Ducks Top Buckeyes in Columbus

Thursday, January 9

Columbus, OH

3:00 PM

University of Oregon

14-2,3-2Big Ten

Ohio State

10-6,2-3Big Ten

Oregon

Ohio St.

01/09/25 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Men's basketball again leaned on the Oregon natives to clinch a 73-71 over Ohio State in Columbus.

Jackson Shelstad stayed hot after a career night against Maryland, scoring a game high 24 points on eight-of-eleven shooting and four-of-five from three-point range. Fellow Oregonian Nate Bittle scored 21 points (7-14 FG), adding eight rebounds and three crucial blocks. Down five with 2:37 to play, the Ducks went on an eight-zero run behind three-pointers from Shelstad and Keeshawn Barthelemy, and a driving layup from TJ Bamba. OSU then took the lead with two free throws, before Shelstad clinched the win at the charity stripe, taking the lead for good with seven seconds to play.

"Guys made big shots when we had to, Jackson hit big free throws when he had to, and we got the stops when we had to." Head Coach Dana Altman said.

How It Happened: --- Oregon started slow and struggled from the field, shooting just 29 percent in the first half. Despite poor shooting, the Ducks would end up trailing by just three points at halftime. Shelstad was the early bright spot for the Ducks, scoring 12 points in the half to keep things close. Sean Stewart paced the Buckeyes with 12 points, including six early free throws.

Bittle paced the Ducks in the second half, netting 14 of his 21 points in the final frame, along with six rebounds and two blocks. Shelstad was again clutch, missing just one shot in the half. Ohio State started the half outscoring the Ducks 11-8, before things got close late in the half. The one possession game stayed close down the stretch, with the Ducks going on an eight-zero run to take their first lead of the game. In a flash, Barthelemy and Shelstad hit big three pointers to give Oregon the lead, before Bamba pushed it to three. OSU missed a three at the other end, but followed up the miss with a layup. The Ducks then turned the ball over on the inbound, forcing Bittle to foul the driver, who put the Buckeyes up one.

"We really picked it up the last seven, eight minutes," Altman said. "Our ball movement was better, we quit turning the ball over. Nate was such a presence in there, he did such a tremendous job. He challenged so may shots and made it tough every time someone drove into the lane. He really made the difference."

With seven seconds left, Shelstad drove to the left and was fouled. The sophomore then hit two free throws that clinched the victory.

Notable: Keeshawn Barthelemy eclipsed 1,000 career points with his last basket of the game. Shelstad has hit nine of his last eleven attempts from three-point range, hitting four threes in each of the last two games.

Up Next: The Ducks play at Penn State on Sunday (1 p.m., Big Ten Network).