Ducks Claim Rivalry Win Monday Night

Monday, November 17

Eugene, Ore.

7 p.m.

University of Oregon

4-0,0-0Big Ten

Oregon State

3-1,0-0WCC

Oregon St.

Oregon

Photo by: GoDucks.com

11/17/25 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

In-state natives Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad led the way in Oregon's ninth straight win over Oregon State.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — In a battle against an in-state rival, it was in-state natives who led the way.

Nate Bittle scored 24 points and fellow Oregonian Jackson Shelstad added 22 as the UO men's basketball team knocked off Oregon State on Monday, 87-75 before 7,616 fans in Matthew Knight Arena. The Ducks (4-0) now have a week off before traveling to defend their Players Era Festival title next week in Las Vegas.

The Ducks won their ninth straight over the rival Beavers.

"It feels great — I haven't lost to them in five years," Bittle said. "I know it's a big rivalry. We grew up watching this game every year."

Kwame Evans Jr. added his second career double-double for the Ducks, finishing with 16 points, 14 rebounds and a plus-15 margin for the UO men when he was on the floor. That was the best in the game, tied with teammate Takai Simpkins, who scored 13 points.

"We're going to need that effort from (Evans) all the time, and he's capable of it," Shelstad said. "When he goes to the boards like that, it gets everyone going and it gets him going."

How It Happened: The Ducks began the game on fire, scoring the first 11 points — seven by Bittle. But after he scored again for a 14-7 lead, the Beavers fought back to within one at 21-20. A 7-2 run capped by a Simpkins three-pointer got Oregon's cushion to 28-22, but OSU answered with seven straight points to take its only lead of the night.

Shelstad reclaimed the lead by banking in a three-pointer just before the shot clock expired. The lead was 32-31 when the Ducks ripped off a 9-0 run capped by another Simpkins three-pointer, and Oregon was up 41-34 at halftime, thanks in part to better shot selection than in a win Wednesday over South Dakota State that featured 40 three-point attempts.

"We made some strides," UO coach Dana Altman said. "It's a slow process, but (having) Jackson out there makes such a big difference."

A bucket by Bittle and two free throws from Wei Lin early in the second half gave the Ducks their biggest lead yet at 53-41. When it was 60-50, OSU put together an 8-1 run to make it a one-possession game, but the Beavers never could claw back in front.

Two free throws by Bittle and a bucket for Evans got the UO lead out to 65-58. After the Beavers scored at the other end, Shelstad answered with a jumper, as he scored 12 of Oregon's next 13 points to deny OSU's comeback bid.

"Shots just kind of started dropping for me," Shelstad said. "They're eventually going to drop if I take the right shots, and once I see one go down I get my confidence really going."

The Ducks had an uneven night at the free-throw line, going 27-of-39 for the game. But they made their last four over the final 3 minutes, clinching the win.

Notable: Devon Pryor returned after missing one game due to injury, scoring four points off the bench. … Jamari Phillips suited up for the first time after serving a suspension, and hit a three-pointer. … Program alum Dillon Brooks sat near center court for the game, and participated in a T-shirt toss during one timeout.

Up Next: The Ducks open the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas against Auburn on Monday (5 p.m., truTV).