If you’re checking your phone right now wondering what's the score to the Oregon Ducks game, the news out of Eugene isn't what the home crowd wanted to hear. The scoreboard at Matthew Knight Arena just went dark after a heavy-hitting matchup between Oregon and the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines.
The final score was Michigan 81, Oregon 71.
It was a weird one. Honestly, for the first twenty minutes, it felt like Dana Altman was about to pull off one of those "how did he do that?" upsets that defines Oregon basketball. The Ducks actually led 41-40 at the break. But the second half? That was a different story. Michigan came out like they’d been insulted in the locker room, shooting a blistering 60 percent from the floor in the final frame to pull away.
Breakdown: What went wrong for the Ducks?
You really can’t talk about this game without mentioning the glaring holes in Oregon’s lineup. They were playing shorthanded, which is basically the story of their season so far. No Nate Bittle (ankle) and no Jackson Shelstad (hand). When you lose two preseason All-Big Ten players, you’re usually asking for a blowout.
The Ducks didn't lie down, though.
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Sean Stewart stepped up in a way we haven't seen yet, dropping a career-high 22 points. He was efficient, too, going 10-of-14. Kwame Evans Jr. chipped in 18, and Wei Lin hit a buzzer-beating three to end the first half that had the arena shaking. But depth is a real thing. Michigan has it; Oregon, right now, does not.
Michigan's Elliot Cadeau was the problem. He finished with 17 points and five assists, seemingly always finding the open man whenever Oregon tried to double-team the post.
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If you've been following the scores this month, you know Oregon is in a bit of a tailspin. They’re sitting at 8-10 overall and a rough 1-6 in Big Ten play. Moving to a new conference was always going to be a "welcome to the neighborhood" moment, but this has been particularly painful.
The loss to Michigan follows a string of frustrations:
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- An 88-85 overtime heartbreak against Rutgers.
- A loss to Nebraska where the offense just went cold.
- Now, this double-digit loss to a top-5 Michigan squad.
Coach Dana Altman sounded frustrated but proud after the buzzer. He mentioned the guys "ran out of gas," which makes sense when you're asking starters to play massive minutes because the bench is thin.
Why the Big Ten transition is hitting hard
Basketball in the Big Ten is just... physical. It's different from the old Pac-12 flow. Michigan looked bigger at every position today. They dominated the glass in the second half, and that’s where the 10-point gap really opened up. Oregon fans are used to seeing their team peak in February, but the climb back to .500 is looking steeper by the day.
The Football Side of the House
While the basketball score is a bummer, Ducks fans did get some massive news this week on the gridiron. Dante Moore officially announced he's skipping the NFL Draft to return for the 2026 season. After that 13-2 run and the tough loss to Indiana in the CFP semifinal, having Moore back is the "score" everyone was actually waiting for.
He’s clearly got unfinished business. Hearing him talk about wanting to be "most prepared" before the pros is a refreshing change of pace in the NIL era. Plus, with the rumor mill swirling about transfer portal additions—including whispers of Dylan Raiola—the 2026 football season might actually be the most anticipated in Eugene history.
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What’s next for Oregon Basketball?
If you're looking for the next time you'll be asking what's the score to the Oregon Ducks game, you won't have to wait long. They stay at home to host Michigan State this Tuesday, January 20th.
It doesn't get any easier. Tom Izzo’s teams are never fun to play when you’re already tired.
To stay on top of the Ducks' season, keep an eye on the injury reports for Shelstad and Bittle. Altman hinted that Shelstad might be out for the long haul, which means we’re going to see a lot more of Wei Lin and Drew Carter. If you're heading to the MKA, expect more of these gritty, high-possession games. The Ducks are fighting, but until they get healthy, they're going to be fighting uphill.
Check the local broadcast on NBC or tune into KUJZ 95.3 FM if you can't make it to the arena for the Tuesday tip-off.