Ducks Upset No. 11 Badgers In Overtime

Saturday, February 22

Madison, WI

9:00 AM

University of Oregon

20-8,9-8Big Ten

Wisconsin

21-6,11-5Big Ten

OT 1

Oregon

Wisconsin

Photo by: GoDucks.com

02/22/25 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score: Oregon 77, No. 11 Wisconsin 73 (OT)

Oregon went on the road and beat Wisconsin on Saturday, coming back from a 17-point deficit to win for the fourth time in a row.

By: Rob Moseley

MADISON, Wisc. — February closed with a bang for the Oregon men's basketball team, which appears to be clicking right on schedule under head coach Dana Altman.

The Ducks won for the fourth time in a row Saturday, using a gritty defensive effort to dig out of a 17-point deficit and forcing overtime on a deep three-pointer by Jackson Shelstad with 12 seconds left in regulation. The UO men carried the momentum from that shot into the extra frame, coming away with a 77-73 victory over No. 11 Wisconsin, a sweep of their two-game Midwest road trip and a spark heading into the final homestand of the regular season.

Oregon improved to 20-8 overall, winning 20 games for the 15th time in 15 seasons under Altman, and 9-8 in the Big Ten, strong position to earn a first-round conference tournament bye with three games left in the regular season. The Ducks won after trailing by 17 or more for the first time since Jan. 13, 2024, against Cal, and for the first time away from home since Nov. 27, 2019, against Seton Hall.

"Showed a lot of character," Altman said. "Our defense really picked up second half … and that was the difference."

Down 17 late in the first half after a 24-4 run by Wisconsin, Oregon flipped the script at halftime. The Badgers shot 50 percent with six turnovers and were plus-seven in rebounds at the half, but over the remainder of the game the Ducks forced 11 turnovers that they turned into 17 points, held Wisconsin to 42.9 percent shooting and had a plus-four edge on the boards.

Nate Bittle, whose first-half foul trouble opened the door for that impressive Wisconsin run, led the Ducks with 23 points and grabbed six rebounds. Keeshawn Barthelemy scored 12 of his 14 points after halftime, Jadrian Tracey had 11 points and Kwame Evans Jr. added 10 points with a team-high nine rebounds.

Shelstad finished with 13, bouncing back from the Ducks' win Thursday at Iowa in which he didn't make a field goal by hitting the three to force overtime Saturday.

"That was huge," Altman said. "That was a big, big shot from three."

How It Happened: Oregon's comeback in the second half began in earnest with less than 8 minutes to go, when the Badgers still had a comfortable lead at 62-47. Barthelemy began the UO rally with a three-pointer, sparking a 19-4 run by the Ducks to close regulation.

After Wisconsin scored to answer Barthelemy's three, Bittle completed a three-point play that began a 7-0 run by Oregon. Evans and Barthelemy also scored during the run, which put the Ducks within 64-57 before the Badgers' final points of regulation made it 66-57 with 3:16 to play.

"Nate and Jackson carried us, but Keeshawn hit some big shots," Altman said. "He really did a nice job hitting a couple big ones there in the second half."

Bittle then scored at the other end, TJ Bamba forced a turnover and Evans followed a miss in transition by Bamba with a putback that made it 66-61. A steal by Shelstad set the stage for two more second-chance points — this time by Bamba — that made it 66-63 with less than a minute left, and Shelstad made his game-tying three with 12 seconds left after yet another Wisconsin turnover.

The Badgers scored first in overtime, but Evans tied it at the free-throw line and Bittle gave Oregon the lead, 70-68, with 3:18 to go. After a Wisconsin three-pointer, Bittle put the Ducks back in front with two free throws, then scored after a Badgers miss for a 74-71 lead. Wisconsin missed two attempts at game-tying threes in the final minute, while Oregon iced it at the free-throw line thanks to Barthelemy and Tracey.

The game was close early, with Bittle and Shelstad hitting threes to give the Ducks a 6-4 lead. With Oregon trailing 14-12, Tracey hit a go-ahead three and Bittle scored to make it 17-14. But from there, everything changed.

After Wisconsin scored to get within 17-16, Bittle went to the bench with his second foul. That Badgers bucket ended up sparking a 14-0 run, and though Bittle returned before halftime, he picked up his third foul before the break and Oregon trailed 38-26.

A silver lining from the first half was Evans. He had four points and five boards in the half, and Oregon was plus-two on the scoreboard in his 10 minutes of action.

"When he plays and goes to the boards, he's just a different player," Altman said. "He did a great job."

The Ducks got back within 11 a couple of times early in the second half. Bittle had back-to-back buckets to make it 41-30, and later Tracey and Shelstad scored to get Oregon within 47-36.

Barthelemy had five straight points midway through the half that finally cut the lead to 10 with 9:47 to play. But Wisconsin scored the next five for that 62-47 lead with 7:57 to go — when Oregon's comeback bid truly began.

Up next: The Ducks host USC on Saturday (1 p.m., BTN).