Ducks Fall to Illinois

Tuesday, March 3

Urbana-Champaign, IL

6 p.m.

University of Oregon

11-19,4-15Big Ten

Illinois

23-7,14-5Big Ten

Team	1	2	F
Oregon	21	33	54
Illinois	41	39	80

03/03/26 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Oregon Ducks men's basketball jumped out to an early lead but could not sustain it, falling to Illinois 80-54 at State Farm Center.

Oregon (11-19, 4-15) scored the game's first six points and led for more than four minutes in the opening half. The Ducks' largest lead was six, but Illinois (23-7, 14-5) answered with a decisive 21-0 run midway through the first half to seize control.

Nate Bittle led the Ducks with 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting and added five rebounds and three blocks. Kwame Evans Jr. finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, while Takai Simpkins contributed nine points and five assists.

How It Happened: The Illini shot 45.5% from the field and 46.7% from 3-point range in the opening period, turning a two-point deficit into a 41-21 halftime cushion. Oregon struggled to find consistent offense, shooting 27.3% (9 of 33) in the first half and just 2 of 16 from beyond the arc.

Oregon shot 32.8% (21 of 64) for the game and 17.2% (5 of 29) from 3-point range. The Ducks were more efficient at the free-throw line, converting 7 of 9 attempts (77.8%), but struggled to generate consistent scoring runs. Oregon's best stretch came late in the second half with a 7-0 run, trimming the deficit to 13, but it was not sustained.

Illinois extended its lead to as many as 30 points with 5:30 to play in the second half. The Illini finished at 40.8% from the field (29 of 71), including 10 of 36 from 3-point range, and converted 12 of 14 free throws (85.7%). Illinois also held a 48-36 rebounding edge and outscored Oregon 40-14 in bench points.

Up Next: Oregon hosts Washington on Saturday in the regular season finale (8 p.m., FS1).