Ducks Surge Past Hoosiers on Senior Night

Tuesday, March 4

Eugene, OR

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

22-8,11-8Big Ten

Indiana

18-12,9-10Big Ten

Indiana

Oregon

03/04/25 | Men's Basketball

Box Score UO 73, Indiana 64

EUGENE, Ore. – The Oregon men's basketball team closed the home schedule with a 73-64 victory over Indiana on Senior Night before 9,584 fans in Matthew Knight Arena. Jackson Shelstad hit an electrifying three-pointer late in the second half that sparked a 10-0 run, giving the Ducks the lead for good.

TJ Bamba earned praise from coaches and teammates alike for his commitment to the defensive end down the stretch, as he locked down Indiana's shot makers on the perimeter, while Nate Bittle secured things around the basket.

"TJ's defense the last two minutes was really good," said Head Coach Dana Altman. "He gave up that three, but he locked them up those last two minutes and kind of inspired the rest of the team."

Oregon (22-8, 11-8 Big Ten) won its sixth straight game and improved to 12-4 at home this season as the Ducks continue to build momentum toward the postseason.

How It Happened: Oregon started strong offensively and led by as many as nine in the first half, but Indiana was a force in the paint and answered all of Oregon's early runs. Nate Bittle scored six points in the first four minutes and gave the Ducks a 20-15 lead at the first media timeout. Oumar Ballo responded with six points of his own for Indiana to keep things close.

UO went on its biggest run of the half behind three pointers from Kwame Evans Jr. and Jackson Shelstad to go up 38-19. The Hoosiers responded with an 8-0 run to cut Oregon's lead to one. Two TJ Bamba free throws pushed it back to a 35-32 Oregon advantage at the half.

The second half started at the same electrifying pace as the first, with both teams trading baskets to open the final 20 minutes. A lay-in by Keeshawn Barthelemy and an and-one by Jadrian Tracey gave the Ducks a 47-42 edge, but Indiana responded with an 8-0 to retake the lead. Bamba stopped the run with a layup, launching a 6-0 UO run to put the Ducks up, 53-50.

The two sides continued to trade baskets before IU took the lead, 59-57, with eight minutes left to play, but four points from Brandon Angel and another driving score by Bamba gave the Ducks a 63-61 advantage. Indiana answered with their ninth trey of the night to regain the lead with 1:58 left to play.

The Ducks were stopped for 25 seconds of the ensuing possession. With the shot clock winding down, Bittle found Shelstad just outside the "O" at mid-court, and just like he did against Wisconsin, the sophomore drained the deep three that sent all 9,584 fans inside Matthew Knight Arena into a frenzy.

Bittle shut down any chance of an IU response, nabbing his first steal of the night and drawing the foul to grow the Duck lead. He and Shelstad combined to shoot 7-of-8 from the free throw line in the final 1:05 to give Oregon its largest lead of the night, ending the game on a 10-0 run.

Notable: Shelstad led the team with 17 points, his fifth double-digit outing in the last six games. Bittle came up huge down the stretch, connecting on all eight of his free throw attempts, totaling 14 points, seven rebounds, a career-high six assists and four blocks. Evans Jr. turned in another solid performance off the bench with 10 points and six rebounds.

The evening concluded with six Oregon seniors honored for their contributions to the program. Jayson Williams-Johnson, James Cooper, Supreme Cook, Ra'Heim Moss, Nate Bittle and TJ Bamba were all recognized in a postgame ceremony. Graduates Brandon Angel and Keeshawn Barthelemy chose not to participate because they each walked on Senior Night last season.

Up Next: The Ducks round out the regular season on the road against Washington on Sunday (12 p.m. PT, Big Ten Network.)