Oregon’s second-half rally finally fell short.
The Ducks have been known for a number of rallies in the last 10 minutes of games this season, but UCLA kept making shots and Oregon couldn’t recover in a 73-71 loss at home.
It was the first defeat for the Ducks on the season as they fell to 9-1 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten action.
Oregon did rally back and take a 71-70 lead on Jackson Shelstad’s three-pointer with 10 seconds left, but Dylan Andrews’ three-pointer that went off the glass with 0.4 seconds on the clock was the game-winner.
Winning with a three-pointer was fitting for the Bruins as they were hot all night long from the outside. They came into the game averaging 6.4 made threes, but tonight at MKA, UCLA knocked down 12 treys and they needed every single one.
Oregon vs. UCLA Keys to the Game
- UCLA started out hot from the floor and per usual, the Ducks did not. The Bruins made five three-pointers early and held a 21-12 lead.
- The referees were really looking at players taunting the opposing bench and each team had a player get a technical foul. UCLA’s Eric Dailey and Oregon’s Keeshawn Barthelemy were teed up.
- After the Ducks found themselves down by nine, they increased the defensive pressure that got them back into the game.
- Nate Bittle, who is has been off with his three-point, hit a couple of deep ones to give the Ducks their first lead at 27-26.
- Oregon took a one-point lead at halftime at 33-32, but UCLA came out shooting well in the second half and eventually had a 53-47 lead.
- But a Barthelemy three and a Jadrian Tracey three-point play and the game was tied once again at 53-53 with 10:27 left.
- Before the furious last seconds, Oregon looked as if it tied the game on a goaltend, but after further review, they determined Shelstad’s shot was not coming down before Tyler Bilodeau blocked it. The video looked to show otherwise, but the three officials saw it differently.
- UCLA held a lead for most of the latter half of the second half, but the Ducks hit a three-pointer, Shelstad’s only points in that half to give them a 71-70 lead with 10.6 seconds left.
- After Oregon fouled with 6.4 seconds left for its sixth team foul, the Bruins found Andrews on the left wing and his three was just over Bittle’s fingers and went off the glass and in the hoop to win what was a crazy game inside Matthew Knight Arena.
Oregon vs. UCLA Players of the Game
- Nate Bittle: 22 points, 10 rebounds
- Keeshawn Barthelemy: 13 points
- Jackson Shelstad: 11 points
- Jadrian Tracey: 10 points
- Eric Dailey, Jr. (UCLA): 19 points
Oregon vs. UCLA Notable Stats
- Bench Points: Oregon 29, UCLA 22
- Rebounds: Oregon 33, UCLA 23
- 3-pointers: Oregon 9-of-21, UCLA 12-of-23
What’s Next for Oregon Ducks?
- Dec. 15 — vs. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
- Dec. 21 — at Stanford Cardinal (San Jose, Calif.)
- Dec. 29 — vs. Weber State Wildcats
- Jan. 2 — vs. No. 19 Illinois Fighting Illini
- Jan. 5 — vs. Maryland Terrapins
Oregon will go back to non-conference play in a week with Stephen F. Austin and Weber State, but the Ducks travel down to San Jose to play a familiar team in the Stanford Cardinal. After the New Year will be two more conference games before they venture out on the road.
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