Short-handed Ducks Fall to Hawkeyes

Sunday, February 1

Eugene, Ore.

5 p.m.

University of Oregon

8-14,1-10Big Ten

Iowa

16-5,6-4Big Ten

Iowa

Oregon

Photo by: GoDucks.com

02/01/26 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Oregon's injured list continues to grow as the Ducks dropped a match-up with Iowa at home Sunday.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Injuries continue to have the Oregon men's basketball team short-handed, though there could be some help on the way.

The Ducks opened February with a defeat Sunday evening at Matthew Knight Arena, falling 84-66 to Iowa. Regulars Devon Pryor and Ege Demir joined Nate Bittle and Jackson Shelstad on the list of Ducks out with long-term injuries; Bittle could potentially return next week, UO coach Dana Altman said, which would be a welcome development after Iowa outscored Oregon in the paint on Sunday, 44-26.

That was part of a 58.9 percent shooting effort by the Hawkeyes in the game, including 69.2 percent in the second half. The Ducks (8-14, 1-10 Big Ten) countered by shooting 41.1 percent, including 24 percent from three-point range.

"We defensively just didn't get it done," Altman said. "And then our three percentage — just kind of figuring it in my head, here, we were 17-of-31 inside; it wasn't a bad number — but we took some quick, bad threes. Fundamentally we're not sound at all, and we're playing guys that don't have much experience."

Kwame Evans Jr. led the Ducks with 18 points, and Takai Simpkins added 16. Dezdrick Lindsay scored 10, including a thunderous dunk in the second half.

How It Happened: The game went back-and-forth through the opening minutes. It was a one-possession game through the midway point of the first half, and Simpkins gave the Ducks their last lead at 17-15 with a layup at the 12:15 mark.

That's when Iowa's Bennett Stirtz made his first basket of what ended up being a 32-point night. He hit back-to-back threes that gave the Hawkeyes the lead for good, going on to make 12-of-15 shots on the night and adding seven assists with no turnovers.

"We had no answer for him," Altman said. "That's a projected first-round draft choice that showed it tonight, just really knows how to play."

The consecutive threes by Stirtz sparked a 14-2 run that put the Hawkeyes up double digits at 29-19. Oregon got back within six just before halftime, then opened the second half with an 8-4 run to close within 39-34.

But after the Hawkeyes had missed their first three shots of the second half, they made 18-of-23 the rest of the way. The Ducks cut the deficit back to single digits a couple of times in the last eight minutes, but ultimately Iowa pulled away.

Notable: Simpkins returned after missing Wednesday's game against UCLA due to injury. … Senior guard Drew Carter made his first career start. … Pryor did not play due to a groin injury and could potentially miss the rest of the season, Altman said. Pryor and fellow injured veterans Bittle and Shelstad have 38 combined starts on the season. … Demir's shoulder injury required surgery that will sideline him for the remainder of the season, Altman said.

Up Next: The Ducks play at Purdue on Saturday (10 a.m., CBS).