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the conference, outscored Oregon State, 12-3, in the final four minutes to overcome a 45-42 deficit.

Jose Ortiz paced Oregon State (8-3 and 1-2) with 15.