Rutgers defeats Oregon 88-85
Oregon Falls Short in Thrilling 88-85 Upset at Rutgers
In a dramatic turn of events, No. 24 Rutgers took down No. 15 Oregon 88-85 on the road at Jersey Mike's Arena, snapping the Ducks' six-game winning streak and handing them their first loss of the season.
The Scarlet Knights trailed by as many as eight points in the second half but staged a remarkable comeback to win by just three points. Rutgers' 8-point halftime deficit became an afterthought as they outscored Oregon 39-31 in the final 20 minutes, led by senior guard Tariq Francis's 30 points and five assists.
Francis was unstoppable on his home court, shooting 62.5% from the field and knocking down three of six three-point attempts. His all-around performance earned him a game-high five rebounds, while Jamichael Davis chipped in with 13 points and 22 total minutes off the bench.
Oregon, meanwhile, struggled to contain Rutgers' high-powered offense. The Ducks' top scorer, Nate Bittle, put up an impressive 28 points but was held to just three of eight three-point attempts, shooting a dismal 37.5%. Kwame Evans Jr., who led Oregon's rebounding effort with 13 boards, also failed to find his rhythm, scoring just 14 points on 52.4% field goal percentage.
Despite the loss, Oregon coach Dana Altman remained proud of his team's performance. "We knew it was going to be a tough game, and Rutgers did an excellent job of containing our offense," he said. "We just couldn't get enough stops on defense when it mattered most."
The win marked Rutgers' third straight over a top-20 opponent and sets up a crucial matchup against No. 10 Michigan State next week.
Game Stats
Rutgers (HOME)
* Field Goals: 26/60 (43.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 20/42 (47.6%)
* 3-Point FG: 6/18 (33.0%)
* Free Throws: 30/34 (88.0%)
* Rebounds: 32 (Off: 10, Def: 22)
* Assists: 10
* Turnovers: 7
* Steals: 10
* Blocks: 2
* Total Fouls: 18
* Total Points: 88
Oregon (AWAY)
* Field Goals: 30/66 (45.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 17/34 (50.0%)
* 3-Point FG: 13/32 (41.0%)
* Free Throws: 12/16 (75.0%)
* Rebounds: 43 (Off: 16, Def: 27)
* Assists: 19
* Turnovers: 17
* Steals: 5
* Blocks: 2
* Total Fouls: 22
* Total Points: 85
The loss drops Oregon's ranking to No. 11 in the AP poll, while Rutgers moves up to No. 14.