Comeback Bid Comes Up Just Short

Wednesday, February 5

Ann Arbor, MI

3:30 PM

University of Oregon

16-7,5-7Big Ten

Michigan

17-5,9-2Big Ten

Oregon

Michigan

Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com

02/05/25 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score: Michigan 80, Oregon 76

Oregon rallied back from a deficit but couldn't quite get over the hump Wednesday at Michigan.

By: Rob Moseley

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Oregon's attempt to hand Michigan its first home loss of the season came up just short Wednesday, with the Ducks cutting a double-digit deficit to two in the final minutes before losing 80-76 at Crisler Center.

The UO men (16-7, 5-7) used an 8-0 run to get within 70-66 with 7:44 to play, and got several stops on defense in the ensuing minutes. But they ultimately never could take the lead in the second half despite narrowing what was once a 14-point deficit, and they dropped their fourth straight games.

"The guys battled — I've got no problem with their effort in this one," UO coach Dana Altman said. "I was disappointed, as I've mentioned before, in their commitment and their effort. But tonight, I really thought they did a great job. I thought they battled, did a lot of good things, but the turnovers and offensive rebounds killed us."

Michigan scored 25 points off 12 turnovers by the Ducks, while Oregon had 13 points off 15 turnovers. Total rebounds were even, 38-38, but the Wolverines had 21 second-chance points to Oregon's 14.

After Nate Bittle hit a three-pointer to cap the 8-0 run and make it 70-66, the Ducks had five straight empty possessions. When Jackson Shelstad hit two free throws to make it 74-72, the Ducks got a stop but then turned it over, and a missed front end of a 1-and-1 by TJ Bamba stung down the stretch as well.

That said, Shelstad finished with a game-high 18 points, carrying the Ducks with 12 in the first half, and Bittle had 16 for his best output in three weeks. Keeshawn Barthelemy added 15 points and Bamba had 13 plus a career-high 10 rebounds.

"There's no moral victories, but we needed to get better," Altman said. "I told the guys before the game, we've got to get better every game. We've narrowed it down to a six-week season here if we're not careful, and we got to get better."

How It Happened: Shelstad had five early points as the Ducks got out to a 7-2 lead. An 8-0 Michigan run put Oregon in a 13-9 hole, but Barthelemy put the Ducks back in front moments later with a three-pointer for a 16-15 lead.

That was the last time the UO men were in front, however, as the Wolverines answered that bucket with 11 straight points. Bittle ended that run with a jumper, and hit three-pointers for Oregon's next two buckets as well. When it was 37-28, Shelstad and Barthelemy each hit threes during an 8-0 run as Oregon closed within 41-36 at halftime.

The Wolverines methodically pulled away early in the second half, ultimately leading as much as 64-50 with 12:21 to go. Oregon's defensive intensity keyed a 6-0 run to spark the Ducks' comeback bid, and Bamba scored five straight before Bittle's three-pointer made it an 8-0 run to get it back down to four 70-66.

But while the Ducks eventually cut it to two three times in the final minutes, they weren't able to take advantage of their opportunities to complete the comeback.

Up Next: The Ducks play at Michigan State on Saturday (9 a.m., FOX).