Oregon Ducks Stumble at Home, Fall to Purdue 65-58 Despite Strong Performances

EUGENE, OR – January 18th, 2025

The Oregon Ducks, ranked No. 13 in the nation, hosted the No. 17 Purdue Boilermakers at Matthew Knight Arena on Saturday night in what promised to be a thrilling Big Ten matchup. Despite a strong first-half performance and notable individual efforts, the Ducks fell short, losing 65-58 to a resilient Purdue squad.

The game was a tale of missed opportunities for Oregon, which led 31-30 at halftime but couldn’t maintain its edge in the second half. The Ducks had three players score in double figures, with Nathan Bittle leading the way with 18 points, followed by Jackson Shelstad’s 15 points and Brandon Angel’s 10. However, Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn proved to be the game’s standout performer, notching a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds that fueled the Boilermakers’ victory. Braden Smith also played a key role for Purdue, contributing 15 points and 7 assists.

A Battle of Stats: Oregon’s Strong Play Undone by Rebounding Woes

The statistical breakdown reveals a tightly contested game on many fronts. Oregon shot 36% from the field compared to Purdue’s 34%. The Ducks also outperformed Purdue from beyond the arc, knocking down 7 of 29 attempts (24%) versus Purdue’s 2 of 12 (17%). Oregon’s free-throw shooting was stellar at 88%, while Purdue hit 83% from the line.

Defensively, Oregon excelled with 7 blocked shots to Purdue’s none, highlighting their interior dominance. Both teams recorded 8 steals, and Oregon’s 12 assists narrowly edged out Purdue’s 10.

Yet, despite these statistical victories, Oregon’s Achilles heel proved to be rebounding and second-chance opportunities. Purdue outrebounded Oregon 31-23, including a dominant 9-2 advantage on the offensive boards. These offensive rebounds translated into 14 second-chance points for Purdue, compared to just 2 for Oregon. Those extra possessions, coupled with Kaufman-Renn’s relentless presence in the paint, ultimately decided the game.

Second-Half Struggles Doom the Ducks

While the Ducks entered the second half with a slim one-point lead, they struggled to generate quality offensive looks against Purdue’s stifling defense. Oregon’s inability to create second-chance opportunities of their own or prevent Purdue from capitalizing on theirs compounded their troubles.

Oregon’s shooting cooled as the game progressed, and without an answer for Kaufman-Renn’s dominance on the boards, the Ducks were unable to regain momentum.

Looking Ahead: Time to Rebound

Despite Saturday’s loss, the Ducks remain optimistic about the season. With a long road ahead, there is ample time to address the shortcomings exposed by Purdue. Improving on rebounding and shot creation against physical, defensively-minded teams will be crucial if Oregon hopes to compete in March.

Head coach Dana Altman will look to rally his team as they prepare to continue their Big Ten season and make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The Ducks’ next opportunity to bounce back comes on Tuesday, January 21st, when they face their bitter rival, the Washington Huskies, at 8:00 p.m. PT.

Final Thoughts

While the loss to Purdue stings, the Ducks showed flashes of potential that could make them a dangerous team come tournament time. If Oregon can clean up their rebounding struggles and find ways to generate offense in critical moments, they have the tools to contend with the best in the nation.

For now, though, they’ll need to learn from Saturday’s defeat and take it one game at a time as they look to cement their place among college basketball’s elite.