Ducks Rally Past Beavs Late For 78-75 Rivalry Hoops Victory

750 The Game Staff

Oregon Ducks men’s basketball is 5-0 after rallying past rival Oregon State on Thursday night in Corvallis 78-75.

Oregon State led by ten at the half, and extended it to a 61-49 lead with 11:49 remaining in the second half following a three-pointer from Damarco Minor.

But the Ducks put a rally together, tying the score at 66-66 with a Nate Bittle jumper with 6:54 to go, then took the lead with a Jackson Shelstad three-pointer with 5:25 left to make it 69-66 Ducks.

The two teams scored nine points each down the stretch. Oregon State took a 70-69 lead with 3:55 left on a pair of Isaiah Sy free throws, but after exchanging a pair of buckets, the Ducks retook a 74-72 lead on another three-pointer from Shelstad with 2:43 to go.

After Josiah Lake II split a pair of free throws, Shelstad nailed another jumper with 29 seconds left to make it 76-73 Ducks. Each side hit a pair of free throws, and the Beavers had one final possession to try to extend the game. The ball found Michael Rataj but his three-pointer missed, and Oregon walked off victors.

The loss is the first of the season for Oregon State (4-1) who covered the betting spread of 6-1/2 points favoring Oregon on ESPN Bet. The total of 153 points went way over the betting total of 139.5.

Bittle, the senior from Central Point, Ore. (Crater HS), had a phenomenal game for Oregon with 23 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocked shots. Shelstad, the sophomore guard from West Linn, Ore., finished with 15 points including three made three-pointers.

Rataj, Oregon State’s 6’9” forward from Augsburg, Germany, led the team with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal.

Oregon State (4-1), who played each of their first five games at home, go on the road for the first time this season on Monday, Nov. 25th. They head to Denton, Tex. to face the North Texas Mean Green (4-1 overall). The game tips at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN+.

The 5-0 Oregon Ducks will take a peak at the new AP Poll on Monday to see if they get any closer to cracking the top-25, then head to Las Vegas, Nev. to participate in the Players Era Festival Tournament. Oregon takes on No. 23 Texas A&M on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. on TNT, then face San Diego State on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. on TNT and HBO Max. Both games will be played at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The Ducks are in the Power Group along with Texas A&M, San Diego State, and Creighton. The top team from the Power Group will face the top team from the Impact Group in a Championship Game on Sat. Nov. 30th.

The Impact Group includes Houston, Alabama, Rutgers, and Notre Dame.