Games are not played on paper, and for the Beavers, that’s a good thing. Oregon enters the game tied for first in the Pac-12, and Oregon State enters only one game ahead of last-place Washington State. Here is what the Ducks need to do to avoid becoming yet another upset victim in what has been a roller coaster year in college basketball.

Hit some shots — It sounds simple because it is. Oregon’s two losses at home this season came by a combined three points, with the Ducks allowing just 48 points both times. They were also both games that Oregon had a chance to win, but low field goal percentages — 36 percent against Colorado and 28 percent against Cal — ultimately doomed them. The good news for Oregon is that their most recent outing was one of their better offensive performances, with Johnathan Loyd finally having a breakout game at point guard.

Take care of the ball — The Ducks have had some ball control issues this year, even before Dominic Artis went out, and things haven’t gotten any better since then. In a game against an in-state rival trying to play the spoiler role, the Ducks can’t afford to give away free possessions, even if they’ve built a big lead. Oregon’s recent 11 point win over Stanford would have been much more convincing had it not been for a barrage of late-game turnovers leading to garbage-time points for the Cardinal.

Embrace the moment, but stay focused — With E.J. Singler and the rest of the Duck seniors playing at Matthew Knight for the last time, it’s certain to be an emotional night, especially for Singler, the lone four-year player on the team. The seniors should seize the opportunity to go out with a bang, but it’s important to remember that this game isn’t a finish line. The Ducks still have two-regular season games left after tonight, a conference tournament, and, more than likely, at least one NCAA Tournament game. As emotional a night as it’s sure to be for Singler, at the end of the day, it’s just another game.