Oregon Ends Five-Game Skid With 81-75 Win Over Northwestern

EUGENE, Ore. – The Oregon Ducks finally ended their five-game losing streak Tuesday night with an 81-75 victory over Northwestern at Matthew Knight Arena.

Sophomore standout Jackson Shelstad led the way with 26 points, four assists, and a stellar shooting performance. Shelstad hit 72.2% from the field and was lethal from deep, connecting on 66.6% (4-for-6) of his 3-point attempts. He also delivered a perfect night at the free-throw line, going 6-for-6.

Senior Keeshawn Barthelemy provided a strong complementary performance with 19 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Barthelemy shot 50% from the field, was 83.3% from the free-throw line, and also hit 66.6% (4-for-6) from beyond the arc.

Fellow senior Nathan Bittle, who has been solid throughout the season with occasional off-nights, put together a productive outing with 14 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. Bittle shot 41.6% from the field and converted all four of his free-throw attempts.

The win provides Oregon with a much-needed boost after a string of missed opportunities that have put the Ducks in a precarious position for an NCAA Tournament bid. Despite having a signature victory over No. 9 Alabama, Oregon has suffered critical losses to UCLA twice—one on a game-winning shot and the other a blowout—as well as narrow defeats to Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue. Additionally, head-scratching losses to Minnesota and Nebraska have further complicated the Ducks’ tournament hopes.

With their at-large bid chances on the ropes, the Ducks must capitalize on upcoming games. Oregon will host Rutgers before traveling to Iowa, two matchups that seemed like manageable wins on paper before the season but now appear more uncertain. The Ducks’ biggest remaining test before the Big Ten Tournament will come on the road against Wisconsin, a must-win to keep their tournament hopes alive.

While a win against Wisconsin and taking care of business against most of the remaining teams will keep their NCAA hopes alive, it won’t be a slam dunk. The Ducks are going to have to make a lot of noise in the Big Ten Tournament to secure a spot. Ideally, winning the tournament would be the safest route, but if they can beat multiple top-tier teams, they’ll be right on the bubble.

If Oregon can handle its business against the lower-tier teams in the Big Ten standings and secure a victory over Wisconsin, it could help solidify their case for an at-large berth. However, a loss to the Badgers would likely force the Ducks into a do-or-die situation in the Big Ten Tournament, where they would need to win the championship to secure an automatic bid. Oregon has a history of late-season runs in the former Pac-12, but the Big Ten presents a different level of competition.

With the regular season winding down, the Ducks are running out of opportunities. The next few games will determine whether Oregon can fight its way into the NCAA Tournament or face another year of disappointment.