Oregon (22-8, 11-8 Big Ten)and Indiana (18-12, 9-10 Big Ten) played an exciting, back-and-forth game in the home stretch of the regular season, and the Ducks came out on top 73-64 thanks to some late game heroics. After a mid-season slump that contained five straight losses, the Ducks have now won six straight heading into their regular season finale.
Tuesday night’s game was well-matched throughout, as neither team could pull away. Oregon controlled the majority of the first half, slowly building its lead out to nine points around the six-minute mark. Indiana eventually caught fire and went on a 13-2 run, which gave the Hoosiers a 32-30 lead with 1:50 remaining. The Ducks held Indiana scoreless to end the half, and they went into the locker room up 35-32.
The second half was much of the same story. Despite their strong home court advantage, Oregon was unable to pull away. Indiana tied the game at 47-all with around 13 minutes remaining, and from there the Ducks and Hoosiers delivered an instant classic. From the 13-minute mark to the one-minute mark, the lead was never greater than three on either side. It looked like the game was going to come down to the wire, but the Ducks closed on a 10-0 run.
With Indiana leading 64-63, guard Jackson Shelstad nailed a 35-foot 3-pointer with the shot clock expiring. The Oregon defense fed off the crowd’s energy, and center Nate Bittle forced a turnover. The game was never in question from there, as the Ducks were able to make their free throws and lock down Indiana’s scoring weapons to close the game.
Despite Shelstad’s memorable shot, Oregon once again struggled from beyond the arc. It only made 24 percent on the night from outside, which could be a sign that the Ducks’ mid-season shooting struggles may be resurfacing. They were able to shoot above 90 percent from the charity stripe, though, which helped them close out the game in the final minute. In contrast, Indiana shot only 43 percent from the line, which was considerably less than their average of 71 percent. Oregon was able to take advantage of second-chance opportunities, scoring 23 points compared to the Hoosiers’ 13.
Shelstad and Bittle were the leading scorers with 17 and 14 respectively, but the game featured the emergence of sophomore forward Kwame Evans Jr. He was a top-rated recruit, specifically for his defensive ability. In the postgame presser, head coach Dana Altman discussed Evans Jr’s impact on the team in the closing stretch of this season.
“Nine rebounds against Wisconsin,” Altman said. “I mean, he’s added the dimension that we desperately needed.”On Tuesday he had six rebounds, but also stepped up in big moments on the offensive side. Most notably, with the score tied at 32, Evans drilled a second-chance 3-pointer which ended up being the final basket of the first half.
These last few games for the Ducks have been critical as they attempt to work their way up the NCAA bracket. A few weeks ago, Oregon was expected to land in the 8-9 seed range. Now, it is a projected five or six seed depending on the source, which would give them a reasonable path to the Sweet 16. In the Big Ten, the Ducks are now guaranteed a bye in the conference tournament. Shall they go on a deep run next week, they could potentially rise further in NCAA projections.
The team will close the regular season in Seattle against Washington on Sunday at noon. From there, the Ducks will pack their bags for the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana.