CORVALLIS, Oregon – In a thrilling matchup at Gill Coliseum on Thursday night, the Oregon Ducks managed to pull off a remarkable comeback victory over the Oregon State Beavers, denying them a chance at their first 5-0 start in 38 years. The Ducks, now 5-0, extended their winning streak over the Beavers to eight games. Nate Bittle was a standout player for Oregon, scoring a career-high 23 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, while Jackson Shelstad added 15 points, 11 of which came in the second half to fuel the comeback.
Despite trailing by as many as 12 points in the second half, the Ducks staged an impressive 20-5 run to secure the win. Oregon State, on the other hand, was led by Michael Rataj with 20 points and 10 rebounds, but struggled with their shooting in the second half, making just 7 of 25 attempts. The Beavers’ strong first-half performance, especially on defense and the boards, was not enough to hold off Oregon’s surge in the second half.
Throughout the game, both teams traded leads and momentum swings, with Oregon State maintaining a double-digit advantage for much of the second half. However, Oregon’s resilience and timely scoring from Shelstad and Bittle propelled them to a hard-fought victory. Shelstad’s clutch three-pointer with 2:41 remaining proved to be the difference-maker, as the Ducks held on to secure the win in a closely contested matchup.
Looking ahead, Oregon State will aim to bounce back when they face North Texas in their first road game of the season on Monday. The Beavers will seek to regroup and learn from their tough loss to the Ducks as they continue their season. In a game filled with exciting plays and momentum swings, both teams displayed their competitive spirit and determination, making for an intense rivalry matchup that came down to the final seconds.