Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team was defeated by Illinois 80-54 at State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. The Ducks began the game strongly, scoring the first six points and holding a lead for over four minutes in the opening half. Their largest advantage was six points before Illinois responded with a 21-0 run that shifted momentum.
Nate Bittle led Oregon with 15 points, five rebounds, and three blocks. Kwame Evans Jr. contributed 13 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Takai Simpkins added nine points and five assists.
Illinois shot 45.5% from the field and 46.7% from three-point range in the first half, turning a two-point deficit into a 41-21 halftime lead. Oregon struggled offensively during this period, shooting just 27.3% (9 of 33) overall and making only two of sixteen attempts from beyond the arc.
For the game, Oregon shot 32.8% (21 of 64) from the field and just 17.2% (5 of 29) on three-pointers but converted seven out of nine free throws (77.8%). The Ducks’ best stretch came late in the second half with a seven-point run that reduced their deficit to thirteen; however, they could not maintain it.
Illinois extended its lead to as many as thirty points with five-and-a-half minutes remaining in the second half. The Illini finished shooting 40.8% from the field (29 of 71), including ten of thirty-six on three-pointers, and made twelve out of fourteen free throws (85.7%). They also held a significant rebounding advantage at forty-eight to thirty-six and outscored Oregon forty to fourteen in bench points.
Oregon will host Washington on Saturday for its regular season finale at 8 p.m., which will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.
