The Ducks opened their 2025-26 season with a 73-53 win over Utah in Matthew Knight Arena, sparked by a 20-point night by senior center Nate Bittle.
Oregon jumped out to a 17-0 lead as Utah shot nothing but bricks for the first eight minutes. Kendyl Sanders made a three to break the string, but the Ducks stretched the lead to 27-5 by the 8:42 mark.
Dana Altman opened with a starting five of Nate Bittle, T.K. Simpkins, Wei Lin, Kwame Evans and Devon Pryor. The lead reached 9-0 when Wei Lin, the guard Altman found from the Nanking Monkey Kings, lobbed an alley oop that Bittle threw down for two. Lin also scored Oregon's first bucket on a jumper in the paint.
Off the bench at the 10:29 mark, Nigerian/Turkish center Ege Demir made himself felt with a tip-in, a dunk off an assist by Lin, and a jump hook that made it 29-9.
Utah went on a 5-0 run to close within 29-14, then the teams traded baskets. The Ducks got a fast break opportunity Devon Pryor throwing one down off an assist by Dezdrick Lindsay. Another Utah turnover led to a layup by Lindsay, extending the lead to 33-16.
At 3:40 Lindsay an offensive rebound by Lindsay and a put back made it 33-16.
Despite the comfortable lead the Ducks shot 0-8 from 3-point range but 16-38 from the field, a good share of the points in the paint, 42.1 percent as of the 1:37 mark.
Lin and Simpkins struggled from the field, a combined 2-12. Simpkins, Lin, Evans and Pryor made just one field goal each in the first half, Bittle carrying the team with 16 points on 7-11 shooting with 7 rebounds over 13 minutes.
Demir shined off the bench with six points, 3-4 shooting, a pair of rebounds. The Ducks led 36-22 at the half, substituting liberally.
Lin-sane in the membrane https://t.co/wblS7zYONq
— Duck Sports On3 (@DuckSportsSD) October 25, 2025
By halftime they were 0-10 beyond the arc and 2-6 at the line, leaving plenty of frowny faces on the stat sheet. The Ducks ball handlers took good care of the basketball, however, only three turnovers against 6 steals, Lin and Lindsay with three assists each.
Sean Stewart was a physical presence off the bench with six rebounds, two points and two blocks.
The guards got it going in the second half. Simpkins drained Oregon's first 3-pointer. Lin entered the land of giants and made a layup. A three by Utah's Elijah Moore cut it to 14 but Lin answered with a three to make it 44-27.
Another tip-in bucket by Demir, eight points for him in just six minutes, 4-5 shooting around the basket. Simpkins hit two free throws, followed by ANOTHER tip-in by Demir. Oregon led 50-27.
Bittle made a pair of layups, the second assisted by Sean Stewart. That gave the 7-0 center from Central Point 20 points and 12 rebounds in the exhibition opener.
Bittle scores his 20th point of the game and the Ducks are up 22. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/rMsXZHnbRQ
— Oregon Men's Basketball (@OregonMBB) October 25, 2025
At 7:31 Lindsay pulled up on a fast break and shot a confident three to make it 61-37.
Lin settled down in the second half to hit 3-5 from the floor including his 3-pointer. Demir finished with 14 points and 5 rebounds in 14 minutes. Stewart turned in a strong game in his Duck debut, 9 rebounds and 6 points.
Lindsay showed potential as a floor leader, 9 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in 25 minutes.
It added up to 73-53 win with the Ducks playing 11 players and getting some tape for Altman to teach off of. Their size inside will keep them in a lot of games, and Lin is going to be fun to watch.