Thursday, January 2
Eugene, OR
7:00 PM
University of Oregon
12-2,1-2Big Ten
77
vs
109
Illinois
10-3,2-1Big Ten
1
2
F
Illinois
45
64
109
Oregon
38
39
77
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
UO Men Drop Top-25 Matchup, Look To Bounce Back Sunday
01/02/25 | Men's Basketball
Oregon will have two days to clean up issues from a loss Thursday to Illinois, before hosting Maryland on Sunday.
EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon men's basketball team will look to bounce back at home Sunday after coming up on the short end of a top-25 matchup with Illinois at Matthew Knight Arena on Thursday.
The No. 9 Ducks suffered just their second loss of this season, a 109-77 defeat to the No. 22 Illini. After Oregon's previous loss came on a last-second three-pointer by UCLA, the UO men's undoing again came from behind the three-point line Thursday, as Illinois made 16 in the game.
After Oregon (12-2, 1-2 Big Ten) used a 12-1 run to rally within 68-56 midway through the second half, Illinois hit three-pointers on three of its next four possessions to all but end the threat of a UO comeback. The Illini shot 57.5 percent overall and 55.2 percent from three-point range, after the Ducks came into the night allowing opponents this season to shoot 39.2 percent overall and 28.6 percent from three-point range.
"One team was well prepared and one team wasn't; one team was well coached and one team wasn't," UO coach Dana Altman said. "I've got to take my share of the responsibility. We just didn't guard."
Supreme Cook had 20 points to lead the Ducks, and Nate Bittle added 13. Kwame Evans Jr. scored 11 and TJ Bamba finished with 10.
How It Happened: The Ducks opened the game with made jumpers by Jackson Shelstad and Bamba, and a three-pointer from Bittle made it 7-2 at the first official timeout. But Illinois came out of that break with a 12-0 run to take the lead for good.
Ominously, the Illini had yet to make a three at that point — after coming into the night averaging 10.75 made threes per game, most in the Big Ten. After missing their first seven of the night Thursday, they made five in a row, the last of those pushing the lead to 35-24. It was 45-38 at halftime.
Illinois then made its first four three-pointers out of halftime, putting together a 20-4 run out of that break. When it was 67-44, Evans hit a three to spark a 12-1 run, but another flurry of three-pointers ended that threat.
"I've always told the guys, you're judged by how you respond," Altman said. "We're going to have to bounce back."
Notable: Freshman Oleksandr Kobzystyi made his collegiate debut in the second half. … Cook's 20 points were six off his career high, set in 2023 while at Fairfield. … Oregon's five made three-pointers matched the team's season low.
Up Next: The Ducks host Maryland on Sunday (1 p.m., Peacock).
The No. 9 Ducks suffered just their second loss of this season, a 109-77 defeat to the No. 22 Illini. After Oregon's previous loss came on a last-second three-pointer by UCLA, the UO men's undoing again came from behind the three-point line Thursday, as Illinois made 16 in the game.
After Oregon (12-2, 1-2 Big Ten) used a 12-1 run to rally within 68-56 midway through the second half, Illinois hit three-pointers on three of its next four possessions to all but end the threat of a UO comeback. The Illini shot 57.5 percent overall and 55.2 percent from three-point range, after the Ducks came into the night allowing opponents this season to shoot 39.2 percent overall and 28.6 percent from three-point range.
"One team was well prepared and one team wasn't; one team was well coached and one team wasn't," UO coach Dana Altman said. "I've got to take my share of the responsibility. We just didn't guard."
Supreme Cook had 20 points to lead the Ducks, and Nate Bittle added 13. Kwame Evans Jr. scored 11 and TJ Bamba finished with 10.
How It Happened: The Ducks opened the game with made jumpers by Jackson Shelstad and Bamba, and a three-pointer from Bittle made it 7-2 at the first official timeout. But Illinois came out of that break with a 12-0 run to take the lead for good.
Ominously, the Illini had yet to make a three at that point — after coming into the night averaging 10.75 made threes per game, most in the Big Ten. After missing their first seven of the night Thursday, they made five in a row, the last of those pushing the lead to 35-24. It was 45-38 at halftime.
Illinois then made its first four three-pointers out of halftime, putting together a 20-4 run out of that break. When it was 67-44, Evans hit a three to spark a 12-1 run, but another flurry of three-pointers ended that threat.
"I've always told the guys, you're judged by how you respond," Altman said. "We're going to have to bounce back."
Notable: Freshman Oleksandr Kobzystyi made his collegiate debut in the second half. … Cook's 20 points were six off his career high, set in 2023 while at Fairfield. … Oregon's five made three-pointers matched the team's season low.
Up Next: The Ducks host Maryland on Sunday (1 p.m., Peacock).
Team Stats
Illini
Oregon
FG%
.575
.435
3FG%
.552
.333
FT%
.818
.706
RB
43
31
TO
10
10
STL
5
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
C
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