Oregon Ducks Triumph Over Wisconsin Badgers
In a commanding performance on Wednesday night, the Oregon Ducks triumphed over the Wisconsin Badgers with a final score of 85-71 at home. This victory marks a significant turnaround for Oregon (11-17, 4-13 in the Big Ten Conference), who now celebrates consecutive wins for the first time this season, totaling three out of their last four outings following a challenging stretch of ten consecutive defeats.
Key Players and Performance Highlights
Nate Bittle led the charge for the Ducks, contributing 20 points, while his teammates Takai Simpkins and Kwame Evans Jr. added 17 and 16 points, respectively. Evans also tied his season-best by blocking four shots. Wei Lin chipped in with 13 points, playing a key role in the team’s success.
Oregon found momentum in the latter stages of the game, highlighted by Sean Stewart’s impressive two dunks during an 11-2 scoring run that built the Ducks’ lead to 11 points with just under seven minutes remaining. Wisconsin, despite a valiant effort, wasn’t able to close the gap significantly after this. They fell behind 65-59 after a flurry of three-pointers exchanged between Simpkins and Braeden Carrington, but the Badgers could not regain control.
Wisconsin’s Struggles and Record-Breaking Attempts
For Wisconsin (19-9, 11-6), leading scorer John Blackwell finished the night with 22 points, and Nick Boyd supported him with a solid all-around performance, recording 11 points and seven assists. Notably, the Badgers set a new program record with 45 attempts from beyond the arc, surpassing their previous record of 40 attempts—established in games against Providence and Temple.
Game Dynamics and Future Matchups
Early on, Wisconsin appeared to dictate the pace, establishing a 19-10 edge nearly midway through the first half after a combination of three-pointers and a three-point play by Rapp. However, a surge from Lin, who scored nine points during a pivotal 13-2 stretch, allowed Oregon to capture their first lead at 25-23 with just over five minutes left in the first half.
Oregon’s shooting showcased a significant improvement, particularly in the second half where they converted an impressive 71% of their shots (17 out of 24), finishing the game shooting 52% overall (28 out of 54). Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s struggles were compounded by 12 turnovers—nine of which occurred in the second half—leading to 24 points for the Ducks off those mistakes.
Looking ahead, Wisconsin is set to face Washington on Saturday, while Oregon will travel to Northwestern for their next matchup.
