Ducks Drop Big Ten Opener

Tuesday, December 2

Eugene, Ore.

7 p.m.

University of Oregon

4-4,0-1Big Ten

USC

8-0,1-0Big Ten

Southern California

Oregon

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

12/02/25 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Oregon fought gamely without Nate Bittle but lost Tuesday to No. 24 USC.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Playing without a national player of the year candidate, the Oregon men's basketball team came up just short in its Big Ten opener Tuesday.

The Ducks fought gamely without senior big man Nate Bittle before falling to No. 24 USC, 82-77 at Matthew Knight Arena. The UO men dropped their fourth straight game, after winning four in a row to open the season.

Oregon was within one point multiple times in the final 5 minutes, but the Ducks couldn't get over the hump while being outrebounded in the second half, 23-12, and missing eight free throws in the final 20 minutes.

"This basically was a one-possession game," UO coach Dana Altman said. "I know it ended up five, but it basically was a one-possession game. And we didn't get the rebounds when we had to, we didn't get the free throws when we had to. And I'm not sure we'd have been in that position if we wouldn't have taken so many quick shots."

Altman said the Ducks are "hopeful" that Bittle, who suffered a lower leg injury last week in Las Vegas, can return Saturday at UCLA. In his absence, Kwame Evans Jr. continued his recent surge, tying his career high with 23 points and leading the Ducks with nine rebounds.

"He's the only one that went and got defensive rebounds; he had seven," Altman said. "So he was in the fight. I thought he did a lot of good things."

The Oregon Ducks take on the USC Trojans at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, OR on December 2, 2025 (Eric Evans Photography)

Takai Simpkins added 17 points while making four of Oregon's 10 three-pointers on the night. Jackson Shelstad added 13 points, dealing with frequent double-teams as he has since Bittle's injury.

How It Happened: The game was tied 10-10 in the early going when Oregon scored seven straight, on baskets by Evans and Shelstad and a three-pointer by Oleksandr Kobzystyi. A three by Evans got the lead back to seven at 23-16, kicking off a run of five made threes in five possessions by the Ducks — one each for Evans, Shelstad and Jamari Phillips, and two by Simpkins.

That put the Ducks up 35-25, but USC answered with a 14-2 run to take the lead, during which Oregon fouls sent the Trojans to the line three times. Shelstad scored just before halftime, knotting the score at 39-39.

"We got up 10 there and took two or three really quick ones," Altman said. "(And) just (had some) bad fouls to end the half."

USC scored the first four points after halftime, and the lead was six at 58-52 when the Ducks mounted a surge. Evans scored all nine points as Oregon used a 9-2 run to take the lead, 61-60.

The Oregon Ducks take on the USC Trojans at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, OR on December 2, 2025 (Eric Evans Photography)

The Trojans fought back into the lead, but Simpkins got Oregon back within one at 69-68. What followed was a critical sequence: USC got four offensive rebounds on one possession before scoring to go up three, and the Ducks missed two free throws at the other end.

"We just didn't get the ball," Altman said. "I think the last 15 minutes of the game we might have got outrebounded 20-8; I believe we were up five, and ended up down seven. I thought coming into the game, even without Nate, that we could get on boards. And we didn't do it."

Down 75-72, the Ducks were fouled on a three-pointer but made just one of the free throws. They missed shots on their next three possessions, and USC sealed it at the line.

Up Next: The Ducks play at UCLA on Saturday (6 p.m., Peacock).